Scientist - Consumer Technical Insights and Claims

Job description

Background & Purpose of the Job

Who You Are & What You'll Do Unilever is one of the world's largest consumer products companies, with global sales at over €50 billion in 2015. Unilever operates in more than 100 countries around the world and employs more than 174,000 people. We market a broad range of foods, soaps and detergents, and personal products in more than 190 countries under brand names such as Axe, Lever Brothers, Knorr, Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream, Pond's, Dove and Ben & Jerry's. Our company's mission is to add vitality to life, meeting the everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life. Our Ambition is to be a strong Global #2 (from #3) by 2020.

Consumer Technical Insight (CTI) are the R&D function responsible for consumer insights and claims. We are seeking a passionate, curious, detail oriented scientist to join our Global Skin Care CTI group, as part of our Trumbull based team. In this core R&D function you will help define and deliver key consumer insights, robust sensory and consumer testing, and substantiation/defence of big impact, consumer relevant product claims as a part of the Unilever >5 Billion Euro Global Skin Cleansing Business. You will work in a multi-disciplinary R&D design team, and be the critical link between the Global R&D, Legal, Brand Development, Consumer Market Insight (CMI), and Regional CTI/Claims teams.

Who You Are & What You'll Do

Workstream leader for all aspects of CTI for your defined projects. * Work closely with Brand, CMI, development team and line manager to define / develop the consumer testing program. * Develop robust strategies to support product claims, and competitive challenges in/out; prepare claim support dossier detailing strategy and support * Manage execution of relevant consumer, sensory or claims testing; interpret results, identify key insights, and cascade same * Lead cross functional discussions on claim development, review, and modification, helping to recraft as appropriate. * Create or co-create KBS demos (knowledge based selling) and other activation tools * Participate in the Global Skin Cleansing Strategic understanding plan/program and/or Digital R&D initiatives to accelerate on trend, cost efficient innovation * Apply new methods, advanced sensory methods, and/or novel statistical approaches to draw out relevant insights and data trends. * Key Interfaces include Development, Legal, Regulatory, Clinical, Global Brand, Consumer Market Research, and Regional / Country CTI/Claims partners

You're a born leader: You will deliver assigned projects under minimal supervision. You will provide leadership across a network of regional claim partners, cascading claims and strategies, soliciting input into the global program, influencing final alignment.

You're a strategy guru: You will develop or help develop and execute pragmatic support strategies and testing plans against claims and consumer learning objectives, leveraging published literature, existing data, and bespoke testing. You will construct, document and communicate fact/data/science based arguments in support of claims, and align same across legal, regulatory, and regional claim partners.

You're a dot connector: You are naturally curious about products, consumers, and data. You identify insights that will drive new product & pack opportunities for global projects, based on analysis of trends, consumer needs, and understanding of technology performance, and new technology impact on consumers (partnering with CMI where relevant).

You love to win, and have fun doing it: You directly contribute to brand growth through co-creation of knowledge based selling assets (demos) for activation. You also may participate, coordinate, co-lead, or sometimes lead creative claim and demo workshops and co creation sessions resulting in stretching, compelling, competitive claims and longer term innovation roadmaps. You will immerse yourself in the consumer experience, understanding the what, why, how of a broad range of products and prototypes.

What You'll Need To Succeed
· BS in Psychology, Food Science, Nutrition, Sensory Science, Chemistry, Marketing/Market Research, or related scientific discipline. Masters degree is also an advantage.
· 3+ years experience in either a consumer research, technical, or R&D function
· Ability to understand technical literature, sensory, consumer, and clinical test data and integrate as supporting claim evidence or in support of formula recommendations.
· Independently manage projects and time, with strong attention to detail
· Demonstrate strong reasoning and communication skills
· Have Basic Statistical knowledge, with modelling/advanced stats expertise an advantage
· Marketing experience in digital communications is an advantage

What We Can Offer You
Culture for Growth | Top Notch Employee Health & Well Being Benefits | Every Voice Matters | Global Reach | Life at Unilever | Careers with Purpose | World Class Career Development Programs | Check Out Our Space | Focus On Sustainability


Unilever is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination under Federal law. For more information, please see EEO is the Law

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.