Job Description

The Senior Principal Scientist – Consumer Science (Beverages) is a senior technical leader responsible for driving consumer-centric strategy and product superiority for carbonated beverages. This role shapes innovation, renovation, and in-market performance by embedding deep consumer and sensory understanding into every stage of beverage development. Operating at the intersection of sensory science, consumer insights, and product design, this role ensures PepsiCo delivers superior taste and holistic experiences that win against competitors in global beverage markets.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a recognized expert in beverage consumer science and sensory science. Shaping decisions, capabilities, and outcomes across the broader organization
• Partner-advocate for career development of others via mentoring with the intention of capability building through technical and personal growth. Contribute toward making and maintaining PepsiCo as the employer of choice as measured in OHS scores.
• Influential business partner and consensus builder: Provide actionable insights and interpretation to guide current and new R&D projects. Make clear, concise, business-centric recommendation to partners in Product Development and Marketing. Consider and include other points of view to drive a consumer-centric, data-driven consensus opinion representing R&D. Ensure recommendations fit within in-market business complexities and competitive positioning, which differ significantly from brand to brand.
• Skilled communicator to executive leadership and project teams: Communicate implications and importance of research in manner and in terms appropriate to audience based on level (up through Sr. VPs). Create concise summarized content and present results with clear recommendations up to senior / executive leaders
• Learning plan owner / Research strategist: Independently design and conduct actionable research as documented in robust integrated learning plans with alignment among key senior stakeholders (L10-LG3) across various business functions (R&D, Consumer Insights, Marketing). Ensure consistency in execution and reporting for efficiency and to maximize learnings for business decisions.
• External relationship management: Build relationships and negotiate with research suppliers to conduct necessary research in accordance with our requirements. Provide feedback to vendors about ongoing relationship.
• Budget management / facilitation: Since consumer research is a large contributor to PD spend, help PD and Finance plan and manage budget, and confirm invoicing of research in accordance with period-by-period budget management process
• Digitization enabler: Ensure all Consumer Science requests and reports are shared through LabVantage. Guide newcomers to the appropriate channels to ensure the use of our digital tools.
• ONE PepsiCo culture supporter: Nurture culture of excellence, collaboration, engagement, and capability building by maintaining open lines of communication within global Consumer Science team. Make sure his team and partners operate as one PepsiCo

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $123,500 - $206,750.
• Location, confirmed job-related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 15% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (minimum) in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g. Sensory science, Food Science, Psychology) with a strong theoretical background in test design, research methodologies & statistical analysis techniques
• 10+ Years in CPG R&D
• Proven expertise in Sensory and Consumer Product Research, enabling sensory informed product design decisions.
• Deep subject matter expertise and experience in quantitative sensory and consumer research methods for new and existing products. Beverage knowledge is preferred.
• Proven ability to design, analyze and interpret Sensory and Consumer findings into implications and actionable results that refine product, packaging, and brand strategies.
• Proven ability to think strategically to drive identification of opportunity spaces the organization can leverage to pursue meaningful consumer solutions.
• Proven ability to influence cross functional decision making to ensure human centricity remains at the heart of project decisions.
• Horizon scanning and ability to implement in house cutting edge sensory science methods
• Clear understanding/appreciation of the broader business environment and application of technical and commercial knowledge.

• This position is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States

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Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity

If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.

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