About the business:

JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS (JDE) is a €5 billion global business retaining a start-up feel and containing some of the leading brands in Coffee and Tea – Kenco, Douwe Egberts, TASSIMO and Jacobs to name a few.

The UK represents a top 5 global market for JDE and has experienced 8 years of continual growth, with our TASSIMO brand being a standout performer with continuous year on year double digit growth. JDE UK is the number 2 branded coffee supplier to the UK retail trade with approx. 30% market share of this growing £1bn+ RSV category.

JDE is a growth engine for the category driving premiumisation by leading the single-serve partition with the Tassimo brand and premiumising the instant coffee segment through Kenco, Douwe Egberts and the newly launched L’Or brand.

Business context of the role:

The Consumer & Sensory Category lead is part of the Consumer Science group. The Consumer Science group supports Innovation Platforms & Categories R&D to design the best product / pack (congruent with Brand experience) with the mission to identify, set up and deploy the adequate tools & methodologies to assess consumer behaviour towards product experience and to measure full product experience performance.

The team ensures the early engagement of consumers and brings them at the centre of the product design process. The position reports to the Consumer Science Manager and collaborates with key partners such as R&D Category leads and Marketing Teams.

About the role:

The Consumer & Sensory Category lead work hand in hand with the R&D category lead in order to identify and clarify strategic consumer’s knowledge gaps (from Innovation to renovation and design quality support). He/she is able to build programs with a significant impact on Category business performance. Manages multiple and large categories projects. Prepares scope of work and conceptualizes technical approaches.

The Consumer Science group leader is able to establish effective linkages with cross functional partners (train when needed), and able to draw business relevant conclusion and recommendation from Sensory and consumer test data. The person can proactively develops alternative approaches to address business needs. Seen as key resource by R&D leaders and Marketing leaders.

The person may supervise technicians or more junior scientists. The Category lead will plan, coordinate and administer the delivery of sensory (analyze data), and consumer testing using the team or on its own.

Provides technical leadership for multiple functional project teams. Works with academic and research institutions to seek external methods and approaches.

Shares learnings with cross-functional colleagues while seeking internal expertise. Leads with ideas and challenges the technical resources of suppliers.

Participate in the execution of the departmental strategic plans.

Key responsibilities of the role:  

• Influence Category leaders and sometimes R&D Directors to build appropriate consumers testing and build programs with significant business impact.
• Work in close collaboration with business partners (prioritisation against business strategy plan)
• Need to be trusted by his/her team and the business partners
• Shares and communicates within team as well as cross functional
• Lead and influence major projects supporting the categories, design projects to increase consumer understanding providing actionable input into Business
• Important to be able to take decisions, need to be able to break down complex things to be understood by others, can articulate problems and issues in an appropriate way as well as acknowledgements
• Decides the right sensory test methodology and sets up and runs adequate consumer/product test depending on the business question. Bring decisions to an execution 
• Manages the team and their development, Manage overall team workload and resource, and assure timely delivery of projects
• Care for people, shows appreciation of his/her team and cross functions, ability to discuss in teams and to align on the issues
• Build appropriate linkage with the statistical group, Ensure tools (e.g. software licenses) and methods are available and appropriate for team activities
• Raise internal Consumer Science awareness and profile within R&D and Marketing. Actively promote the expertise and best practice within the business.

Education:

• Degree in food science and technology, food and nutrition, natural sciences

Must have experience:

• Some years of experience in managing Consumer science professionals plus good knowledge of consumer science testing methods (including qualitative, quantitative and non-standard methods). Suggests new methodologies for consideration. High degree of technical skill.
• Assumes leadership role under guidance of supervisor with key stakeholders and interfaces with R&D peers and leaders and cross functional senior management.
• High degree of autonomy. Broad understanding of JDE Business
• Knowledge in sensory and consumer sciences
• High understanding of statistical approaches and tools
• Agility, flexibility, quick learner & quick adaptation
• Good oral and written communication skills, ability to influence audience
• Managerial and interpersonal skills
• Project management skills
• Decision quality and Drive for results
• Fluent English

What’s it like to work at JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS?

We are proud of our passionate and driven associates who challenge the status quo and pursue mastery in everything they do. Our goal is simple and ambitious – JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS: A coffee for every cup

Working with us means you’ll be making an impact in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. We work as a team, celebrating success and support one another. Our associates work with a diverse group of like-minded people in an innovative environment committed to doing the right thing across the globe. Your achievements here will get noticed.

Jacobs Douwe Egberts is a global coffee & tea company, serving consumers in more than 80 countries through iconic brands including: JACOBS, TASSIMO, MOCCONA, SENSEO, L'OR, DOUWE EGBERTS, KENCO, PILAO and GEVALIA