Product & Package Assurance Strategy Principal Scientist, R&D – Consumer Experience (CX) ​

Job Description

Job Purpose

​​The Product & Package Assurance Strategy Principal Scientist is accountable for embedding benchmarking as a practical, enterprise way of working that helps teams maintain & improve Kraft Heinz product and package in-market performance. This role defines the enterprise operating model, aligns senior leaders on program vision and scope, and builds the communication system that turns program outputs into shared focus and action. You will lead robust annual product status update discussions, using structured cross-functional inputs & benchmarking results to inform targeted action for strong product/pack performance.  You will build systems that keep the program operating smoothly at an enterprise level: program goals, dashboards, impact tracking, communication cadence for LT updates. You will also enable automation (financial pulls, portfolio views, priority identification) so that teams spend less time chasing inputs and more time acting on results - so teams can strengthen in-market product and packaging performance. 
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Overview of the CX Product & Package Assurance Team

The CX Product Insights Product & Package Assurance Team maintains & strengthens in-market product and packaging performance by translating consumer experience signals into clear direction that R&D and cross-functional partners can use to improve products. Their benchmarking program provides consistent, comparable measurement of product and packaging experiences to identify performance gaps, diagnose drivers, and track improvement over time.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

- ​​Align executives on benchmarking program vision, scope, decision uses, product selection, and annual operating cadence across business units.

- ​Stand up enterprise governance: intake, prioritization, decision rights, and escalation paths; drive stakeholder alignment on test plans.

- ​Build and maintain enterprise dashboards and reporting that communicate progress, success criteria, and implications for leadership.

- ​Automate core program operations (ex: financial pulls, portfolio views, priority identification) in partnership with Finance/Analytics/Tech.

- ​Lead annual product status update with cross-functional inputs to revisit and get a pulse on current product & pack performance, formulation updates, & in-market dynamics (with Ops, Nutrition, Regulatory, etc.)

- ​Develop and embed quarterly tracking system to ensure action items are visible and prioritized as projects.

- ​Create the communication strategy and rhythms (LT updates, cross-BU forums, standard readout formats) that reinforce adoption and make the program “sticky”

- ​Drive socialization and training within & outside R&D to embed common language, adoption, and expectations for the benchmarking program.

- ​Connect across business units to ensure consistent enterprise rollout, transparency, and comparability of program outputs.

- ​Track program health (adoption, timeliness, stakeholder satisfaction) and drive corrective actions to improve engagement & actionable outputs.​

Expected Experience & Required Skills

- ​​Bachelor’s degree minimum (Consumer Behavior/Psychology, Marketing Research, Engineering, Food Science, Human Factors, Industrial Design, or related STEM field).

- ​Minimum of 6+ years (BS), 5+ years (MS) or 4+ years (PhD) in consumer/product research, consumer experience, or applied insights supporting product development and commercialization—CPG or food & beverage strongly preferred—with demonstrated progression as a technical authority across multiple brands/platforms and vendor ecosystems.

- ​Proven executive alignment and stakeholder management (VP+), with clear judgment on decision rights and escalation.

- ​Strong program operating discipline: governance, dashboards, KPIs, cadence design, change management, financial competency.

- ​Strategic thinker, with demonstrated ability to translate complex information into crisp leadership communications and decisions.

- ​Recognized expertise across CX research methods (qualitative and quantitative), including end-to-end study design, instrument development, analysis planning, synthesis, and storytelling

- ​Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional programs with multiple stakeholders, and delivery milestones

- ​Bias toward standardization and process improvement; able to simplify ambiguity into clear plans and ownership.

- ​Ability to influence without authority across technical and commercial teams; comfortable aligning competing priorities under time pressure.

- ​Demonstrated capability building: coaching, technical training, and establishing best practices/standards in a matrixed organization.

- ​Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.​

Work Environment & Schedule

We believe the office is a critical driver of innovation, connection, and development, but also realize providing flexibility to our employees is critical. To create a more agile and modern workplace, this position will be able to work virtually for up to two days each week and will be expected to work in-person at the assigned work location at least three days per workweek.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain all duties or responsibilities that are required of the role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range:
$104,200.00 - $130,200.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

- Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
- Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
- Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
- Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)
Glenview R&D Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.  In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.