Sensory Qualitative Associate Director

at  MMR Research Worldwide LTD

ARE YOU A DYNAMIC SENSORY SCIENTIST OR R&D PROFESSIONAL? ARE YOU LOOKING TO WORK AS A QUALITATIVE SENSORY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ON EXCITING CLIENT INNOVATION PROJECTS?

With this role, you will be working on all the portfolio of Sensory Qual methodologies we have developed at MMR for the last 13 years to help support our clients in designing an ideal product and pack briefs to fit an idea/concept/positioning (being innovation or renovation), in understanding sensorially active characteristics during the consumption journey or in developing the complete guardrails for innovation working alongside our qual and brand consultant colleagues.

REQUIREMENTS

The EMEA Sensory Qual team you will join is a welcoming bunch of foodies that love nothing more than discovering new products to try from all over the world, and who will offer keen support throughout. In this role you will be responsible for managing one person based in Durban, South Africa, while working closely with the EMEA Sensory Qual team whom are largely based in the UK.

What we need from you:

• Energy and enthusiasm and willingness to get stuck in.
• Strong passion for sensory research and innovation in FMCG / CPG sectors.
• Sensory moderation – candidates should be able to elicit detailed sensory vocabulary from trained panelists and transfer these moderation skills to working with clients / untrained consumers.
• Sensory acuity– ability to articulate product sensory characteristics themselves and to provide clear argumentation / recommendation on product differences to support a product selection relevant to the project objectives.
• Strong communication skills (fluent in written / spoken English is essential)-must be comfortable presenting and leading workshops with both senior clients and internal stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills – candidates should feel comfortable leading a team and working collaboratively with other teams to deliver multi-stage projects, although should also be comfortable working independently too.
• Ability to write engaging story led presentations and present them with gravitas to senior audiences.
• Ability in managing one mid-level person based in Durban, SA and have the drive to grow the team in the future.
• Fluency in written / spoken languages African or Middle Eastern languages would be an advantage but not a requirement.

You will therefore work across all MMR existing client teams and new ones too, which will provide a lot of variety in the product categories researched, as well as challenges. We are solution-focused, so adaptability and quick thinking are crucial, especially in the current circumstances. Most of MMR’s work is food, drink and personal care related, so experience in these sectors is advantageous, to be able to demonstrate relevant expertise to our clients.
All our Sensory Qual approaches use qualitative collaborative techniques, so consumer understanding and great client interaction are key to adding value to the process. You will own the projects you work on and deliver them from proposal to debrief as well as lead and collaborate on business development initiatives to continue to grow our client base.
We conduct research all over the world with a mix of in-person and online approaches with opportunities to travel when appropriate. Any foreign language skills are therefore advantageous. Being able to drive a car and travel within South Africa (and internationally), is essential.
As part of the wider Sensory Community of MMR, you will also be sharing your sensory knowledge and assessment skills across the business and be involved in selling and delivering exciting new ventures like Sensory Semiotics!