Research & Innovation Consumer Packaging Insights (RCI) Manager

Job Title: Research & Innovation Consumer Packaging Insights (RCI) Manager, LIPTON Teas and Infusions
Work Location: Amsterdam Science Park, Amsterdam, Netherlands
WL: WL2A
Job Type: Full Time
Travel required 10% of time
Role Summary
LIPTON Teas and Infusions is the world’s largest tea business, with world-class, purpose-driven brands such as Lipton, Pukka, Tazo, T2, PG Tips AND Brooke Bond. We are truly united in one purpose: growing a world of wellbeing to generate value for all.
Within LIPTON Teas and Infusions, the Research & Innovation (R&I) team work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to unlock value for all, underpinned by our Value Creation Plan (VCP) strategy, covering all tea types of Black, Green, Herbal and other formats.
The R&I Consumer Insights (RCI) Community is strategically aligned across the VCP programme, ensuring that we bring consumer and sensory insights into the heart of decision making on growth strategies, Innovation projects and capability development.
In this role as RCI Manager you will primarily be responsible for leading the 3D packaging consumer insight and testing programmes to support the packaging premiumisation agenda globally and across brands.
3D packaging encompasses both functional aspects of the packaging e.g. easy to open, easy to reseal, keeps the tea fresh, and emotional aspects e.g. conveys feelings of warmth and sociability, conveys an energetic and fresh perspective.
This role will report directly into the RCI Director (who in turn reports into the Chief R&I Officer), and work closely with the with RCI team of 5 to 7 people across the Globe (see below).
If you have a passion for 3D packaging, the creativity to shape impactful consumer packaging research, the ability to translate consumer science & insights into opportunities for exceptional packaging experiences, together with a strong bias for action – this is the role for you.
A unique opportunity to be part of such an important capability within the R&I function, which is in huge demand and can help unlock significant value creation for the business.
Key Tasks on the role
● Working within multi-functional VCP project teams to shape and execute consumer 3D packaging research, draw out key learnings, and make clear, actionable recommendations for project teams.
● Coupling consumer insight with deep knowledge of our brands’ personality to ensure our packaging experiences are true to our brand DNA and visions.
● Partnering seamlessly with CMI (Consumer Marketing Insights) teams to create integrated 2D and 3D pack consumer research plans aligned with business objectives and stakeholder risk appetite.
● Playing an active role in crafting consumer & customer compelling stories/claims to drive impactful in-market execution and ensuring robust consumer packaging evidence is in place to substantiate claims where relevant.
● Evaluating competitive performance of our existing in-market packs vs key competition (pack benchmarking)
● Keeping abreast of latest external developments (academic & market research industry) in consumer 3D packaging research approaches, to provide optimal research solutions for business partners. Experimenting with new disruptive techniques, sharing learnings across the RCI community, and contributing to the development of best practice guidelines for our RCI toolbox.
● Having full knowledge of professional codes of conduct (ethics, data protection laws etc.) and ensuring that all our research practices adhere strictly to these.
● Developing & nurturing a strong network of consumer & sensory research agency partners, working closely with them to develop cost efficient and effective methodologies for consumer insight packaging testing across the Globe.
Stakeholder Management and key interfaces
● As RCI lead for Global Packaging, the individual will interact on a daily or weekly basis with relevant R&I Directors (including R&I Packaging Director), Technical Project/Programme Leaders, Marketing Directors & managers, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Nutrition and other relevant business functions.
● This role will report to the RCI Director based in Amsterdam.
● A key part of the role will be interaction with leading data and insight agencies.
Skills and Experience
• Degree in human sciences (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, User Experience), packaging design or equivalent professional qualification (e.g. MRS diploma).
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in an FMCG company consumer insight’s role or Market Research agency, preferably with emphasis on technical R&D applications.
• Fully operational in consumer research techniques (qual and quant), highly preferably in a packaging context.
• Experience within Food or Beverages categories is highly desirable.
• Fluent in English
Who we are looking for the role
● A passion for packaging, user experience and premiumisation.
● Inquisitive by nature and passionate about consumers, their habits and what influences/drives their preferences.
● Curiosity coupled with analytical thinking to identify patterns across multiple sources of data, distil insights and translate these into business opportunities.
● Creative and entrepreneurial thinking to support the development of new ideas.
● The ability to bring consumer data and insights to life in a compelling way for a non-technical audience.
● Ability to communicate clearly, constructively challenge, and influence thinking within multi-disciplinary teams.
● The ability to build collaborative working relationships across functions and cultures, and with key partner agencies.
● Business acumen, and understanding of key functional roles beyond R&I (Marketing, CD, SC, Finance etc.)
● Able to work independently to shape and drive the RCI research programme within projects.
● The ability to work across several projects simultaneously, with agility.
● A proactive, resourceful mindset - and strong bias for action.
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