Consumer Technical Insights is an integral part of the R&D function and is instrumental in bringing the consumer insight early on in the development stage of the product.
The role requires to manage CTI and advance appraisal activities in collaboration with GDC, RDC formulation, CMI, legal and regulatory teams to support the Hair care specific projects e.g. project planning, logistic arrangements, tracking time-lines, sample organizing, maintaining budget sheets, co-ordination/set up of salon and appraisal tests, consumer tests and data analysis
This position will be a member of the Cluster Design CTI & Appraisal Team and will be responsible for design & deploy of the regional CTI and appraisal program for key brands in Hair.
This Role demands close collaboration with other cross-functional team (Product development, Processing, CMI & CTI, Brand , Engineering, Procurement etc) and external 3Ps and CROs.
Key accountabilities
Be fully operational and work independently to drive Consumer research aspects of projects effectively,
- Independently managing CTI activity planning for consumer research, ensuring the support for product research, risk management, ensuring compliance with ethics and legal requirements of South Asia (IN, Pak, BLD, SL).
- Translate product properties & performance into consumer actionable insights.
- Proficiency in use of data mining, global trends brainstorming, out of category brainstorming, third party briefing as a mean to drive more ambitious communications.
- Strong and quick decision-making ability.
- Anticipate assessment and minimization of environmental, safety, regulatory, PR and competitive challenges.
- Build and maintain strong networks with cross functional (Brand, CMI, Clinical, Discovery etc.) and R&D Cluster teams.
- Responsible for Legal & regulatory clearances of products in all South Asia countries (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal).
- Optimise CTI methodology (qualitative, quantitative and sensory), using internal and external inputs and support interpretation and explanation of results into product optimisation.
- Understand the consumer habits & needs as required by the Project team while articulating the needs of business for all SA countries.
- Good appreciation for application of claim support testing for the products e.g. in vivo/vitro testing on hair to run and maintain evaluation capability (Appraisal and salon).
- Contribute to claim support data, interpret and write the claims support dossier for SA led projects.
- Creative in respect to developing new ideas which can help create new claims and demos relevant for SA region which can help maximise technology impact (MTI).
- Idea generation and development of consumer relevant and engaging demos across brands to maximize technology (instore/POS etc) impact to trigger purchase intent.
- Internal stakeholders’ engagement: Organizing the workshops to educate and excite Mkt, CD and sales team on Hair and product science.
- Digital: Generating exciting and engaging content for digital media to bring Product technology and science alive.
- External orientation: Participating in Scientific conferences with posters/publication/presentation to elevate external perception of UL science, technology and product recommendations.
- Responsibility will also include interfaces with senior stakeholders.
PROBLEM COMPLEXITY
The ability to work independently across a number of complex projects simultaneously,
- The person needs to manage multiple complex projects and logistic issues simultaneously – to deal with multiple functional teams, 3rd party, Market Research agency and to coordinate with the R&D teams to have the product samples in time to initiate projects as per time-lines, to ensure budgets are maintained through the year.
- To have the right ability to run evaluation, appraisal capabilities, manage logistics, interact with salon experts, train them regularly, recruit consumers for sensory and boothwash panel and keep them motivated to be a part of the same over the years.
- Should have the ability to assess the concerns that need immediate escalation to line manager.
- Assimilate the regional requirements for the product/innovation, feeding it back to the Global team during early engagement stage of project.
- Direct visibility to stakeholders in appropriate projects/forums.
- Successfully manage the Cross-Functional interfaces for Large complex projects.
- Have good understanding of the Consumer Habits and Attitudes and Need Gaps and is able to translate the same into technical requirements for a project.
Skills:
- Good knowledge of Product Science, experience in Hair Care and Claims for personal care products would be valuable.
- Experience in consumer research is preferable or experience of working in Personal care categories and proficient in digital analytics.
- Working knowledge of consumer quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Ability to work independently with cross-functional partners and external parties to lead the project work.
- Experience in digital R&D is desirable.
- Working knowledge of statistical tools and data analysis and interpretation.
- Understanding of legal marketing law and product regulations regionally.
- Basic understanding of analytical methods and microbiology.
- Experience in working on global projects.
- Excellent presentation skill.
- Strong data analysis skill.
- Ability and experience to work with stakeholders remotely located in different parts of the world.
LATERAL CONTACTS
- To provide understanding of interactions – products-consumers, Technical & Formulation teams, GDC CTI, claims and appraisal teams, CMI teams, brand teams, admin and finance team, Market Research Agencies, third party Suppliers of any services availed.
Experience (Profile and Years)
- Work experience about 6-8 years in handling consumer interface for the business (within the relevant category will be given preference). Needs to have interfaced with R&D teams extensively on product evaluation as part of responsibilities handled.
Qualification
- Postgraduate in Science stream (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Biology, Chemistry, basic sciences) or postgraduate in cosmetic technology
Travel
- Very intermittent, domestic/ local travel for consumer research, 3P, CROs.