Overview
Job Title: Lead Sensory Innovation Scientist
Location: Slough / Paddington, United Kingdom
Salary: £62,500 - £76,000, annual bonus, car allowance, benefits
Shape the Future of Snacks & Treats
Join Us as a Lead Sensory Innovation Scientist in the Consumer Technical Insights team to transform consumer insights into unforgettable product experiences. You’ll sit at the intersection of R&D, Marketing, and Innovation, ensuring every product—whether gum, fruity treats, chocolates, or iconic brands like Bounty, Milky Way, Maltesers, and regional specialties—delivers a consistent high-quality experience to consumers across EMEA.
The Lead Sensory Innovation Scientist is a trusted partner to cross functional partners, ensuring products are created and manufactured consistently, while embracing new ideas and market-driven innovations. With deep expertise in Sensory science, Consumer Insights and the FMCG/snacks industry, you will guide the translation of data into insights that lead to meaningful, consumer-centric solutions that shape the future of our categories.
What will you do?
* Design, lead, and analyze sensory and consumer research to deliver actionable insights, decisional and diagnostic.
* Partner with product developers to ensure consistent delivery of high quality experience while enabling innovation, cost optimization, regulatory challenges etc.
* Guide claims development and validation to support storytelling and product superiority.
* Anticipate consumer trends, cultural shifts, and market needs across EU to inspire future innovation.
* Mentor and coach colleagues, building sensory and consumer-centric mindset and capabilities across the business.
What are we looking for?
* Education: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Psychology, Statistics, or related field (Master’s), or equivalent experience.
* Industry expertise: Proven background in the FMCG (ideally food/snacks) industry with strong sensory science and consumer research experience.
* Technical skills: Solid scientific expertise, advanced data analysis, and ability to translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.
* Leadership/Strategic Influencing: Strong communication and storytelling skills to engage and inspire cross-functional partners regardless of level.
* Mindset: Creative problem-solver, adaptable, nimble, thrives in ambiguity and is not afraid of bringing a clear POV (even if it is not great news).
What can you expect from Mars?
* Work with diverse and talented Associates, guided by the Five Principles.
* Join a purpose-driven company, striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
* Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our Mars University.
* Industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.
Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long term health conditions or are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here
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