Reporting to the Chief Research Officer, the person in this newly created position will be a highly visible and integral leader at QRS. This high-impact position will shape the future growth and direction of the company.

We are seeking a leader with a progressive track record of working closely with R & D to deliver best in class sensory and consumer insights by leveraging innovative research practices, methodologies and advanced analyses. The ideal candidate will also have a solid track record of building and managing high performance teams.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Increase the technical competency of the research team, ensuring our researchers are experts in choosing best research designs/methods/analytics and effectively communicating and interpreting findings to Sr. Corporate Executives
• Consult with internal/external clients and demonstrate expert level product research capabilities.
• Provide expertise and leadership in product research and consumer guidance for R & D and other product insights departments.
• Develop a client services team that consistently and strategically meet the needs of each client
• Create an environment in which innovation can flourish through empowerment and encouragement
• Populate and manage our pipeline with innovative products, services and processes that deliver on the requirements of the corporate vision, mission and strategy. This includes execution on opportunity identification through commercialization
• Provide intelligence of critical technologies that can be leveraged for a significant competitive advantage.
• Ensure alignment across team members to accomplish project and business goals
• Support client facing teams by interfacing with key clients to further establish credibility and strengthen relationships
• Identify, develop, and pursue opportunities to improve strategy and effectiveness and efficiency of processes
• Maintain a strong network within the R & D community than can be leveraged for business development, building internal teams and to define product & technological improvements that enhance our value as an R & D partner

• 10+ years experience working in R & D, Food Science / Food Technology or related field
• 3+ years experience managing a department
• Has a rich understanding of consumer packaged goods R & D operations and product development processes
• Experience must reflect upper level aptitude of statistics, sensory techniques, qualitative and quantitative research methods including experimental design techniques (e.g., conjoint)
• Demonstrates highest level of energy, intellectual curiosity, and leadership skills
• Ability to lead and manage multiple projects
• Ability to interpret complex data and relate impact on the business
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and creative problem solving skills
• Excellent technical team leadership skills
• Demonstrate strong and clear accountability for the group's performance, development and delivery
• Strong client service orientation