Global Head of Sensory and Technical Insights

Want to join a fast-moving company, work among convivial teams, and take part in the global growth strategy of one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolios in the wine & spirits industry? We are looking for a Global Head of Sensory and Technical Insights! You will be based at The Island, our office in central Paris. 

Your key missions:

Reporting to the Global Research, Sensory and Analytical Sciences Director, you will lead the development and application of sensory science, technical product understanding and consumer-relevant insights to support innovation, product quality, reformulations and strategic decision-making across our spirits portfolio. As the bridge between consumer understanding, sensory perception, analytical data, product development, quality and brand strategy, you will make sure product decisions are grounded in robust science and translated into meaningful business outcomes – building the capabilities, best practices, expert teams and panels that unlock growth.

Sensory strategy & leadership

• Define and own the global sensory and technical insights strategy, driving capability development, scientific excellence and business impact across innovation, renovation and quality

• Shape portfolio decisions by identifying sensory whitespace opportunities, product superiority drivers and emerging consumer preferences

• Monitor emerging scientific developments and translate them into competitive advantage

• Drive the development of novel sensory methodologies, predictive approaches and insight-generation techniques

• Build external scientific networks with universities, research institutes and industry bodies

• Establish sensory science as a core capability supporting product innovation, quality improvement and competitive benchmarking

• Ensure sensory methodologies are fit-for-purpose, scientifically robust and relevant to business decision-making

• Build a clear vision for how sensory and technical insights contribute to consumer preference, product superiority, premiumisation and brand differentiation

• Contribute to long-term product and technology roadmaps across categories

Product & technical insights

• Lead the generation of technical product insights across spirits categories – whisky, gin, vodka, rum, tequila, liqueurs, aperitifs and low/no alcohol products

• Translate sensory and analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations for R&D, marketing, quality, operations and brand teams

• Support the identification of key product drivers, sensory attributes, flavour profiles and technical levers influencing consumer perception and product performance

• Connect sensory data with analytical chemistry, processing, maturation, packaging and consumer research to build a holistic understanding of product experience

• Provide sensory and technical guidance throughout the innovation process, from early concept screening to final product validation

• Ensure product changes are assessed with appropriate sensory and technical risk evaluation

• Help protect brand consistency and consumer trust by ensuring sensory-critical attributes are understood, monitored and controlled

Sensory data

• Drive the adoption of a digital sensory platform, advanced analytics, AI-enabled insight generation and predictive modelling approaches

• Ensure data quality, governance, accessibility and knowledge management across sensory activities globally

• Drive the integration of sensory, analytical, consumer, quality and product data to generate deeper technical understanding

• Define and oversee the development of sensory data models, product landscapes and insight platforms

• Champion the use of digital tools, sensory software, databases and data visualisation to improve knowledge management and decision-making

• Translate complex scientific and sensory information into clear narratives for technical and non-technical stakeholders

Capability building

• Build and lead a global sensory and technical insights community of practice, aligning methodologies, capability development and knowledge sharing across sites, brands and business units

• Lead the development, training, calibration and performance management of sensory panels, including expert, descriptive, discrimination and quality panels

• Define standards for sensory panel governance, panel reliability, data quality and continuous improvement

• Ensure consistent application of sensory methodologies across sites, markets and categories

• Build internal capability through training, coaching, tools and best-practice sharing

Collaboration

• Partner with R&D, brand, marketing, consumer insights and quality teams to support new product development and reformulation projects

• Act as the company’s leading expert in sensory and technical insights, influencing strategic decisions at senior leadership level

• Represent sensory and technical insights in executive reviews, innovation governance forums and strategic portfolio discussions

• Define and govern global sensory standards for product quality and brand consistency

• Provide sensory expertise for quality investigations, product changes, supplier transitions, process modifications and market complaints

• Work closely with blenders and liquid R&D teams

• Represent the company at industry forums, scientific conferences and external collaborations

Team leadership & development

• Lead, develop and inspire a team of sensory scientists, technical insight specialists, panel leaders and product researchers

• Set clear priorities, objectives and performance expectations aligned with business needs

• Develop and manage the sensory and technical insights budget, prioritising resources, external partnerships, technologies and capability investments

• Build a culture of scientific excellence, curiosity, collaboration, impact and continuous improvement

• Coach team members to strengthen their technical expertise, influencing skills and business-partnering capabilities

If you recognize yourself in the description below, don’t wait to apply! 

You have:

• an MSc or PhD in Sensory Science, Chemistry, Flavour Science, Consumer Science or a related scientific discipline (training in sensory statistics, consumer research, flavour chemistry, data science or spirits production is a plus)

• Significant experience in sensory science, product research, consumer science, technical insights, R&D or product development – ideally within spirits, alcoholic beverages, food, flavour or FMCG

• Proven experience building and leading global scientific capabilities or centres of excellence

• a track record of influencing senior leadership and shaping strategic business decisions

• experience leading organisational change, capability transformation or digital initiatives

• a strong external network within sensory science, flavour science, consumer science or related disciplines

• a strong command of sensory methodologies, including descriptive analysis, discrimination testing, preference mapping, quality sensory testing and product benchmarking

• experience working with technical product data, analytical results, consumer insights and product development processes

• experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing senior stakeholders

• previous people management or team leadership experience

• familiarity with sensory software and data visualisation tools

You are:

• able to translate scientific understanding into commercial and brand value

• a confident scientific writer, storyteller and presenter, at ease turning complex data into clear narratives for technical and non-technical audiences

• curious, collaborative and impact-driven, with a passion for scientific excellence and continuous improvement

Nice to have:

• hands-on experience with spirits, flavour chemistry, maturation, distillation, blending, low/no alcohol or liquid development (highly advantageous)

• experience writing scientific papers, posters and presentations

• experience with predictive modelling and advanced statistics

Wait, there’s more… 

We offer you an outstanding and collaborative workplace that embodies our sharing & conviviality culture, the possibility to work remotely (up to 2 days a week), a very complete mutual insurance, an attractive compensation including profit-sharing, the possibility to train daily, employee events…

Pernod Ricard is committed to offering equal opportunities to all talents. Our recruitment methods focus on skills and competencies.

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