Sr. Analyst, Sensory & Consumer Insights

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Job description

Sr. Analyst, Sensory & Consumer Insights

Panera Bread is currently looking to hire a highly-motivated individual with keen interest in food and a customer facing role to fill the position of Coordinator, Analyst, Sensory & Business Insights, with focus on sensory. Panera is a specialty bakery cafe concept that owns and franchises over 2,000 bakery cafes nationally. The Company has experienced tremendous growth and is looking to expand internal capabilities in sensory testing. This position sits within the Insights & Analytics Team in the Needham Support Center in Needham, MA and reports to the Senior Manager of Insights and Innovation.

The Coordinator, Sr. Analyst, Sensory & Business Insights will work with a variety of teams including Strategy, Innovation/Concept Development and Commercialization to facilitate 1) the sensory process, conduct hands on analysis and reporting and 2) ad hoc projects related to furthering Panera's understanding of customer needs. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication and technical skills, is detailed oriented, proactive, an eager learner, passionate about our food and is interested in helping to improve current and future sensory and insights capabilities at Panera.

Responsibilities:

The primary role will be to facilitate research in a sensory capacity for Panera Bread. This will include:

Engaging within Panera departments to plan, manage and execute on-going testing of different recipes, ingredients and future developments

Designing, programming and testing customer surveys

Managing the sensory testing program including welcome, sign in, survey trouble shooting and food service

Supporting and maintaining sensory testing equipment and documents

Analyzing and presenting results to internal stakeholders, vendors and suppliers

Developing recommendations for future sensory improvements

Other sensory related needs as defined by the business

Assisting on ad-hoc research projects as needed including developing questionnaires, survey programming, analysis and sharing of results

Qualifications include:

BA in marketing, research or food science preferred but not critical

2-5 years' experience in a market research area

Food and/or sensory knowledge and/or experience would be highly regarded

Proficiency with basic computer skills (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Proven project management and organizational skills

Proven effective multitasking and time-management skills

Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including public speaking

Takes personal responsibility for continuous acquisition of new knowledge, skillsets, business acumen and experiences

Exhibit and live Panera's cultural values and concept essence

Experience working in a fast paced, deadline driven environment

15-20% travel as needed determined by project requirements.

Needham Support Center

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