This pivotal role demands a visionary expert to bridge the frontiers of cognitive science, consumer behavior, and the multi-sensory experience. This expert will drive groundbreaking product innovation and cultivate unparalleled consumer satisfaction by unraveling the complexities of multi-sensory perception and emotional response. 

1. Skincare Project Management and Business Impact

•    Manage sensory projects across multiple skincare categories, proactively engaging with category leaders, formulators and valorization team to define objectives and ensure test relevance.

•    Act as a leading sensory expert, seizing opportunities to push forward critical initiatives by designing and implementing cutting-edge evaluation methodologies.

•    Oversee the flawless execution of sensory tests and conduct sophisticated data analysis, translating complex findings into actionable insights for product development and compelling communication.

•    Good knowledge of consumer testing techniques. Collaborate closely with the Consumer Insights team to integrate consumer understanding, ensuring sensory innovation is directly aligned with unmet consumer needs and market opportunities.

•    Lead and optimize the sensory panel, ensuring its excellence through rigorous training, supervision, and fostering strong engagement and development of panel leader assistants.

•    Continuously streamline and improve current working ways, proactively optimizing processes to enhance overall sensory evaluation efficiency and effectiveness.

2.Cognitive Sensory Research & Insight Generation

•    Lead the full lifecycle of cognitive sensory research projects, from experimental design and execution to advanced data interpretation, focusing on consumer perception, emotional responses, and behavioral aspects across categories.

•    Perform advanced statistical analysis, translating complex cognitive and sensory data into profound, actionable insights that directly inform strategic business decisions and product innovation.

•    Effectively communicate compelling findings and strategic implications to diverse internal stakeholders, ensuring clarity and impact.

3.Strategic Cognitive Sensory Leadership & Global Methodology Advancement

•    Act as a primary authority and strategic partner in cognitive sensory science, providing deep technical knowledge and visionary guidance to key internal teams.

•    Champion the identification, evaluation, and global deployment of cutting-edge cognitive sensory methodologies and best practices, enhancing predictive capabilities and fostering knowledge transfer across L'Oréal's worldwide network.

•    Champion the integration of cognitive insights with sensory insights and consumer understanding to anticipate unmet consumer needs and identify breakthrough market opportunities.

•    As a sensory expert, proactively share advanced sensory knowledge and learnings with junior scientists and colleagues, cultivating a culture of scientific curiosity, rigor, and continuous improvement. 

•    Significantly contribute to the long-term strategic planning and technical roadmap for skincare sensory team. 

Requirements:

•    Ph.D. or Master's degree in Sensory science, Cognitive Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, or related scientific field is required.

•    Minimum 10 years (negotiable based on candidate quality and profile) of progressive professional experience in sensory research, consumer insights, or cognitive science, with a proven track record of leadership in the consumer goods, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, or related industries. 

•    Preferably with international company experience

•    Fluent English and Chinese

•    Mastery of advanced analytical and statistical methods, with expert proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Python for data science, SAS, SPSS) and the ability to develop custom analytical approaches.

•    Proficiency in specialized statistical software for sensory data analysis (e.g., ANOVA, Fizz, R, SPSS, etc.)

•    Deep expertise in psychophysics, neuro-physiology, and advanced consumer behavior principles, with the ability to apply theoretical frameworks to practical business challenges.

•    Extensive hands-on experience and innovative application of a broad range of sensory evaluation techniques (e.g., descriptive analysis, temporal methods, consumer testing), consumer market research, and advanced cognitive research methodologies (e.g., EEG, fMRI, eye-tracking, implicit measures, biometrics).

•    Leadership: Demonstrates strategic thinking with a strong growth mindset, proactively seizing opportunities and pushing initiatives forward to innovate and drive significant change within a dynamic R&I environment.

•    Decisiveness: Ability to make timely and effective decisions, even under pressure, to keep initiatives moving forward and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

•    Drive for Results: A proactive and resilient 'can-do' attitude, consistently pushing to translate ideas into tangible outcomes and achieve ambitious goals.