Associate Research Director- Sensory and Consumer Science

We are the leading international sensory and consumer research company specializing in food, beverages, cosmetics, personal care, and other consumer products. We have 19 proprietary state-of-the-art facilities across France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom, Morocco, China and the USA, and cover more than 65 countries through our network of approved partners.

SAM provides tailor-made solutions, delivering actionable guidelines to make our clients’ brands and products memorable.

Join SAM to work with the most competent, creative, and fun team in the industry and let your work, opinions and ideas contribute to the future of sensory and consumer research.

Become your most extraordinary self with support and development throughout your career.

Join our very diverse team of sensory scientists, food technologists, statisticians, psychologists, sociologists, strategic thinkers, marketeers, field managers, technicians and other sensory and research experienced colleagues.

Reporting to a Research Director, an Associate Research Director oversees various accounts and multiple projects and brings technical expertise to the research team, while developing a team of Research Managers.

Responsible for 3-4 FMCG product testing Accounts: client retention, client delight and Account growth

Ensure revenue targets for assigned accounts are achieved

Develop proactive plans to address risks and capitalize on opportunities within accounts

Oversee timely, accurate, and high‑quality project delivery for Account team

Lead the development and delivery of complex proposals and tenders

Bring technical expertise and ensure the use of best‑practice methodologies

Deliver complex regional and global projects: play active role in project management, reporting and holistic delivery of projects

Provide strategic, story-led recommendations based on client feedback, market trends, and project performance

Ensure project execution aligns with client objectives and broader business priorities

Line manage 2-3 Research Managers

Manage workload allocation and resource planning for the team

Ensure Research Managers receive appropriate coaching and training

Mentor team members in research skills, leadership, and career development

Ensure outputs from team members meet the expected standards of quality and insight

Minimum 3 years in consumer research and/or sensory research

FMCG product testing experience: practical experience of core product testing methodologies: i.e. HUTs, CLTs, IDIs

Significant experience in quantitative consumer research methodologies

Minimum foundational understanding of qual research: when to recommend qual/bring in qual experts from within SAM

Significant experience in a Research manager role

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

Proficiency in MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc

Strong leadership abilities to manage teams and oversee large-scale research initiatives

Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills

Rigorous, responsive and proactive