Sensory Scientist

VINHOOD is a sensory-tech company based in Milan. We make taste accessible: we collect and analyse consumer taste data through a proprietary sensory model, and turn it into insights and personalised experiences for food & beverage and FMCG brands.

Our online Taste Test (www.vinhood.com) translates each person's preferences into a sensory profile made of multiple variables. We use these profiles to segment consumers across food and beverage categories and to support new product development, assortment optimisation and communication for leading companies in the sector. Behind the model there are 3 million taste profiles, 100 million data points across more than 40 countries and over ten years of algorithm development.

How we work: we are a flat organisation, with no management layers. We work by project, and project teams are empowered to make decisions; coordinators are the most experienced people in each area and coach the others.

Twice a year we hold a 360 conversation that evaluates personal growth, change management attitude, impact on business and on the society.

Our values: Be Open and Curious, Be Competitive and Fair, Be Authentic and Empathic, Be Sustainable and Trusted, Enjoy Together.

VINHOOD is a sensory-tech company based in Milan. We make taste accessible: we collect and analyse consumer taste data through a proprietary sensory model, and turn it into insights and personalised experiences for food & beverage and FMCG brands.

Our online Taste Test (www.vinhood.com) translates each person's preferences into a sensory profile made of multiple variables. We use these profiles to segment consumers across food and beverage categories and to support new product development, assortment optimisation and communication for leading companies in the sector. Behind the model there are 3 million taste profiles, 100 million data points across more than 40 countries and over ten years of algorithm development.

How we work: we are a flat organisation, with no management layers. We work by project, and project teams are empowered to make decisions; coordinators are the most experienced people in each area and coach the others.

Twice a year we hold a 360 conversation that evaluates personal growth, change management attitude, impact on business and on the society.

Our values: Be Open and Curious, Be Competitive and Fair, Be Authentic and Empathic, Be Sustainable and Trusted, Enjoy Together.

We are looking for a Sensory Scientist with 2-4 years of experience to run sensory and consumer research on food and beverage products. You will design and run sensory studies, analyse how consumers choose and what drives their preferences, and use the results to develop our proprietary consumer profiling model and to advise leading F&B and FMCG brands.

• Design and run sensory studies on food and beverage products, in the lab and in the field, choosing the right method (for example descriptive, discrimination or consumer acceptance tests) for each question.
• Analyse consumer behaviour and preference data from surveys, taste tests and consumer segments, to understand what drives liking and choice.
• Turn complex data into clear insights and recommendations that strengthen the VINHOOD profiling model.
• Manage sensory and consumer research projects end to end, internal and client-facing: brief, design, fieldwork, analysis and presentation of results.
• Work with our Data team to evolve our sensory and behavioural research practices and combine them with large-scale consumer data.
• Contribute to training sessions on sensory and consumer research within client projects, and present the VINHOOD methodology to clients and partners in workshops and meetings.

• Master's degree or PhD in Sensory Science, Food Science or Technology, Consumer Science, Psychology or a related field.
• 2-4 years of working experience in sensory and/or consumer research on food and beverage products, in an FMCG company, a research centre or a specialised agency. A PhD in a relevant field counts towards this requirement.
• Hands-on experience planning and running sensory tests with panels or consumers, and choosing the method that fits the question.
• Ability to analyse sensory and consumer data with statistical methods (Understanding of consumer behaviour and preference drivers, and experience designing surveys or consumer studies.
• Ability to simplify complex analyses into clear, impactful insights, with strong communication and storytelling skills.
• Rigour and a strong sense of responsibility in managing projects, and a collaborative attitude in multidisciplinary teams.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Italian

• Some experience with Python or R for data analysis.