The Manager of Sensory & Consumer Insights is a strategic leader responsible for shaping the future of the brand’s food and beverage portfolio through deep sensory/product insights. This role combines research expertise, culinary curiosity, and business acumen to guide food and beverage innovation. The Manager ensures that guest needs, behaviors, preferences, and emerging trends are translated into actionable insights that drive menu development.
Reporting to the Vice President, Consumer Insights, this role serves as a key partner to Culinary, Marketing, and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, validate innovation, and build a guest-centered product pipeline.
Scope of Responsibilities
Sensory & Consumer Insights
Lead all sensory and consumer research initiatives supporting food and beverage innovation, optimization, and performance.
Design and execute quantitative and qualitative research studies, including sensory evaluations and product testing.
Develop research objectives, questionnaires, discussion guides, and reporting frameworks that deliver actionable insights.
Partner closely with Culinary and Marketing teams to inform long-term menu strategy, innovation priorities, and product development decisions.
Identify white space opportunities, emerging food and beverage trends, competitive learnings, and unmet guest needs to fuel future innovation.
Translate guest insights into clear recommendations that improve product quality, guest satisfaction, and business performance.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Collaborate closely with Culinary teams to translate insights into prototypes and optimize products.
Serve as a trusted advisor to Marketing, Culinary, Operations, and Leadership teams by providing strategic recommendations grounded in data and consumer understanding.
Present findings and business implications to senior leadership with clarity, confidence, and influence.
Champion a consumer-first mindset across the organization and advocate for guest insights throughout the product development process.
Research Excellence & Methodology
Design and oversee custom research programs utilizing a range of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, including focus groups, in-depth interviews, surveys, and sensory panels.
Moderate focus groups and qualitative sessions as needed.
Execute in-house testing initiatives and work collaboratively with cross-functional partners to ensure seamless study implementation.
Apply advanced analytical techniques and sensory evaluation tools to uncover meaningful insights and opportunities.
Manage external research agencies and suppliers, ensuring high-quality deliverables, methodological rigor, timelines, and budget efficiency.
Continuously evolve research practices by incorporating innovative methodologies, technologies, and best practices.
Qualifications
Experience & Expertise
5+ years of experience in consumer insights, sensory research, market research, or product innovation, preferably within the restaurant, foodservice, food and beverage, or consumer packaged goods industries.
Demonstrated success influencing product development and menu innovation
through consumer-driven insights.
Experience managing sensory testing programs and translating findings into actionable recommendations.
Skills & Competencies
Strong understanding of sensory research methodologies and consumer research techniques.
Experience designing, conducting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative studies.
Exceptional storytelling, presentation, and communication skills.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across functions and organizational levels.
Proficiency with research, survey, and data visualization tools.
Willingness and ability to travel as needed to support testing.
Performance & Success Measures
Success in this role will be demonstrated through:
A food and beverage innovation pipeline rooted in deep guest understanding.
Tangible impact on menu performance, guest satisfaction, and innovation success rates.
Clear, influential insights that shape critical culinary and marketing decisions.
Strong partnerships across Culinary, Marketing, and Operations teams.
Efficient and effective execution of sensory and consumer research programs.
Identification of emerging trends and opportunities that support long-term brand growth.
Competitive Pay-$104,942 to $125,930 annually.
The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
Newton Support CenterSkills Required
- 5+ years of experience in consumer insights, sensory research, market research, or product innovation
- Experience in restaurant, foodservice, food and beverage, or consumer packaged goods industries
- Demonstrated success influencing product development and menu innovation through consumer-driven insights
- Experience managing sensory testing programs and translating findings into actionable recommendations
- Strong understanding of sensory research methodologies and consumer research techniques
- Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative studies
- Exceptional storytelling, presentation, and communication skills
- Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
- Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders across functions and organizational levels
- Proficiency with research, survey, and data visualization tools
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed to support testing
What We Do
Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm. While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread. Each day, our trained bakers fill our bakery shelves with delicious freshly baked cookies, pastries, bagels, and a range of breads from focaccia to classic baguettes. We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist. We respect our planet and take measures to lessen our impacts. We believe in treating people with warmth, kindness, and respect, whether it’s a guest in our cafe or one of our associates. And we believe in helping our local communities, especially in times of need. We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests. Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.
