Position Summary...Role summary:
As the Director of Sensory Science & Merchandise Experience, you will lead the strategy, operations, and evolution of sensory science across Sam's Club. Supporting every merchandise category, you'll build the capabilities, processes, and team that ensure Member feedback drives product quality, innovation, and business decisions.
This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for shaping the future of sensory science. You'll lead a team of sensory scientists and analysts while expanding national testing capabilities, scaling in-club sensory experiences, and modernizing how Sam's Club evaluates products.
What you'll do...- Lead the vision, strategy, and roadmap for Sensory Science, building scalable capabilities that improve speed, quality, and business impact.
- Develop and coach a high-performing team while establishing scientific standards, operational excellence, and a culture of innovation.
- Oversee end-to-end sensory operations, including methodologies, supplier partnerships, resource planning, and national testing programs.
- Advance the use of AI and emerging technologies to modernize research.
- Serve as the strategic sensory leader for Merchandising, Product Development, Quality, Packaging, and Consumer Insights, translating scientific findings into actionable recommendations that improve products and elevate the Member experience.
What you'll bring... - Expertise in sensory science and consumer product evaluation, with experience leading cross-category sensory programs and scientific teams.
- Proven ability to build scalable capabilities, influence business decisions through insights, and manage complex research operations, supplier partnerships, and organizational change.
- Strong executive presence, operational excellence, and a passion for advancing research through innovation and AI.
- Advanced degree preferred with 8+ years of progressive leadership in sensory science, consumer research, CPG, retail, or product innovation.
Success in This Role - Build a best-in-class sensory organization that accelerates innovation, develops talent, expands testing capabilities, and elevates Member experiences across every merchandise category.
Minimum Qualifications...Outlined below are the required minimum qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no minimum qualifications.
Option 1: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Arts, Finance or related field and 5 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. Option 2: Master's degree in Business, Engineering, Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 3 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. Option 3: 7 years' experience in data analysis, data science, statistics, or related field. 2 years' supervisory experience.
Preferred Qualifications...Outlined below are the optional preferred qualifications for this position. If none are listed, there are no preferred qualifications.
Data science, data analysis, statistics, or related field, PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Econometrics, Related industry experience (for example, retail, merchandising, healthcare, eCommerce), Successful completion of assessments in data analysis and Business Intelligence tools and scripting languages (for example, SQL, Python, Spark, Scala, R, Power BI, or Tableau), Supervisory experience
Primary Location...2101 Se Simple Savings Dr, Bentonville, AR 72712-4304, United States of America
