Senior Manager, R&D – Consumer Experience
Company websitekraftheinz.com (Kraft Heinz, opens in new tab)
Base salary $120,800 to $151,000
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Glenview, IL
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationGlenview, IL
- WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (1 h ago) · observed since
About this job
Job Description
Job Purpose
As the Senior Manager, NA R&D – Consumer Experience, you will lead Consumer Experience execution for a portfolio of brands within the Kraft Heinz North American Zone (NAZ). You will be responsible for translating consumer needs into product design, technical requirements, and experience models that enable winning renovation and innovation across Food, Beverage, Snacks, and adjacent categories. This role leads a team of Consumer Experience scientists and partners closely with Marketing, Innovation, Insights, and R&D leaders in Product Design, Process Development, and Packaging to create, develop, and qualify products and packages that meet consumer needs and business objectives. The Senior Manager is accountable for day-to-day Consumer Experience delivery, people leadership, and ensuring projects enter and exit development with clear, validated consumer experience direction.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Lead a high-performing Consumer Experience team that enables strong renovation and innovation outcomes.
- Translate consumer needs, behaviors, and Jobs-to-Be-Done into clear product and experience requirements.
- Design and execute consumer learning plans to support renovation, innovation, and technology platforms.
- Partner with R&D, Brand, Innovation, and Sensory teams to guide concept, prototype, and experience validation.
- Build and deploy consumer models, frameworks, and tools that support product development and qualification.
- Coach and develop Consumer Experience scientists in research design, insight quality, and business influence.
- Identify emerging consumer needs and trends that inform future Jobs-to-Be-Done and innovation opportunities.
- Prioritize work, manage resources, and ensure projects are delivered on time and to quality expectations.
- Provide technical and business judgment to guide product and portfolio decisions.
- Foster a culture of consumer centricity, learning, and innovation within R&D.
People Management Responsibilities
- Team (salaried): 3 to 4 direct reports.
Expected Experience & Required Skills
- Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Science (e.g., Engineering, Industrial Design, etc.) or Consumer Psychology disciplines
- Minimum 8+ years of relevant experience with Bachelor’s or 7+ years of relevant experience with Master’s or 6+ years of relevant experience with PhD
- Experience in consumer research, UX design, product innovation or related disciplines, including direct exposure to product development and commercialization
- Demonstrated experience in Consumer Experience, Product Research, or applied consumer insights supporting product development and commercialization.
- Proven ability to translate consumer learning into product and technical decisions.
- Strong people leadership and team-building skills.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration with Brand, Marketing, Sensory, and R&D partners.
- Ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, and allocate resources effectively.
- Strong communication and storytelling skills to influence diverse stakeholders.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.
- Willingness to travel up to 20% based on project and business needs.
Work Environment & Schedule
This position operates primarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview, IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs, allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week, with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center.
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$120,800.00 - $151,000.00Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Glenview R&D CenterKraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [email protected] for assistance.
Source: Kraft Heinz on Workday · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($120,800) is above 42% of the 40 Science & Research roles in Illinois listed on this site; 2 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $124,400; the middle half runs from $109,784 to $150,275.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 8, 2026.
This listingSenior Manager, R&D – Consumer Experience $120,800 to $151,000
Senior Finance Manager, Revenue Management – Away from Home & Ingredients$120,800 to $151,000
Production Manager$120,800 to $151,000
Production Manager$120,800 to $151,000
Sr. Manager, Packaging - Business Planning$120,800 to $151,000
Sr. Manager, Omni Shopper Marketing - Walmart$120,800 to $151,000
Plant Controller, Winchester, VA Plant$120,800 to $151,000
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Senior Manager, R&D – Consumer Experience (this listing) | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Senior Finance Manager, Revenue Management – Away from Home & Ingredients | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Production Manager | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Production Manager | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Sr. Manager, Packaging - Business Planning | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Sr. Manager, Omni Shopper Marketing - Walmart | $120,800 - $151,000 |
| Plant Controller, Winchester, VA Plant | $120,800 - $151,000 |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-10-07
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Glenview, IL
$120,800.00 - $151,000.00
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.