Sr Manager, Sensory & Consumer Insights
Panerabread Open · verified Oct 6, 2026 At a glance
Senior Market Research role at Panerabread. Newton Support Center · full-time.
Pay not stated Market Research salary
growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Set the research agenda for menu planning, culinary innovation and new product development, then turn findings into recommendations
- Run and oversee concept and sensory tests to guide menu decisions that support sales and guest traffic
- Work with culinary and marketing teams to shape menu direction and turn findings into product briefs and prototypes
- Build a learning plan from qualitative, quantitative, syndicated and behavioral sources, and lead custom research
- Assess menu results and guest satisfaction to guide changes, while managing research partners and budgets
What you bring
- At least four years in consumer insights focused on menu or product innovation and sensory research
- You have managed direct reports and influenced product development or innovation choices
- You can lead complex research and turn findings into strategic recommendations
Who this fits
This senior role suits someone who can execute much of the research directly while leading one team member. Restaurant experience is preferred, and the role calls for close work with culinary and marketing leaders. The position is based at the Newton Support Center.
From the employer
Position Overview
The Menu & Innovation Consumer Insights Senior Manager is a strategic leader responsible for shaping the future of the brand’s food and beverage portfolio through deep consumer understanding. This role blends research expertise, culinary curiosity, and business acumen to guide menu strategy, innovation pipelines, and long‑term growth opportunities. The Senior Manager ensures that guest needs, behaviors, and emerging trends directly inform product development and brand experience decisions. This position will have 1 direct report.
Scope of Responsibilities
· Consumer Insights Leadership
o Lead the end‑to‑end insights agenda for menu strategy, culinary innovation, and new product development.
o Translate complex consumer, category, and competitive insights into clear, actionable recommendations for cross‑functional partners.
o Build and manage a learning roadmap that integrates qualitative, quantitative, syndicated, and behavioral data sources.
· Menu & Innovation Strategy
o Oversee and conduct concept testing and sensory testing and ensuring methodologies translate into higher sales and traffic.
o Partner closely with Culinary and Marketing to shape the long‑term menu vision and innovation pipeline.
o Identify whitespace opportunities, emerging food trends, and unmet guest needs to fuel future product concepts.
o Evaluate menu performance and guest satisfaction to inform optimization, renovation, and rationalization decisions.
· Cross‑Functional Collaboration
o Work hand‑in‑hand with culinary to translate insights into product briefs, prototypes, and optimizing products.
o Present insights and strategic recommendations to culinary and marketing leadership with clarity and influence.
· Research Excellence & Methodology
o Most of our testing is conducted in‑house, requiring you and your team member to be fully capable of executing the work themselves and collaborating effectively throughout the process.
o Design and oversee custom research using a mix of qualitative and quantitative.
o Leverage advanced analytics, segmentation, and need‑state frameworks to deepen understanding of guest motivations.
o Manage external research partners, ensuring high‑quality deliverables and efficient use of budget.
Qualifications
· Experience & Expertise
o 4 to 7+ years of consumer insights, focusing on menu/product development and innovation, sensory—ideally within the restaurant industry.
o Proven track record of influencing product development and innovation decisions.
o Have managed direct reports.
o Strong understanding of culinary trends, guest behavior, and the restaurant competitive landscape.
o Experience leading complex research programs and synthesizing insights into strategic direction.
· Skills & Competencies
o Comfort working in a very fast‑paced, iterative environment.
o Exceptional storytelling and communication skills.
o Ability to translate data into compelling narratives and business recommendations.
o Strong cross‑functional leadership and relationship‑building abilities.
o Analytical rigor paired with creative, guest‑centric thinking.
· Performance & Success Measures
o A menu rooted in deep guest understanding that translates into improved performance.
o A robust innovation pipeline aligned with RISE strategy.
o Clear, influential insights that shape decisions across culinary and marketing
Competitive Pay $155,477 to $177,243 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.
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