Consumer & Sensory Scientist Intern

Start date : August/September 202 6

Duration : 6 months

Allowance : 625 euro per month (40hrs, 5 days) & full reimbursement of travel expenses

Department : R&D, Consumer & Culinary Experience

Location : Nijmegen

Basic Requirements for all:

You should have strong communication skills and fluency in English, both written and verbal (Dutch is not a requirement but other languages are a plus)

• You are enrolled at a university for at least 50% study load for the duration of the internship.

• Non - EU Students: Need to be enrolled at a Dutch University for the whole duration of the internship.

NOTE: EU working rights are required (Either you have EU Citizenship, you are studying in the Netherlands or have relevant student work visa)

About the role

We are looking for a Consumer & Sensory Scientist Intern to support our Consumer & Culinary Experience team within R&D across two complementary missions. Y ou will contribute to supporting defining success criteria and testing - internally and externally - current and new sauce portfolio for our Away From Home ( AFH) business , ensuring our sauces deliver the best host food pairing experience while remaining efficient to execute in professional kitchen environments. You will also play an active role in strengthening the core capabilities and best practices of our Consumer Experience (CX) team , helping us raise the quality and impact of how we deliver consumer research across the organization .

Assignment and key activities:

• Define success criteria for current and new sauce products, ensuring alignment with consumer expectations and culinary performance standards.

• Design and execute internal and external sensory and consumer tests (tastings, sensory panels, consumer / chefs studies) to evaluate and validate sauce portfolio performance.

• Prepare clear and compelling reports and presentations to communicate findings and recommendations to internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

• Support key account projects in Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) across Europe, contributing to the development of generic and bespoke sauce recipes tailored to specific operational , menu and consumer needs.

• Support the development and documentation of c ore methodologies, best practices, and knowledge resources within the CX team to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery of consumer research.
  

Specific Team Requirements:

• Currently pursuing a Master's in Food Science , Sensory Science, Consumer Science, Culinary Arts, Nutrition, or a related field.

• Strong interest in culinary experience, food pairing, and consumer-centric product development.

• Basic understanding of sensory evaluation methods and/or consumer research methodologies.

• Familiarity with tools used for data collection, analysis, or project management (e.g., Excel, XLSTAT, EyeQuestion , or equivalent) is a plus.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across culinary, technical, and commercial teams.

• Curious, rigorous, hands-on, and passionate about food, consumer behaviour , and delivering outstanding eating experiences.
  

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience in end-to-end design research within a global consumer goods environment.

• Exposure to food innovation projects across multiple categories.

• Mentorship from experienced CX researchers , product developers and chef .

• Opportunity to present your insights and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
  

Recruitment process:

CV review – We screen applications for key eligibility criteria (e.g., EU working rights).

Online Pymetrics assessment

Screening interview – An initial interview conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Hiring Manager interview

Offer – Successful candidates will receive an offer to join the program.

Please note: The recruitment process can take 4–6 weeks in total, from application to offer.

What we offer you:

We take interns seriously. You can expect us to give you 1-on-1 mentorship from one of our experienced colleagues. We will work together on your personal learning goals and are keen to hear all the good ideas you have! We will give you the space and support to make mistakes and grow. Become a part of a close intern community as well as a young and ambitious work environment (including online).

As a Kraft Heinz intern, you’ll be the owner of your own projects and especially of your own career. At Kraft Heinz, we provide the playing field. You change the game. Are you up for the challenge?

About Us

The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We’re a globally trusted

producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

We spark joy around mealtime with our iconic brands, including Heinz, Kraft, Bull's-Eye, HP, Lea and Perrins, Quero, ABC, Master, Banquete, Orlando, Benedicta, Honig, Pudliszki , Wattie’s among others.

No matter the brand, we’re united under one vision: To sustainably grow by delighting more consumers globally. Bringing this vision to life is our team of 39,000+ food lovers, creative thinkers, and high performers worldwide. Together, we help provide meals to those in need through our global partnership with Rise Against Hunger. We also stand committed to responsible, sustainable practices that extend to every facet of our business, our consumers, and our communities. Every day, we ’ re transforming the food industry with bold thinking and unprecedented results. If you share our passion – and are ready to create the future, build a legacy, and lead as a global citizen – there’s only one thing to do: join our table and let’s make life delicious!

Our Culture of Ownership, Meritocracy & Collaboration

We're not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas . Dream big. We empower our people at every level – from entry-level intern to senior leader – to own their work. We share a responsibility to think like Owners – to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz – which we apply to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you're supported to grow and achieve. You’re expected to bring your authentic self to work every day, to lead with humility, and drive outstanding performance at every level – and you’ll be rewarded. You’re given opportunities to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won’t do it alone. You ’ re supported by passionate teammates along the way, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress.