Sensory Scientist

About the role

The Sensory Scientist manages resources to support business strategies related to the Stage Gate Process, where Sensory Evaluation plays a key role. This role leads the descriptive panel and provides actionable sensory results to drive business performance across product categories. As a partner to R&D and Marketing Insights, the Scientist delivers sensory and interpretation results that support consumer research projects, new product development, product improvements, and best practices in sensory descriptive assessments.

Acts as a panel leader for the descriptive panel, planning, executing, and interpreting descriptive analyses for corn and flour tortillas and chips. Supports projects by designing appropriate sensory evaluation methods, communicating key findings, and interpreting results for cross-functional teams. Designs experiments and performs statistical analysis of sensory evaluation data, coordinates with R&D and business teams on new product and improvement projects, and ensures the descriptive panel remains calibrated for optimal performance.

Additional responsibilities include generating accurate data, delivering technical knowledge, creating final reports and presentations, and performing other duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the descriptive panel and provide value-added, actionable sensory results to support business strategies.
• Plan, execute, and interpret descriptive analyses for corn and flour tortillas and chips.
• Support and execute projects by designing appropriate sensory evaluation methods and communicating findings to R&D, Marketing Insights, and cross-functional teams.
• Design experiments and perform statistical analysis of sensory evaluation results.
• Coordinate and collaborate with R&D and business teams on new product development and product improvement projects.
• Execute descriptive panel recalibration efforts to maintain optimal panel performance.
• Generate accurate data, create final reports and presentations, and deliver technical knowledge.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science/Technology or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sensory science as a core element of the role.
• Experience in the application of statistical analysis and advanced skills in research design and statistical applications.
• Ability to plan and manage projects effectively.
• Excellent technical competency in sensory science and data interpretation.
• Strong knowledge of statistics and excellent communication (verbal and written) and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of the tortilla and chips category is a plus.
• Passion for growth, adaptability, and teamwork in a collaborative environment.

Skills

• Strong leadership and team collaboration skills.
• Decisive thinking and professional conduct.
• Ability to deliver presentations effectively.
• Food Science and Technology background.