Sensory & Product Experience Associate

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center is our regional powerhouse driving innovation in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical science. Backed by our global Nestlé R&D organization, we lead breakthrough discoveries that are both good for consumers and the planet. Our team of experts range from product developers to engineers, working across our portfolio of food, beverage, infant nutrition, and health science to create leading-edge products and services. As part of our organization, you will use your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence to unlock the power of food and provide premium value.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary:

The Sensory & Product Experience Panel Leader Associate Specialist is responsible for supporting all sensory external and internal panel related activities with support from sensory lab technicians. This role assists the SPX (Sensory & Product Experience) Specialists by providing data analysis and reports with conclusions and recommendations linked to projects’ objectives. The Sensory & Product Experience Panel Leader Associate Specialist provides guidance about preferred methodology recommendations and follows SPX best practices and is proficient at performing Sensory Evaluation. The Associate Specialist understands the impact of sensory activities into Consumer Research in innovation and renovation processes. This role demonstrates and executes Sensory research with excellence.

Primary Responsibilities:

The R&D Associate Sensory Panel Leader is responsible for:

• Developing and managing a group of trained sensory panelists daily

• Supports quantitative descriptive sensory studies with guidance from Sensory & Product Experience Specialists. This includes panel recruitment, panel training and planning, panelist performance tracking, development of sensory glossaries, overseeing data collection, and completing quality checks on quantitative sensory data.

• Assist with some preliminary statistical analysis, report building, and results presentation when relevant to the project team or to business partners.

• Work closely with Sensory Panelists, Sensory Technicians, Product Experience Specialists, and other R&D and market associates to provide all sensory panel-related support to the business in a timely manner. They also support the maintenance of sensory lab equipment and supplies.

Qualifications:

• Academic Experience: BS or BA in Food Science or related field, Communications or Market Research.

• Technical training in scientific or food-related fields is a plus.

• Operational Experience: more than 2 years of experience in panel moderation and in a wide range of sensory evaluation & analysis is mandatory.

• Strong organizational skills, takes ownership and analytical mindset

• Able to work well in a team environment

• Flexible work hours, as required by the business

Technical skills:

• MS-Office (Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Eye Question (Sensory data collection software), Statistical analysis, Descriptive sensory test & analysis
• Written and oral communication skills – storytelling, scientific/technical writing skills

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.


To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at [email protected] or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. 

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Job Requisition: 400977