Sensory Panel Leader

Company Description

SAM (A Eurofins Company) is a fast-growing and global sensory and consumer research consultancy. Our mission is to allow consumers a voice in the development of outstanding food, beverage, pet, and health & beauty products so as to create high quality and memorable experiences. We help our clients:

• Develop new product ideas
• Re-energize a well-established product
• Assess product-concept fit or packaging effectiveness
• Understand the product, brand and category competitive landscapes
• Protect product quality from inception to the end of shelf life

SAM The National Food Lab is the division of SAM that provides these services for all USA-based clients. Our sensory science program resides in our USA headquarters in Minneapolis, MN.

Job Description

Shift: Monday- Friday, 8am- 5pm

The Panel Leader is responsible for managing and guiding sensory panelists to ensure accurate, high-quality data collection for sensory research projects. This role involves coordinating daily panel activities, monitoring panelist performance, and maintaining adherence to established methodologies and standards. The Panel Leader works closely with the Sensory Research Manager to support project execution and ensure smooth workflow across all sensory evaluations.

Reporting Line:

This position reports directly to the Sensory Research Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Panel Leadership & Execution

• Organize and lead sensory panel sessions, ensuring compliance with protocols and delivering accurate, reliable data collection.
• Recruit, train, manage, and motivate sensory panelists to maintain engagement and performance.
• Prepare and conduct sensory tests, including descriptive profiling, temporal assessments, and discrimination testing.
• Monitor and follow up on panelist performance, providing feedback and implementing improvements for efficiency and quality.
• Maintain a positive and productive environment for panelists and ensure adherence to safety guidelines during all testing activities.
• Participate in quality assurance processes to uphold methodological rigor.

2. Project Support & Coordination

• Support the Sensory Research Manager in designing and executing projects to clients’ full satisfaction.
• Supervise receipt, inventory, labeling, and proper storage of products for assigned projects.
• Update the Sensory Project Tracker weekly and as new projects are scheduled.
• Develop product preparation and shopping instructions for manager and client review/approval.
• Lead the development of lexicons (including references) and related panel orientation sessions, working closely with the manager and client for approval.
• Create reference preparation sheets for Descriptive Analysis (DA) and hand off to sensory technicians.
• Create sample blinding codes and serving rotation using sensory software. 
• Provide technicians with detailed serve timing instructions to ensure sample quality and consistency.
• QC survey programming for projects as assigned.
• Schedule sensory panelists for orientation and data collection sessions. 
• Lead panel sessions and perform data quality checks.
• Assist in data analysis and reporting results to clients.

3. Shelf-Life & Quality Programs

• Support execution of Sensory Shelf-Life projects, including developing pull and evaluation schedules for manager review.
• Supervise daily testing for retailer Own Brand/Private Label quality programs.

4. Administrative & Compliance

• Track panelist working hours daily/weekly and enter CRM time tracking system.
• Collaborate to organize work environment, including product/equipment storage areas.
• Comply with SOPs, methods, and established policies and procedures.

2. People

• Collaborate closely with the field team to ensure smooth execution of projects.
• Work in partnership with other members of the sensory and research team, technician and the Data Solutions Hub to ensure the success of the projects.

3. Strategy

• Ensure that all panel activities and projects align with the company’s strategic guidelines.

Qualifications

• University degree, ideally in food science, social sciences, psychology, statistics, or economics.
• Experience in project management and/or running a sensory panel is desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and the local language.
• Passion for sensory science.
• Experience with sensory softwares such as Redjade, Eye Question or Compusense preferred.
• High Attention to Detail
• Excellent organization skills and the ability to multitask
• Team player, upbeat and positive, flexible and adaptable
• Strong skills in word processing applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook is required
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Rigorous, responsive, and proactive approach to work.
• Strong organizational and planning skills to prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines.

Additional Information

Shift: Monday- Friday, 8am- 5pm

• Excellent full time benefits including comprehensive medical coverage, dental, and vision options
• Life and disability insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays

Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company, providing a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries, to make life and our environment safer, healthier and more sustainable. From the food you eat, to the water you drink, to the medicines you rely on, Eurofins laboratories work with the biggest companies in the world to ensure the products they supply are safe, their ingredients are authentic and labelling is accurate.

The Eurofins network of companies is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in agroscience Contract Research Organisation services. It is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.

In over 30 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 58,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of 900 laboratories in over 54 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products.

In 2021, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 6.72 billion, and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years.

Eurofins USA Food Testing is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.