Position Title: Sensory Manager
Location: Knoxville, TN
Department: Science
Strategic Group: Supply Chain
Reports To: Director of Quality
Number of Direct Reports: 3
Summary
The Sensory Manager leads the design and execution of a comprehensive sensory evaluation program that supports quality initiatives and product development efforts across the organization. This role partners cross-functionally with Quality, Marketing, R&D, Manufacturing, and external vendors to select appropriate sensory methods, analyze and interpret data, and translate insights into actionable business recommendations. The position also oversees sensory panels, staff, facilities, budgets, and documentation to ensure consistent, high-quality sensory capability and governance company-wide.
The successful employee in this role is highly motivated, naturally takes ownership, and thrives in a team-based work environment. They must exhibit strong initiative, critical thinking and continuous improvement behaviors and skills while establishing and building relationships and programs with internal customers. An essential function of the job is to evaluate or sample, as appropriate, a variety of products or food ingredients including meat or meat-based ingredients without restrictions.
Major Position Responsibilities
It is an essential requirement of the job that the employee can function in a feedback-rich, team-based environment.
Employees must be able to have dialogue with both technical and non-technical roles.
Employees must possess good interpersonal skills and be compatible with co-workers.
ESSENTIAL
30%
- Management of Sensory team, personnel, facilities, resources, and activities
- Management of Sensory group including goal setting, performance assessment, coaching and development, priorities and assignments
- Management of Sensory budget including annual planning, routine updates and adjustments, adherence to targets and communication of needs and changes
- Maintain Sensory laboratory and facilities, including equipment, technology, and services required to meet Sensory needs
- Maintain knowledge of and expertise in current and emerging sensory practices in food & beverage industry and implement across group and activities accordingly
30%
- Oversight of Sensory practices in support of product Quality
- Maintenance of sensory standards for all products, including descriptive, visual, and physical with supporting programs and practices
- Management and assessment of sensory practices, ensuring appropriate frequencies, methodologies, and data interpretation are used for desired outcomes
- Maintain trained internal panels and relationships with external partners for robust evaluation bandwidth
- Train and support manufacturing site sensory panels and practices including coaching and leading multi-site sensory initiatives
30%
- Oversight and support of Sensory for innovation and new product development
- Serve as and provide team members for new product development and innovation projects from a Sensory capacity
- Maintain and develop consumer insights knowledge, techniques and best practice for support of innovation and marketing initiatives related to consumer sensory experience with products and packaging/branding
- Support research related to innovation and new product development initiatives
10%
- Leadership and other initiatives within Quality and Supply team
- Coaching, development, and Leadership as a Quality department and Supply Chain Manager
- Support of other cross-functional initiatives as assigned
Qualifications
Degrees - BS/MS Food Science or related discipline
Years of Experience - 5+ years of relevant work experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (Food & Beverage preferred)
Specialized Skills- Statistical Analysis, Experimental Design, Interpretation of Research, Data-based Reporting, Consumer Analytics and Insights, MS Office Suite, Project timeline building and managing, Document control practices
Workplace Conditions
Office
Ability to work 40 hours per week and as needed.
This job primarily operates in a professional office environment, however, it may expected to work in manufacturing environments as job duties necessitate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, tablets, photocopiers, etc.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to work in a plant environment for extended periods of time.
+ Bonus
+ Relocation