Sensory Manager

Position Title:

Sensory Manager

Location:

Knoxville, TN

Department:
Science

Strategic Group:
Supply Chain

Reports To:

Director of Quality

Number of Direct Reports: 3

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.

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.

• 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 the food & beverage industry and implement across group and activities accordingly.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Office.

Ability to work 40 hours per week and as needed.

This job primarily operates in a professional office environment, however, it may be expected to work in manufacturing environments as job duties…