Sensory Panel Moderator

Company: Sensation Research

Sensation Research is a custom Sensory and Consumer research company. We specialize in Product Development guidance for foods, beverages, alcoholic beverages and spirits, pet care, OTC pharmaceuticals, skin care, personal care, household care, flavors and fragrances.

We evaluate human perception of products using a full array of standardized and innovative qualitative & quantitative techniques including Descriptive Analysis, Discrimination Testing, Time Intensity and Consumer Testing.

Additionally, we create customized In-house Training Courses focused on Product Development guidance utilizing Sensory Science, Consumer Research and Statistics. Through experience and passion for our craft, we consistently exceed our client's expectations through attention to detail, thoughtful project planning, and insightful guidance with seamless execution.

Part-time approximately 30-35 hours/week

The Sensory Panel Leader manages trained panelists to evaluate the aroma, flavor, texture, and appearance of products, ensuring objective and consistent data collection. They recruit, train, and motivate panelists, design testing protocols, review the quality of final raw data, and understand how sensory findings are translated into actionable business insights for clients. The Panel Leader works collaboratively with the lab team to regularly recruit and train new panelists to ensure that panel numbers are at the required level.

• Trains panelists to detect and quantify product attributes.
• Maintains motivation and focus of the panel, mentoring them to reach high data quality performance levels.
• Partners with scientists to develop specific panel methods including ballots, lexicons, protocols, panel training, data collection, and data quality review.
• Deploys and uses sensory software (like Red Jade) to guide the panel in delivering high quality sensory data.
• When not working on client panels the moderator will help screen and train new panelists, run consumer tests, and other projects as identified by the Senior Scientist, Director or Owner.
• Panel Moderator assists in driving initiatives for continuous improvement of sensory practices across the organization. The Sensory Panel Leader will independently lead/manage/complete projects with minimal supervision but will be expected to ask for assistance from management or co-workers whenever needed.

• Pre-screens products to develop panel lexicons, ballots, and evaluation protocols.
• Finalizes ballot, lexicons, and protocols with the panel input while removing duplicate terms and clarifying confusable terms.
• Leads Descriptive Analysis panels.
• Manages panelist performance during panel to monitor ability of panel to deliver data.
• Periodically retrains panel on specific products or attributes with statistical feedback to ensure a well-performing panel.
• Interacts with client Sensory Team as needed for training or observational auditing purposes.
• Reviews raw data to ensure panel data entry quality.

• Assist Sensory Consultants with test creation in sensory programs and launches project sessions.
• Assists with sensory training, sensory glossary development, and other sensory related activities as required.
• Coordinates and conducts sensory panel recruitment activities with lab staff implementation and Sensory Consultants’ guidance (as needed).

• Bachelor’s degree with 2-5 years sensory panelist Spectrum Method experience as a panelist
• Sensory Moderation with 1-2 years’ experience efficiently handling, without leading or biasing, of panel consensus and agreement, and effectively addressing disagreement of attribute definitions, product scores and panelist fatigue
• Ability to identify attributes in products and key differences between products
• Able to communicate verbally to give opinions and guidance on sensory attributes
• Able to listen to panelists and to draw panelists into consensus
• Accurate and consistent panelist performance
• Good communication skills
• Able to learn to use Red Jade or other Sensory software to review data and give feedback to panelists on performance.
• Able…