Sensory Panel Leader Minneapolis

• Are you passionate about sensory analysis and panel management?
• Keen to work for a global organisation in FMCG?
• Want a multicultural working environment with fantastic colleagues?

........If so, we have exactly the right opportunity for you!

We are the leading international sensory and consumer research company specializing in food, beverages, cosmetics, personal care, and other consumer products. We have 19 proprietary state‑of‑the‑art facilities across France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, United Kingdom, Morocco, China and the USA, and cover more than 65 countries through our network of approved partners.

SAM provides tailor‑made solutions, delivering actionable guidelines to make our clients’ brands and products memorable.

Join SAM to work with the most competent, creative, and fun team in the industry and let your work, opinions and ideas contribute to the future of sensory and consumer research.

Become your most extraordinary self with support and development throughout your career.

Join our very diverse team of sensory scientists, food technologists, statisticians, psychologists, sociologists, strategic thinkers, marketeers, field managers, technicians and other sensory and research experienced colleagues.

World‑leader in Testing for Life. With about 61 000 employees, Eurofins is a global leader in testing services and over the last 20 years has been one of the fastest growing companies in the world, thanks to its innovation in technology and service.

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 to the Sensory Research Manager, this role will work collaborate across multiple teams to ensure project success, partnering with the field team to support smooth project execution, and alongside colleagues from the sensory and research teams, technicians, and the Data Solutions Hub to deliver high‑quality outcomes. A key expectation is ensuring that all panel activities and research projects remain aligned with the company’s strategic guidelines, contributing to consistent excellence and operational cohesion.

• 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.

• 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 assigned.
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