Coordinator II Sensory Technician

Introduction

Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which also includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands – Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Ahold Delhaize USA associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.

Support the Sensory Manager by conducting product quality assessments and sensory evaluations at assigned local Brand for both current and newly developed Private Brand (PB) products. Ensure full alignment with brand guardrails and quality standards. Ensure compliance with nutritional guidelines in conjunction with PB Nutritionist for the Private Brands portfolio of brands. Contribute to the process of product quality monitoring of Private Brand products across assigned categories.

May work with Private brand manufacturers and outsourced QA third party organizations (where applicable) to monitor quality and conduct sensory evaluation of Private Brand products across assigned categories. Maintain records of all sensory, quality and validation evaluations. Provide administrative support to the Sensory team.

Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Product Validation - Supports the Product Validation Program for Private Brands consistent with the brand definition and strategy

• Responsible for conducting product quality evaluations supporting new item development, reformulations, and category bids for the Private Brands products.
• Ensures facilities and appropriate set up are in place for product validation cuttings and assessments to ensure customer focused, unbiased evaluations, which uphold the standard for best-in-class private brand products.
• Procures and requests product samples as needed to facilitate evaluations.
• Ensures compliance with the Brand Equity guardrails for Private Brands.
• Contributes to the review of the product and specifications to ensure compliance with Private Brand guardrails including Guiding Stars, sustainable retailing requirements, ingredient, and nutritional information for assigned categories and/or at assigned local Brand.
• Collaborates with Sourcing and Category Development Managers to develop product briefs which provide guidance to suppliers on product quality parameters required for category bids and new items.
• Collaborates with Private Brands Nutritionists to ensure compliance with product nutritional standards including compliance with the Guiding Stars program.

Product Quality Monitoring - Contributes to the quality maintenance and monitoring of all Private Brands products consistent with the brand definition and strategy.

• Acts as an advocate of product quality in the drive to develop best in class private brands products.
• Ensures all facilities are set up and required products are available to evaluate assigned categories of Private Brand products in house, in order to test compliance with product specifications and quality standards.
• Ensures relevant products and facilities are available and set up for evaluation of new products at assigned Brand and/or categories.
• Supports the monitoring, investigation and response to quality customer complaints (store, associate customer) regarding assigned categories of Private Brand products ensuring identification of issues and trends and communicating as relevant to the wider business.
• Ensures relevant information is available to contribute to the evaluation summary of quality monitoring results.
• Maintains accurate and detailed records of all evalutions and quality monitoring.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience in one of the following or related subject:
  Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Sensory Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology
• 2+ years of related experience preferred
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze, interpret and take appropriate action on information
• Expertise in sensory testing and guidance and consumer product testing
• Ability to evaluate multiple aspects of food products
• Understanding of consumer food products brand management
• Understanding of the private label retail food business environment and metrics
• Customer focus
• Initiative
• Ability to adapt to change
• Ability to work on multiple projects
• Travel up to 5%

ME/NC/PA/SC Salary Range: $23.58 - $35.37

IL/MA/MD/NY Salary Range: $27.08 - $40.62