Head of Sensory & Quality Excellence

Carlsberg Group; Varese; Hybrid; EUR 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company canteen

Job summary

Carlsberg Italia seeks a Sensory Panel Leader & Quality Specialist for our Induno Olona site. You will lead the sensory programme, ensure reliable assessments, and drive improvements across packaging and beverage processes.

This role reports to the Quality Manager and requires strong data interpretation and team training skills. You will collaborate with regional teams, coordinate samples, train panellists, and support investigations of deviations with a safety-conscious, quality-driven

Qualifications

• Degree in life sciences, food science or a relevant technical discipline or equivalent.
• At least 3+ years in sensory analysis, quality or production within the food & beverage industry.
• Experience organizing sensory sessions in beverage/food industry; beer tasting knowledge is a plus.
• Good understanding of sensory techniques and data interpretation.
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills; able to enforce panel rules.
• Able to train and engage production colleagues.
• Proactive, collaborative across functions.
• Familiar with Excel; Power BI, Compusense and auditing techniques are a plus.
• Fluent in Italian and good working English for regional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and lead sensory panel sessions, ensuring compliance with Carlsberg standards.
• Coordinate collection, preparation, storage and shipment of samples.
• Recruit, train, motivate and calibrate panellists and manage proficiency programmes.
• Ensure sessions follow safety rules and responsible alcohol practices.
• Collect, analyse and communicate sensory results to identify trends.
• Link sensory findings with production deviations and drive investigations.
• Support complaints, non-conforming products, NPD and supplier performance from a sensory quality view.
• Collaborate with regional and Group teams sharing best practices.
• Contribute to quality engineering activities and audits in B&P and Packaging.
• Support operator training and build a strong quality culture.

Skills

Sensory analysis

Quality management

Data interpretation

Training & engagement

Bev/food industry experience

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Degree in life sciences or related

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Compusense

Job description

Carlsberg Italia seeks a Sensory Panel Leader & Quality Specialist for our Induno Olona site. You will lead the sensory programme, ensure reliable assessments, and drive improvements across packaging and beverage processes.

This role reports to the Quality Manager and requires strong data interpretation and team training skills. You will collaborate with regional teams, coordinate samples, train panellists, and support investigations of deviations with a safety-conscious, quality-driven