Contract Olfactory Panelist

Osmo; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 31,000 - 47,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Probation period 90 days

Hourly rate $30/hour

Predictable contract hours

Job summary

Osmo is seeking a part-time Contract Sensory Panelist (Fragrance) to join our team in Elizabeth, NJ. You will dedicate several hours daily to smelling and evaluating fragrance samples, producing precise sensory data, and tracking odor stability across tests.

The role requires a disciplined, methodical approach and a passion for fragrance. Expect a 90-day probation with 20 hours/week, potentially growing to 30 hours/week, with an hourly rate of $30 and predictable contract hours.

Qualifications

• Must pass sensory acuity screening.
• Sustained concentration through long, repetitive tasks.
• Be methodical and objective in evaluation.
• Fast, curious learner of Osmo's taxonomy.
• Reliable with scheduled hours.
• On-site in Elizabeth, NJ for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week.

Responsibilities

• Own dedicated olfactory evaluation for daily hours.
• Generate precise sensory data using internal scales.
• Track odor stability and performance over time.
• Maintain objectivity and reproducibility panel to panel.
• Participate in training to stay calibrated with team.

Skills

Olfactory acuity

Focused

Methodical

Curious learner

Reliable

On-site Elizabeth

Job description

Who we are at Osmo:

Osmo is a digital olfaction company, on a mission to give computers a sense of smell to improve the health and wellbeing of human life. Why? Our sense of smell both enriches and saves lives, and has a deep and direct connection to our emotions and memory.

Olfactory Intelligence has applications across industries including fragrance, manufacturing, security, medicine, and more. We believe in the power of automation and thoughtfully applied AI/ML to solve problems beyond the reach of human intuition alone.

We're headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, with an additional office in Somerville, MA. We provide complimentary shuttle service from Brooklyn and Newark, NJ.

About the Role

Osmo is seeking a highly meticulous and olfactively acute individual to join our team as Contract Sensory Panelist (Fragrance). This is a specialized, part-time contract role dedicated exclusively to generating high-quality sensory data that fuels our Olfactory Intelligence models. It's work that rewards genuine curiosity about scent and the tenacity to stay sharp through long, repetitive evaluation sessions.

You'll use your superior sense of smell to characterize the behavior, performance, and stability of fragrance compounds and formulas, directly contributing to the digitization of scent. We're looking for someone with a genuine passion for fragrance, a methodical approach to objective evaluation, and the kindness and patience to work well within a tight-knit panel team relying on each other for consistency.

What You'll Do:

• Own Dedicated Olfactory Evaluation — Since smelling is an essential function of this role, spend a set number of hours per day actively smelling and evaluating fragrance samples in various formats.

• Generate Precise Sensory Data — Perform character and intensity annotations based on Osmo's internal scales and taxonomic lexicon.

• Track Stability and Performance — Evaluate the evolution of odor profiles over time, measuring fragrance integrity and performance in samples from stability chambers and application tests.

• Show Up as a Reliable Panelist — Rigorously follow established protocols and maintain the highest standards of objectivity and focus, panel after panel.

• Stay Calibrated With the Team — Participate in required training sessions to stay aligned with other panelists and consistent across data points, with the curiosity to keep learning Osmo's evolving taxonomy.

Who You Are:

• Olfactively Proven — Must pass a sensory acuity screening.

• Focused and Disciplined — Sustained concentration through long, repetitive sensory tasks — tenacity is part of the job description here.

• Methodical and Objective — Separates personal preference from analytical sensory assessment.

• A Fast, Curious Learner — Quickly learns Osmo's internal scales and complex olfactive taxonomy.

• Reliable — Committed to scheduled hours.

• On-Site in Elizabeth, NJ — Available 6 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Ways to Stand Out:

• A Genuine Passion for Scent — Deep-seated curiosity about fragrance or olfactory science.

• A Descriptive Vocabulary — Beyond simple hedonic (like/dislike) terms.

• A Scientific Foundation — Chemistry, biology, or psychology background or interest.

What We Offer:

• Real Growth Path — Starts as a 90-day probationary period at 20 hours/week, with potential to grow to 30 hours/week and benefits eligibility.

• Hourly Rate — $30/hour for 4 hours of evaluation

• Consistent, predictable contract hours

If this role inspires you we’d encourage you to apply. We are committed to recruiting, developing, and retaining an incredible team optimized for a diversity of thought, background, and approaches.

For all Full-Time Employees, compensation is just one component of Osmo’s total rewards approach, which is designed to support the well-being, growth, and long-term success of our team members. Depending on the role, this may include base salary or contract-based pay, along with access to health, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match; flexible paid time off and company holidays; and equity or incentive compensation for eligible roles. Actual compensation will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, location, internal equity, and other relevant business considerations. Osmo regularly reviews pay ranges and compensation structures to ensure they remain competitive, equitable, and aligned with current market data.

All employment decisions and responsibilities are determined based on current ability and your ability to grow, without regard to race, color, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, physical, mental, or sensory disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Osmo does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Osmo or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by the Osmo Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Osmo and Osmo will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire