Senior Sensory Panel Moderator/Leader

Sensation Research; Mason (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sensation Research is a custom sensory and consumer research company providing product development guidance for food, beverages, cosmetics, pet care, OTC, and household products. The Senior Sensory Panel Leader oversees the analytical sensory program for a key client, ensuring high-quality insights and strong panel operations.

The role includes recruiting and training panelists, managing client relationships, and collaborating with the lab team to deliver reliable data and timely findings.

Qualifications

• Education in Sensory, Food Science, Psychology, or related field with at least 7 years of industry experience.
• Sensory Expertise – sound knowledge and experience in analytical sensory analysis methods applied to food, beverage, and personal care categories, and descriptive panel leadership and supervisory role in sensory team
• Sensory Moderation – handling, without leading or biasing, panel consensus and agreement, addressing disagreement of attribute definitions, product scores and panelist fatigue
• Understanding client objectives to collect meaningful product data.
• Spectrum Method knowledge and skills
• Ability to use RedJade or other Sensory software to review data and give feedback to panelists on performance.
• Proactively communicating project status to lab leaders, Sensory Director and Owner

Responsibilities

• Pre-screens products to develop panel lexicons, and ballots
• Finalizes ballot 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

Skills

Panel Leadership

Sensory Expertise

Sensory Moderation

Spectrum Method

RedJade Software

Client Communication

Project Management

Education

Education in Sensory, Food Science, Psychology, or related field with at least 7 years of industry experience

Job description

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.

The Senior Sensory Panel Leader will oversee the analytical sensory program for a key client, ensuring the delivery of high-quality sensory insights, effective panel operations, and strong client relationships. 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. Accomplished client management skills are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre-screens products to develop panel lexicons, and ballots
• Finalizes ballot 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

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Education in Sensory, Food Science, Psychology, or related field with at least 7 years of industry experience
• Sensory Expertise – sound knowledge and experience in a range of analytical sensory analysis methods applied to food, beverage, and personal care categories, and descriptive panel leadership and supervisory role in sensory team
• Sensory Moderation – efficiently handling, without leading or biasing, of panel consensus and agreement, and effectively addressing disagreement of attribute definitions, product scores and panelist fatigue
• Understanding client objectives to collect meaningful product data.
• Spectrum Method knowledge and skills
• Ability to use RedJade or other Sensory software to review data and give feedback to panelists on performance.
• Proactively communicating project status to lab leaders, Sensory Director and Owner
• Works with the lab leaders to conduct the project.