Sensory & Analytics Product Design Lead (Pet Nutrition)

Colgate Palmolive; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive in Topeka, KS, seeks a Sensory & Analytical Manager to drive the future of pet nutrition by leading a high-impact research team. You will translate pet perceptions into actionable insights that fuel product innovation, bridging sensory science with advanced analytics.

The role requires a PhD in Sensory Science, 4+ years in food/pet food with supervisory experience, and a track record of leading cross-functional projects and lab operations.

Qualifications

• PhD in Sensory Science or a related discipline.
• 4+ years in food or pet food industry with direct supervisory experience.
• Proven mastery of human sensory study design, laboratory experimental design, and advanced analytical food testing methods.
• Understanding of regulatory, product safety, and quality standards relevant to companion animal or human food production.

Responsibilities

• Oversee creation and adaptation of cutting-edge sensory and analytical testing methods and establish KPIs that link lab data to pet preference and consumer satisfaction.
• Manage the Sensory and Product Design Analytical laboratories and mentor a team of scientists for excellence and career growth.
• Develop data visualization, analytical modeling, and reporting frameworks to translate research into actionable insights for technical and executive stakeholders.
• Partner with Product Development, Quality, Regulatory, Procurement, and external vendors to align deliverables with business strategies.
• Investigate core product design variables including ingredients, processing parameters, and aesthetics to optimize performance and consumer acceptance.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Sensory study design

Analytical methods

Education

PhD in Sensory Science

Tools

Laboratory methods

Job description

Colgate-Palmolive in Topeka, KS, seeks a Sensory & Analytical Manager to drive the future of pet nutrition by leading a high-impact research team. You will translate pet perceptions into actionable insights that fuel product innovation, bridging sensory science with advanced analytics.

The role requires a PhD in Sensory Science, 4+ years in food/pet food with supervisory experience, and a track record of leading cross-functional projects and lab operations.