Sensory Panel Leader, Product Experience Researcher I

International Flavors and Fragrances; South Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 69,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Parental leave

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) in New Jersey is seeking a Sensory Panel Leader, Product Experience Researcher I to develop and lead high-performing sensory panels that generate reliable descriptive data for product design and development.

You will train panelists, coordinate testing with cross-functional teams, review data quality and guide improvements in laboratory processes to support aggressive innovation goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Sensory Science or related field.
• Hands-on experience with trained descriptive sensory panels.
• Understanding of sensory evaluation principles and methods.
• Experience training or facilitating individuals or groups.
• Ability to identify and address panel-performance gaps.
• Strong analytical skills and data quality evaluation.
• Excellent planning, organization and project management.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams while handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, screen, train and onboard sensory panelists.
• Develop panelists' ability to describe and quantify sensory characteristics.
• Lead ongoing panel training, calibration, coaching and consensus-building.
• Partner with researchers to plan descriptive and discrimination testing.
• Facilitate product familiarization, attribute generation and panel discussions.
• Coordinate testing schedules, panel availability and sample requirements with teams.
• Monitor panel performance for discrimination, repeatability, and agreement.
• Review sensory data for completeness, quality and recalibration needs.
• Support routine sensory data analysis and database maintenance.

Skills

Sensory science

Panel leadership

Data analysis

Training & coaching

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Questioning & feedback

Confidential data handling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Sensory Science or related field

Job description

Job Summary

Are you passionate about sensory science and ready to transform product experiences through reliable, actionable insights?

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Crafting unique, technology-enabled flavor designs that define the identity of food and beverage brands, shape trends in flavor building and fuel market success.

The role is based in South Brunswick, New Jersey and is an onsite position. Be part of a collaborative, detail-oriented and science-driven team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

As a Sensory Panel Leader, Product Experience Researcher I, you will develop, maintain and lead high-performing sensory panels that generate reliable, actionable descriptive data. You will combine sensory science, panel leadership, training, data quality and operational coordination to help ensure sensory evaluations follow established methodologies and quality standards.

Working closely with Product Experience Researchers and cross-functional partners, you will translate project objectives into effective sensory evaluations that support product design, formulation, optimization and development.

Where You'll Make a Difference

• Recruit, screen, train and onboard sensory panelists using established selection and performance criteria.
• Develop panelists' ability to identify, describe, discriminate and quantify sensory characteristics using established sensory language, scales and references.
• Lead ongoing panel training, calibration, coaching and consensus-building activities to maintain panel alignment, engagement and capability.
• Partner with Product Experience Researchers to select appropriate sensory methodologies and plan descriptive and discrimination testing based on project objectives.
• Facilitate product familiarization, attribute generation and panel discussions while encouraging active participation, professional judgment and constructive communication.
• Coordinate testing schedules, panel availability and sample requirements with researchers, Creative and Design teams, technicians and other project partners.
• Monitor individual panelist and overall panel performance, including discrimination, repeatability, agreement and appropriate scale usage.
• Review sensory data for completeness, consistency and quality, and identify when additional training or recalibration is required.
• Support routine sensory data analysis, sensory database maintenance, documentation, sample traceability and continuous improvement of laboratory processes.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Bachelor's degree in Sensory Science, Food Science, Psychology, Consumer Science, Statistics or a related scientific discipline, or equivalent relevant sensory experience.
• Hands-on experience working with trained descriptive sensory panels.
• Demonstrated understanding of sensory evaluation principles, descriptive methods, discrimination testing and sensory scale usage.
• Experience training, coaching or facilitating individuals and groups.
• Ability to recognize panel-performance gaps and develop appropriate training or calibration activities.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate data quality, consistency and reliability.
• Strong planning, organizational and project-management skills, with careful attention to detail.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide constructive feedback and facilitate group discussions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with scientists, product developers, technicians and other cross-functional partners while handling confidential information with professional judgment.

How Would You Stand Out?

• Experience with temporal or advanced descriptive sensory methodologies.
• Experience analyzing sensory data using statistical, visualization or sensory science software.
• Experience managing sensory databases, panel-performance records or sensory laboratory processes.

Why Choose Us?

• Medical, vision and dental insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan.
• Parental leave of up to 16 weeks.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Learning and professional development opportunities.
• An inclusive, collaborative environment where sensory science directly supports product innovation and consumer experiences

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more

Salary Ranges: 69.118,00-98.740,00USD