Sr. Sensory Scientist

Balchem; Bridgeton (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Balchem is seeking a Senior Sensory Scientist to serve as the primary technical resource for sensory science within the Human Nutrition & Health business. This hands-on role builds sensory capability through training for R&D, Quality, and Operations, designing methods, preparing samples, executing evaluations, and interpreting results in context of project goals.

You will lead studies, develop internal Sensory Champions, train panelists, ensure method consistency across locations, collaborate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or related field with 7+ years experience or Master’s with 5+ years in Sensory.
• Expertise in descriptive analysis, discrimination and consumer testing.
• Ability to translate business and technical questions into appropriate sensory protocols, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing, training, calibrating, and maintaining sensory panels across studies and locations.
• Proficiency with sensory and statistical software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion a culture of safety.
• Lead and execute the complete sensory study cycle, including defining objectives, selecting methods, preparing samples, conducting studies, analyzing data, and communicating conclusions and recommendations.
• Translate business, customer, and project questions into appropriate study designs, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and technically supported conclusions.
• Develop sensory science capability across HNH by establishing, training, and validating a network of internal Sensory Champions.
• Partner with Sensory Champions to extend training across HNH and develop, qualify, calibrate, and monitor panelists.
• Ensure established sensory methods are applied consistently across studies and locations.
• Build and manage partnerships with external sensory laboratories, universities, and other research partners.
• Develop and maintain sensory procedures, SOPs, templates, training materials, and best-practice documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Product Management, external researchers, and customers to investigate sensory issues and implement solutions.
• Provide sensory science support across HNH laboratories, product platforms, manufacturing locations, and customer programs.

Skills

Sensory methods

Descriptive analysis

Discrimination testing

Consumer testing

Panelist training

Shelf-life study design

Statistics

Compusense

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Travel

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or related field

Master’s degree in Sensory

Tools

Compusense

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

If you are passionate about delivering excellence, and think you are a great fit with our organization, we'd love to hear from you.

For any jobs listed below without a specific city and/or state, they are considered REMOTE opportunities.

Balchem Corporation, and its subsidiaries, offers a competitive salary and benefits package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Balchem is committed to making the world a healthier place by delivering trusted, innovative, and science-based solutions for the health and nutritional needs of the world. Balchem employs approximately 1,400 employees worldwide who provide the service, quality, and technology that enables our customers to win with their customers. We have built a reputation for delivering results to all of our stakeholders. Founded in 1967, Balchem, a Maryland corporation, became a publicly-traded company in 1970 and is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “BCPC.” Our corporate headquarters is located in Montvale, New Jersey, and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the U.S. and Europe. The Company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition and Health, Animal Nutrition and Health, and Specialty Products.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Sensory Scientist will serve as the primary technical resource for sensory science across the Human Nutrition & Health business. This hands‑on role will build sensory science capability across HNH through the development and delivery of training for R&D, Quality, and Operations personnel in appropriate sensory testing techniques. The position will design sensory methods, prepare samples, execute sensory evaluations, and interpret and communicate results in the context of project objectives and business goals. The Senior Sensory Scientist will also provide technical guidance to help project teams establish and achieve measurable sensory targets that support product and business objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Lead and champion a culture of safety.
• Lead and execute the complete sensory study cycle, including defining objectives, selecting methods, preparing samples, conducting studies, analyzing and interpreting data, maintaining records, and communicating conclusions and recommendations.
• Translate business, customer, and project questions into appropriate study designs, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and technically supported conclusions.
• Develop sensory science capability across HNH by establishing, training, and validating a network of internal Sensory Champions.
• Partner with Sensory Champions to extend appropriate training across HNH and develop, qualify, calibrate, and monitor panelists.
• Ensure that established sensory methods are applied consistently across studies and locations.
• Build and manage partnerships with external sensory laboratories, universities, and other research partners when internal capabilities or panel capacity are insufficient.
• Develop and maintain appropriate sensory procedures, SOPs, study templates, training materials, and best‑practice documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Product Management, external research partners, and customers to investigate sensory‑related issues and implement technically supported solutions.
• Provide sensory science support across HNH laboratories, product platforms, manufacturing locations, and customer programs.
• Take an independent and disciplined approach to organizing work, prioritizing tasks, and analyzing problems while identifying additional opportunities to support business priorities.
• Apply sensory science expertise and structured problem‑solving to simplify complex questions and develop practical, technically supported recommendations.
• Lead the development and adoption of consistent sensory methods, practices, and capabilities across HNH, effectively influencing change across functions and locations.
• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions as the sensory science expert when required.
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science or a related scientific field with 7+ years of relevant work experience or a Master’s degree with 5+ years of experience in Sensory.
• Demonstrated expertise in sensory methods, including descriptive analysis, discrimination testing, consumer testing, panelist training, and shelf‑life study design.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business and technical questions into appropriate sensory protocols, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing, training, calibrating, and maintaining sensory panels, with the ability to ensure method consistency and panel reliability across studies and locations.
• Applied statistics expertise required, including analysis and interpretation of sensory, consumer, shelf‑life, and related product data.
• Working knowledge of product development, analytical testing, ingredient functionality, and chemistry sufficient to partner effectively with R&D, Quality, Operations, and external technical collaborators.
• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, or external technical partners.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, written and verbal communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to gather, sort, analyze, and report data as well as make recommendations and conclusions
• Ability to present data to various levels of employees from entry to executive level
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and deliver high‑quality results
• Ability to learn new categories quickly and provide appropriate guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to connect sensory and consumer insights to product development and business decisions.
• Proficiency with sensory and statistical software, including Compusense, and standard business applications such as Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Ability to travel as required to support HNH laboratories, manufacturing locations, customers, and external research partners.

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Balchem is committed to a workplace culture that values and promotes diversity, inclusion, equal employment opportunities, and a work environment free of harassment and hostility.