Sr. Sensory Scientist

Balchem Corp.; Montvale, Northern (NJ, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

Balchem Corporation in Montvale, NJ, seeks a Senior Sensory Scientist to lead sensory science across the Human Nutrition & Health organization. You will design methods, train personnel, prepare samples, conduct evaluations, and communicate results aligned with project objectives and business goals.

You will train internal Sensory Champions, calibrate panels, collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and external partners, and translate findings into actionable recommendations. Travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience with sensory methods and study design across multiple locations.
• Ability to train, calibrate, and maintain sensory panels with consistent methods.
• Strong statistical analysis of sensory, consumer, and shelf-life data.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sensory study cycles from objectives to conclusions.
• Develop and validate sensory methods, SOPs, and training materials.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and external partners.
• Translate insights into actionable product development recommendations.

Skills

Sensory methods

Descriptive analysis

Discrimination testing

Consumer testing

Panelist training

Shelf-life study design

Applied statistics

Data analysis

Customer collaboration

Presentation to executives

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science

Master’s Degree in Food Science

Tools

Compusense

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

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.

#IND123

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.

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