The Senior Sensory Scientist, Client Partnerships (Program Manager

Sensory Spectrum, Inc.; New Providence (NJ); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Sensory Spectrum, Inc. seeks a Senior Sensory Scientist, Client Partnerships to lead a Managed Sensory Partnership program, serve as the primary client contact, and align resources to meet objectives and client expectations.

You will oversee onsite Sensory Spectrum teams, drive program planning, execution, reporting, and business development, and mentor staff while maintaining high quality and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (four-year college or university) or higher in a relevant field.
• 2) 10–12 years of sensory evaluation, consulting, and client relationship management experience.
• 3) Strong knowledge of sensory evaluation methodologies and lexicon development.
• 4) Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primaryClient Manager for a Managed Sensory Partnership contract.
• Develop and maintain trusted client relationships through proactive communication and strategy.
• Lead program planning, development, and execution to ensure successful delivery of objectives.
• Monitor program performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate internal teams and cross-functional partners to meet project goals.

Skills

Client relationship

Consulting skills

Communication

Leadership

Planning & organization

Problem solving

Stakeholder influence

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree (four-year college or university)

Tools

XLSTAT

SAS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Senior Sensory Scientist, Client Partnerships

The Senior Sensory Scientist, Client Partnerships (Program Manager) is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and successful execution of a Managed Sensory Partnership (MSP) program. Serving as the primary client contact, this role develops and maintains strong client relationships, provides strategic guidance, and ensures resources are effectively aligned to meet program objectives. The Program Manager leads onsite Sensory Spectrum teams, oversees program operations, and ensures all activities are executed in accordance with Sensory Spectrum's quality standards, timelines, and client expectations.

This role also manages external consulting clients, leading project planning, execution, reporting, and business development activities, including proposal and pricing development.

Successful candidates are strategic thinkers, experienced client managers, and proven people leaders with strong expertise in sensory and consumer research methodologies.

Job Location Options
New Providence, NJ
Kannapolis, NC
Plano,TX
Up to 25% travel (approximately 1 trip per month; may flex based on work location)

ESSENTIALFUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To perform this job successfully, an individualmust be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodationsmay be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform theessential functions.

EssentialFunctions Statements

MSP Client Manager

• Serveas the primary Client Manager for a Managed Sensory Partnership contract.
• Developand maintain trusted client relationships through proactive communicationand strategic partnership.
• Providethought leadership and recommendations that enhance client programs andbusiness outcomes.
• Leadprogram planning, development, and execution to ensure successful deliveryof objectives.
• Monitorprogram performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Manageclient embedded Sensory Teams in 2 locations;

• Lead,coach, mentor, and develop Sensory Spectrum team members.
• Fostera collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.
• Promoteopen communication, accountability, and alignment with company values andobjectives.
• Providetechnical guidance
• Ensurequality, efficiency, and adherence to timelines.

Research & Consulting

• Design,plan, and execute sensory, consumer, and product research studies;developing proposals, project scopes & price quotations based onrecommend research plan.
• Translateclient objectives into actionable research plans and recommendations.
• Utilizesensory science methodologies, including descriptive analysis,discrimination testing, consumer research, quality assessment, andadvanced research techniques.
• Analyzedata, interpret results, and deliver clear, actionable insights toclients.
• Monitorproject schedules and ensure timely delivery of all client commitments.
• Coordinateamong internal teams and cross-functional partners to achieve projectgoals.
• Provideinformation required for accurate and timely client billing.
• Maintaincompliance with established company processes, quality standards, and bestpractices.
• Performother duties as assigned.

POSITIONQUALIFICATIONS

EssentialSkills and Experience

TechnicalExpertise

• Strong knowledgeof sensory evaluation methodologies and best practices.
• Experiencedeveloping and applying sensory lexicons across multiple productcategories.
• Familiarity withadvanced research methodologies, including experimental design, consumerqualitative and quantitative research, and statistical analysis.

Leadership& Professional Skills

• Strong clientrelationship management and consulting skills.
• Excellentverbal, written, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Proven abilityto lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strongorganizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Exceptionalproblem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability toinfluence stakeholders and collaborate across functions.
• Comfortableworking in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

AdditionalSkills

• Ability andwillingness to evaluate a variety of food, beverage, and personal careproducts regularly.
• Proficiency withMicrosoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience withXLSTAT, SAS, or other statistical software preferred.

Education& Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree (four-year college oruniversity) or greater

Experience:10-12 yearsrelated experience in sensory evaluation, consulting and client relationshipmanagement

Travel Required: 25% of time(approximately 1 trip per month, but may flex based on work location)

• Communication
• Client Focus
• Listening & Integration of Feedback
• Organization & Planning
• StrategicThinking & Problem Solving
• Leadership & People Development

The Company has reviewed this job descriptionto ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It isintended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's abilityto perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as anexhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities.Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemedappropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and theCompany reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasksfor the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds offorce occasionally and/or negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pullor otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions)of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have closevisual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data andfigures; viewing a computer screen; extensive reading; video meetings.