Quality Sensory & Consumer Experience Specialist

job purpose:

As a Sensory & Consumer Experience Specialist, you will play a key role in ensuring the sensory integrity of our beverage portfolio. You will support the development, execution, and continuous improvement of sensory and consumer quality insights processes across multiple dairy production sites, ensuring consistency, compliance, and consumer satisfaction.

This role is responsible for building and maintaining trained sensory panels, ensuring compliance with quarterly proficiency standards, monitoring consumer quality feedback and driving continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in sensory science, excellent organizational skills, and a passion for quality in dairy products.

responsibilities:

* Build and support trained sensory panels across multiple manufacturing and quality sites. Ensure consistency in panelist performance, testing protocols and alignment with R&D. Conduct regular calibration sessions to maintain data reliability, and sensory accuracy.

* Identify opportunities to enhance sensory program effectiveness and conduct regular risk assessments to ensure robustness and early detection of product quality issues.

* Lead quarterly sensory proficiency testing across all sites. Monitor results and implement corrective actions to ensure compliance with Coca-Cola's global standards.

* Administer the sensory panelist incentive program across all sites. Track participation and promote engagement.

* Monitor consumer quality feedback to identify trends and emerging issues.

* Partners with cross-functional teams optimize complaint tracking systems and ensure consistent data entry practices. Ensure categorization framework to classify complaints by product, issue type, severity, and root cause is consistent.

* Collaborate with Quality Assurance, R&D, and Operations to investigate complaints, trends and implement corrective actions.

* Analyze sensory and consumer feedback data and translate findings into actionable recommendations. Document and report in a clear, concise, and timely manner.

skills/qualifications required:

* Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Sensory Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in sensory evaluation or food quality systems.

* 2-3 years of sensory evaluation experience, preferably in the dairy or food industry, with demonstrated taste and aroma sensitivity (sensory screening required).

* Strong knowledge of sensory methodologies and experimental design, with practical application in production or quality assurance environments.

* Knowledge of dairy processing and formulation, and a passion for quality and innovation in dairy products.

* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage panelists and collaborate across cross-functional teams.

* Project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives independently in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

* Certification or formal training in sensory science, plus high proficiency in Microsoft Office and document management systems.

* Proficiency in sensory software and statistical tools, along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

* Candidates must demonstrate a high level of taste and aroma sensitivity, with the ability to consistently identify and describe key sensory attributes in dairy products. As part of the selection process, candidates will be required to complete a sensory screening to assess their baseline acuity and descriptive capabilities.

working conditions and physical requirements:

* 40-45 hours as needed

* Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

food safety requirements:

* Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.

* Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.

* Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.

* In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

position location: Chicago, IL or Coopersville, MI

reports to: Quality Systems Director

travel requirements: Up to 50%

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