Sensory Panel Leader, Product Experience Researcher I

Job Summary

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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