R&D Sensory Scientist

Description

Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our USA R&D Sensory team in Buffalo, NY. 

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft® Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, Siggi’s®, and Stonyfield Organic® in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe. 

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE!  You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company. 

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. 

From your PASSION to ours

As a Sensory scientist, the role will carry out responsibilities such as coordinating and directing various Sensory activities including the Sensory Expert and Plant Trained Panels. This will include providing detailed statistics on panel results as well as contributing to the deployment of the Quality Product Process within the Lactalis American Group. Further, the scientist will be required to provide Monthly summary reports to the plants, Corporate QA and France QA.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

· Provide technical knowledge as it relates to sensory evaluation that is currently acceptable in the sensory field.

· Manage and oversee all aspects of the Sensory Expert Panels of various dairy categories: 

o Procure commercially available products for tasting as needed

o Prepare samples for the expert panels 

o Set up the room for tasting sessions

o Manage panel attendance for panelist compensation

o Analyze the results by following best practices and using appropriate statistical tools

· Maintain the Expert Panel performance and ensure proper training sessions as needed. Recruit new members as needed, following the proper selection process.

· Manage and oversee the deployment of Plant Trained Panels for Sensory Analysis within Lactalis manufacturing plants, including training of sensory coordinators, creation of SOPs, and monthly report. 

· Alert plant and corporate quality teams regarding negative trends in product performance results by both expert and factory trained panels. 

· Prepare monthly technical report of pillar product performance from plants trained and expert panel data to be submitted to Lactalis Global QA and internal Quality, Marketing, and R&D cross-teams.

· Maintain communications with Counterparts in France and Canada to exchange scientific advancements related to sensory testing, best practices, data analysis and reporting.

· Work with the Marketing Department during the consumer test (60/40, preference mapping, etc.). Be part of the sample evaluation and validation through the Expert Panel prior to the test. Contribute to verify that the consumer test is done under proper conditions. Provide a report from the Expert Panel results to validate and cross verify external results.

· Manage, control, and schedule the expert panel sessions to achieve the yearly objectives (Pillar Product monitoring, Star Product monitoring, training, R&D assistance, Marketing support). 

· Maintain an updated database of all sensory tests as well as selection, training and performance evaluation of Expert Panels, plus all other relevant information.

· Work with members of the ELT (executive leadership team) to organize monthly sample tastings as well as analyze data provided during those activities as needed.

· Develop new sensory procedures that supplement what is currently in place and that are tailored to answer questions posed by R&D and Marketing as needed.

· Provide technical a