Senior Quality Specialist, Sensory

 

Foods people love. Brands people trust. And a career that nourishes your future like no other.

 

If you're driven by the passion to do something meaningful that changes lives, Nestlé is the place for you. Nestlé USA is one of seven operating companies that make up Nestlé’s presence in the United States. We're in 97% of American homes, and as the leading food and beverage company, our goals are to continue to deliver quality food and beverage products, strengthen our local communities, and reduce our environmental and climate impact.

 

We’re determined to challenge the status quo and be better tomorrow than we are today. As individuals and teams, we embrace our entrepreneurial culture and have created a workplace where collaboration is essential, courage is rewarded, speed is expected, and agility is the norm to delight our consumers every single day. Here, you will find limitless opportunities to learn and advance your career and feel empowered to succeed in the workplace and beyond. Because our focus is not only on nourishing our customers, but also about enriching you.

 

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

 

 

The Nestle USA (NUSA) Arlington Sensory Laboratory provides guidance for development and innovation activities of the Beverage, Global Foods, Nestle Coffee Partners and as needed Food businesses. These activities allow teams to drive consumer centricity in Innovation & Renovation, mitigating product related complaints. 

The In/Out sensory program creates the sensory standards for Nestle products and assures that final products conform to those standards. It is also used to monitor ingredients and packaging materials to assure that they function as designed. This position supports the performance against the In/Out program requirements across NUSA.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provide sensory expertise at NUSA head office to ensure success in Innovation/Renovation activities. Use, deliver and maintain Nestle sensory methods and tools. Has the responsibility of maintaining technical competencies in sensory evaluation and services. The incumbent also participates in the technical development and implementation of operational sensory programs.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support sensory evaluation:

• Contributes to building sensory expertise and promoting the use of sensory evaluation at head office.
• Manage external panel by screening, recruitment, training and monitoring their performance.
• Lead and conduct Innovation & Renovation related studies (descriptive analysis) with external panel.
• Maintain records of external panel attendance and administers panels information.
• Help with the preparation and execution of training sessions for internal panel.
• Perform data statistical analysis and write reports as needed.
• Participate in discussions with clients for appropriate test selection, execution, data analysis and reporting to meet business objectives.

Support the operation of NUSA head office Sensory Laboratory:

•            Implement good laboratory practices and safe behavior of Sensory Laboratory and temperature-controlled storage rooms.

•            Keep Laboratory equipment and facilities clean, organized, and operational.

•            Supply and organize materials for the Laboratory.

•            Maintain updated sensory references and keep inventory of materials, references, and tests’ samples.

•            Maintain Laboratory SOP’s and other documentation to ensure proper and safe laboratory operation and product handling.

•            Responsible for planning and execution of shelf-life sensory testing.

 

Support Operational sensory evaluation for NUSA:

•            Collaborate in designing In/Out quantitative sensory references for integration of Key Sensory Attributes into the factories Quality System.

•            Support sensory evaluation training for sensory quality assessment in NUSA and co-manufactures’ plants

Other:

•            Participate in the Nestle Sensory & Consumer Preference Network as part of networking with R&D specialists and other Markets

•            Perform additional duties as assigned

 

REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL:

BS in Food Science, Food Technology, or related field highly preferred.

 

EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years applied sensory regulatory experience. Industry preference food, beverage, pharmaceutical or medical device space
• Working knowledge of computers and of dedicated software for sensory evaluation (e.g., Sens IT)
• Working knowledge of discrimination, descriptive and Quality Assurance sensory methods
• Experience as a panel leader e.g., recruiting, trainin