Sensory Manager

Albertsons • Pleasanton, CA

313d • $105,900 - $137,580 • Remote

About The Position

About the company Albertsons Companies is at the forefront of the revolution in retail. With a fixation on raising the bar with innovation and building belonging through our culture, our team is rallying our company around a unique purpose: to create joy around each table and inspire a healthier tomorrow for every community. Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with over 2,200 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Our well-known banners include Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets, and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. We support our stores with 22 distribution centers and 19 manufacturing plants. Placing a premium on adaptability, safety and family well-being, our work model, Presence with a Purpose, offers a hybrid work environment between remote work and office time. A one-size-fits-all approach does not apply to everyone, and teams are empowered to make decisions best for them. Bring your flavor Building the future of food and well-being starts with you. Join our team and bring your best self to the table. #Bringyourflavor #LI-MG1

Requirements

• Master of Food Science with an emphasis on Sensory Science.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Sensory Science, or other science disciplines accepted with relevant experience in leading sensory Programs.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in leading sensory evaluations within the food manufacturing or consumer goods industry.
• Intermediate culinary skills and the ability to prepare food samples according to preparation instructions.
• Advanced proficiency in sensory testing methods, statistical analysis, and sensory program management for both food and non-food categories.
• Experience developing and managing sensory panels, training teams on sensory and evaluation methods, and additional sensory-related training programs.
• Proficiency with sensory and statistical software (e.g., Compusense, XLSTAT, or similar).
• Proven experience in building and implementing programs and trainings.
• Excellent client-facing and internal communication skills.
• Hands-on experience with managing project trackers and teams.
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills.
• Proven success in a corporate setting working with all levels of management.
• Proven experience in leading project(s) through to completion based on milestones.
• Strong communication and presentation skills: highly developed soft skills required for effective data presentation and business influence based on results.
• Ability to simplify complex data analysis to actionable, easy to understand insights.
• Exceptional organization and tracking skills to manage hundreds of samples for each project.
• Self-motivated and able to work autonomously with a sense of urgency and integrity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Proficient in PC skills in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access).
• Able to develop strong working relationships through teamwork and transparency.
• Ability to influence and motivate others to execute.
• Ability to develop materials and present updates, both verbal and written to Own Brands leadership.
• Must be a self-starter.
• The ability to lift up to 40 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive sensory evaluation program at the corporate facility.
• Establish testing protocols to evaluate new product formulations, existing product quality, and competitive product performance for both food and non-food categories.
• Oversee descriptive, discrimination, and affective sensory tests to provide actionable insights for product development and quality improvement.
• Develop and implement a holistic sensory strategy to provide insights that enable internal collaborators to make informed decisions, driving product success.
• Partner with R D, Marketing, and Consumer Insights to drive short-term and long-term company strategies.
• Develop and maintain a sensory database to track historical data and trends.
• Train and manage an internal sensory panel, ensuring rigorous recruitment, calibration, and panelist performance monitoring.
• Modernize and standardize sensory testing procedures across all manufacturing facilities to ensure consistency and reliability.
• Prepare food samples according to preparation instructions, and the ability to taste all food product types (no/minimal food aversions).
• Develop facility-specific sensory evaluation guidelines for in-process and finished products.
• Provide training to manufacturing plant and other technical personnel on sensory testing techniques and protocols.
• Support PD innovation and renovation projects by providing actionable recommendations based on key findings and deliver comprehensive sensory and consumer research learning plans from start to finish.
• Utilize various qualitative and quantitative tools and approaches (sensory training and design methodology) to summarize information and guide the business in assessing product and package performance.
• Enforce and champion sensory testing best practices as compared to industry standards.
• Collaborate closely with multifunctional teams, maintaining regular connections with product development, and work with the technical services team to build and own overall insights learning plans and roadmaps.
• Ensure a thorough understanding of consumer perceptions to identify product opportunities and recommend action plans to achieve business objectives.
• Enhance the value of Product Development by contributing to strategic sensory programs and ensuring they are used to develop strong consumer product propositions, including claims and benefits.
• Maintain proactive connections with the key stakeholders to propose, develop, and utilize novel methodologies to meet changing business needs.
• Present key findings to OB LT and other relevant cross-functional leaders.
• Responsible for the continuous development of best practices and innovative approaches to drive business impact.

Benefits

• The salary range is $105,900.00 to $137,580.00 annually. Starting salary will vary based on criteria such as location, experience, and qualifications. There may be flexibility for exceptional candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Food and Beverage Retailers
• Education Level: Master's degree