Sr. Sensory Scientist

Balchem Corporation • Bridgeton, MO

3d

About The Position

The Senior Sensory Scientist will serve as the primary technical resource for sensory science across Balchem’s Human Nutrition & Health (HNH) business. This hands-on role builds sensory science capability across HNH by developing and delivering training for R&D, Quality, and Operations personnel in appropriate sensory testing techniques. The position designs sensory methods, prepares samples, conducts sensory evaluations, and interprets and communicates results in relation to project objectives and business goals. It also provides technical guidance to help project teams establish and achieve measurable sensory targets that support product and business objectives.

The Senior Sensory Scientist leads the complete sensory study cycle, develops consistent methods and practices across teams and locations, and builds internal capability through a network of trained Sensory Champions. The role collaborates across internal functions and with customers and external technical partners to investigate sensory-related issues and implement supported solutions. Travel is required as needed to support HNH laboratories, manufacturing locations, customers, and research partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related scientific field with 7 or more years of relevant work experience, or a master’s degree with 5 or more years of sensory experience.
• Expertise in sensory methods, including descriptive analysis, discrimination testing, consumer testing, panelist training, and shelf-life study design.
• Ability to translate business and technical questions into appropriate sensory protocols, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing, training, calibrating, and maintaining sensory panels, and ensuring method consistency and panel reliability across studies and locations.
• Applied statistics expertise, including analysis and interpretation of sensory, consumer, shelf-life, and related product data.
• Working knowledge of product development, analytical testing, ingredient functionality, and chemistry sufficient to partner effectively with R&D, Quality, Operations, and external technical collaborators.
• Experience working directly with customers, suppliers, or external technical partners.
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, written and verbal communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to gather, sort, analyze, and report data and make recommendations and conclusions.
• Ability to present data to employees at levels ranging from entry to executive.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical problems and deliver high-quality results.
• Ability to learn new categories quickly and provide appropriate guidance.
• Ability to connect sensory and consumer insights to product development and business decisions.
• Proficiency with sensory and statistical software, including Compusense, and standard business applications such as Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Ability to travel as required to support HNH laboratories, manufacturing locations, customers, and external research partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion a culture of safety.
• Lead and execute sensory studies from defining objectives and selecting methods through sample preparation, study execution, data analysis and interpretation, recordkeeping, and communication of conclusions and recommendations.
• Translate business, customer, and project questions into appropriate study designs, statistical approaches, decision criteria, and technically supported conclusions.
• Develop sensory science capability across HNH by establishing, training, and validating a network of internal Sensory Champions.
• Partner with Sensory Champions to extend training across HNH and develop, qualify, calibrate, and monitor panelists.
• Ensure established sensory methods are applied consistently across studies and locations.
• Build and manage partnerships with external sensory laboratories, universities, and other research partners when internal capabilities or panel capacity are insufficient.
• Develop and maintain sensory procedures, SOPs, study templates, training materials, and best-practice documentation.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing, Product Management, external research partners, and customers to investigate sensory-related issues and implement technically supported solutions.
• Provide sensory science support across HNH laboratories, product platforms, manufacturing locations, and customer programs.
• Organize and prioritize work independently, analyze problems, and identify opportunities to support business priorities.
• Apply sensory science expertise and structured problem-solving to develop practical, technically supported recommendations.
• Lead the development and adoption of consistent sensory methods, practices, and capabilities across HNH, influencing change across functions and locations.
• Participate in customer meetings and technical discussions as the sensory science expert when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior