Job Description
Step into the electrifying role of Principal Sensory Program Manager at Whole Foods Market, where innovation meets taste sensation! Lead our Exclusive Brand product development, collaborating with stakeholders to exceed expectations and drive growth. Uncover the secrets of flavor and texture alongside expert panels, delivering insights that shape the future of food. Get ready for a thrilling adventure - as the Principal Sensory Program Manager, you're not just shaping the way we eat, you're shaping the way we experience food at Whole Foods Market!
Additional Information:
This role will observe the 3-day hybrid office model and be based in Austin, TX.
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the sensory programs, including descriptive analysis panel and internal consumer panel
• Work with stakeholders to define complex business objectives and select the most appropriate research methodology and study design
• Manage descriptive analysis panel including training, tracking attendance, scheduling panelists, providing incentives, writing reports, maintaining lexicons, and directing 3rd party consultants
• Recruit, screen, select and train new panelists for descriptive analysis panel as needed
• Leads 1-2 Sensory Analysts who are responsible for preparing for and executing sensory panels
• Manage internal consumer panel including recruiting, scheduling, questionnaire development, executing the tests, tracking attendance and providing incentives
• Perform statistical analysis on internal consumer data
• Collaborate with Product Quality team to provide input and feedback where requested
• Collaborate with the Whole Foods Market Data Team and 3rd party resources to ensure appropriate statistical methods are used
• Collaborate with Whole Foods Market Category Analytics and Consumer Insights Teams to ensure research questions are fully defined and cross-functional learnings are communicated appropriately
• Develop, review and present the analyses and reports ensuring accuracy, logical consistency and value-added
• Manage sensory requests from different areas of the business and ensure timelines are met

• Lead the development and implementation of processes, procedures and programs for sensory
• Lead the sensory team in keeping sensory methods up to date, reviewing literature and connecting with peers in the sensory field
• Translate complex topics into plain language and teach sensory evaluation concepts and techniques to the Exclusive Brands team and other teams within the company
• Educate Exclusive Brands suppliers on sensory quality programs through the Whole Foods Market Sensory Conformance Program and work with 3rd parties as necessary to train suppliers
• Prepare products as necessary for sensory evaluation
• Perform other miscellaneous sensory duties as necessary

Requirements and Qualifications

• 6-8 years' experience working in sensory science
• BS Food Science, Sensory Science, Psychology or similar field. Advance degree a plus.
• Must have knowledge of sensory science as it relates to consumer packaged goods products
• Must have proven ability to deliver research outcomes in a timely fashion
• Must have experience training and leading a descriptive panel
• Must have consumer research experience
• Must be willing to sample and evaluate all types of food and beverages
• Must be detail oriented and extremely organized
• Must possess excellent communication skills and possess the ability to excel in cross-functional team settings
• Must have computer proficiency and familiarity with most Microsoft Office applications, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

• Must have strong leadership skills and the ability to manage other team members
• Must have in-depth understanding of sensory science and related business processes
• Must be able to drive execution by balancing resource constraints while being a champion for excellence
• Must be able to translate sensory science principles into research practices that work for the business

Preferences

• Experience working with XLStat, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, RedJade, SIMS, Compusense a plus
• A passion for food, beverage and strong culinary skills are a plus
• General understanding of product development, manufacturing and commercialization a plus
• Good typing skills and accuracy
• Strong analytic and statistics skills
• Familiarity of Product Lifecycle Management web-based applications a plus
• Leadership experience/managing direct reports is a plus
• Strong connections to peers in the sensory science field is a plus
• Membership and/or service in IFT and/or Society of Sensory Professionals is a plus
• Ability to represent Whole Foods Market at conferences and trade shows is a plus

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.
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