Quality Control Sensory Technician - Erlanger, KY

Quality Control Sensory Technician - Erlanger, KY

MAIN FUNCTION:
This position is responsible for evaluating and verifying the color, flavor, aroma, and appearance of products against established quality standards. This role ensures that every batch meets sensory specifications before release, using a combination of instrumental testing and trained sensory evaluation to catch inconsistencies, defects, or deviations that instruments alone might miss.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:
Adaptability

• Adapts well to changes in assignments and priorities; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; approaches change positively and adjusts behaviors accordingly.

Building Trust

• Interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s motives and representations and those of the organization. Is seen as direct and truthful; keeps confidences, promises, and commitments.

Collaboration

• Builds constructive working relationships with clients/customers, other work units, community organizations and others to meet mutual goals and objectives. Behaves professionally and supportively when working with individuals from a variety of ethnic, social and educational backgrounds.

Continuous Learning and Professional Development (Do not use with Applied Learning)

• Is committed to developing professionally, attends professional conferences, focuses on best practices, values cutting-edge practices and approaches; takes advantage of a variety of learning activities, introduces newly gained knowledge and skills on the job.

Influence

• Uses appropriate interpersonal skills and techniques to gain acceptance for ideas or solutions. Uses influencing strategies to gain genuine agreements; Seeks to persuade rather than force solutions or impose decisions or regulations.

Planning and Organizing

• Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resources requirements; determines necessary sequence of activities needed to achieve goals.

Quality Orientation

• Monitors and checks work to meet quality standards; demonstrates a high level of care and thoroughness; checks work to ensure completeness and accuracy.

Safety Awareness

• Being aware of conditions and circumstances that affect one’s own safety or the safety of direct reports.

Teamwork

• Participates as an active and contributing member of a team to achieve team goals. Works cooperatively with other team members, involves others, shares information as appropriate, and shares credit for team accomplishments.

Technical/Professional Knowledge and Skills

• Possesses, acquires, and maintains the technical/professional expertise required to do the job effectively and to create client/customer solutions. Technical/professional expertise is demonstrated through problem solving, applying professional judgment, and competent performance.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK PERFORMED:

• Conduct sensory evaluations (taste, smell, appearance, color, texture) on raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products according to company SOPs
• Perform instrumental color measurement (e.g., spectrophotometer, colorimeter) and record/interpret results against approved specifications
• Compare product samples against reference/retain standards to identify deviations in flavor, color, or aroma
• Document sensory panel results, testing data, and any out-of-spec findings accurately and in a timely manner
• Participate in and/or lead internal sensory panels; calibrate personal sensory judgment against panel/reference standards regularly
• Flag and escalate quality deviations to QC Supervisor or Lab Manager, providing clear, objective descriptions of the issue
• Support root cause investigations when sensory failures occur, working with production and R&D teams
• Maintain retain sample and reference standards for comparison testing

Follow all food safety, GMP, and lab safety protocols
Assist in developing or refining sensory testing protocols, scorecards, and specification ranges.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining Quality requirements.
• Encourages Trust between Operations and Quality.
• Brings new ideas and improvements to Quality protocols and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry or related field.
• Prior experience in a QC lab, sensory panel, or food/beverage/cosmetics production environment preferred
• Demonstrated sensory acuity — ability to accurately detect and describe differences in taste, smell, and color
• Strong attention to detail and ability to document findings objectively and consistently
• Ability to work independently and make judgment calls on borderline samples
• Basic computer skills for data entry and reporting (Excel, LIMS systems a plus)
• Must be able to work in a lab environment involving exposure to various food/flavor/color samples.
• Ability to taste and smell products as part of routine testing (candidates with dietary restrictions, allergies, or sensory impairments should discuss accommodations)
• Ability to stand for extended periods and work in a lab/production environment
• Formal sensory training (e.g., descriptive analysis, triangle testing, duo-trio testing)
• Knowledge of flavor/color specification documentation and batch record review

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check. 

REF:111823BR