Sensory Scientist

  • Full-time
  • Sub-Department: Food Safety Quality
  • Department: Operations
  • Site Location: Minneapolis

Company Description

As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Peperami.

Job Description

Come Run with Sasquatch as a Sensory Scientist  to be a champion for Jack Link’s commitment to an integrated quality system. This role is critical to ensure our products meet the consumer sensory expectation for appearance, taste, texture, and smell at product design, at manufacture, and at consumption. We call this continuous pursuit of an AWESOME consumer experience- the Gold Standard.

Specifically, you will: 

  • Lead shelf-life and aged product grading programs and time of manufacture product sensory grading strategy
  • Design and facilitate internal sensory panels including test protocol, product preparation, ballot creation, organization of testing area, scheduling and recruiting participants
  • Organize, analyze, and document results of internal sensory tests into formal lab reports; engage cross-functional teams in analysis and results
  • Train and support business teams to utilize sensory best practices in product evaluation; assist in providing business teams with actionable feedback from testing results
  • Collaborate with the Sensory & Consumer Insights and R&D teams to coordinate external consumer testing with outside vendors as needed
  • Perform lab testing on product attributes that influence sensorial attributes and performance over shelf life- texture analysis, physical characteristics, color analysis, and product chemistries
  • Support quality programs, which could include developing product evaluation/sample preparation SOPs, analyzing and modifying product specifications, and analysis of products

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science Degree (Consumer Sensory Science, Food Science, Meat Science, Culinary Arts Preferred)
  • 5 or more years in Sensory Science, Consumer Insights, or related field
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; effective facilitation skills to lead competitive reviews, objective team tastings, etc.
  • Desire to build relationships with cross-functional business teams and collaborate to improve and promote quality
  • Demonstrated experience handling multiple tasks with capability of prioritizing and planning work activities
  • Competence in independently planning and executing sensory and/or consumer research

 

Additional Information

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.