Sensory Panel Leader - Danone Nutricia

Sensory Panel Leader MMR / Danone Nutricia – Utrecht, NL

Do you have sensory panel leading experience? Are you looking for you next step within your sensory career? Apply now to join the team at MMR?

MMR is a global leader in guiding innovation for clients within the food, drink and personal care sectors. We advise many iconic global brands, as well as up-and-coming innovators. Our culture is vibrant, fast paced, yet friendly and supportive. Our work practices embody both scientific rigor and creative drive, leading to innovation in research methods and techniques to facilitate our clients’ creative business thinking.

We are looking for a sensory panel leader to join MMR’s passionate and vibrant team and work at Danone Nutricia R&I Center in Utrecht, Netherlands, running sensory projects to help our clients on their innovation agenda.

This is an exciting role where the Sensory Panel Leader will have prime responsibility for running sessions with two expert sensory panels dedicated to Danone Nutricia User Experience team, including panel session planning and leadership, sensory moderation, panel performance analysis and monitoring to fulfil our clients’ needs and fit their KPIs. You will also be part of our MMR global sensory team, with constant opportunities for training and mentoring, and learn from our 45+ experienced sensory scientists.

As Sensory Panel Leader your main responsibilities are:

• To manage the sensory panel and lead panel sessions on clients’ projects, to ensure smooth delivery of sensory research and consistently deliver high quality descriptive analysis data
• Manage sensory projects on request of the client’s team; designing the associated sensory research methodology and running the sessions.
• You will work with the client to make sure the best methodologies and practices are applied
• To prepare panel sessions on the provided sensory software as needed
• To regularly recruit and train new panellists to keep panel numbers at a required level
• To collect and analyse panel monitoring data on each project and provide relevant feedback and one-to-one reviews with sensory panellists in order to maximize data quality, and panel engagement and motivation
• To handle product preparation and serving as required for the smooth running of projects
• To ensure that clients are kept up to date with project progress, and receive and understand draft lexicons and topline results whenever appropriate
• To work together with the client’s team to advice and develop new sensory methodologies to address our business and consumer challenges

Requirements

• Degree in Food Science/Sensory Science (e.g WO, HBO…) or equivalent professional experience.
• Knowledge of Sensory / Statistical Analysis -QDA, Similarity/Thurstonian testing, Post hoc, PCA, MFA.
• Fluent written and spoken Dutch and English
• Experience in sensory panel management.
• Experience with sensory software and data analysis (Eye Question, R and XL Stat…)
• Exposure to an FMCG environment.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to multi-task and work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Ability to work well within a team
• People and team management skills.
• Able to work independently
• A plus: being a foodie who is passionate with food and cooking.

We’ve placed passion, honesty, curiosity, positivity and commercial orientation at the center of our corporate values – do they fit what you’re looking for in your next career move? If so, you will flourish in MMR’s environment, with the autonomy to express yourself and the tools to really connect with clients.

If you are looking to expand your experience and skills and have a great attitude then we have a unique opportunity for you to learn and grow at an exciting time within our team.

Benefits

MMR is an Equal Opportunities Employer.