Ingredion Global Sensory Center is seeking a Manager to join our team in Bridgewater, NJ, who will thrive in a fast-paced cross-functional innovation environment and support our business strategic platforms. Sensory is the business partners to Innovation, Manufacturing, Research, Analytical, Marketing, Sales, and the shapers of the Innovation Promise. At Ingredion, Sensory covers the front fuzzy and back end of the process, using data science trends and technology truths to deliver relevant and actionable sensory guidance in line with the business platform strategies and projects.

This position will be responsible to drive a strategic sensory, competitive, and business view of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners and drive the sharing of Go-to-Market information at a regional and a global level. You will guide and support our Sugar Reduction Business Platform by overseeing and leading the sweetener sensory science platform at a strategic level.  You will hold the expertise of identifying Sensory sweetener as a competitive tool, data mining and translating data into innovation ideas, strategies, and project execution and be the voice of the consumer during project scoping, definition, and execution.

In this role, you will participate in cross functional teams within Sugar Reduction strategic platform for regional/global sensory research projects/programs, capability build, customer projects and sensory knowledge capture. You will develop and use sensory methodologies and deliver results and conclusions, with a focus on descriptive analysis. You will provide leadership on new approaches and training of new panelists and support the development of sensory capabilities within global regions.

** 4 days/week on-site, remote Fridays!

Qualified candidates will have:

• Master’s degree in Food Science or related, with emphasis in Sensory Science with 10+ in the sweetener ingredient industry (preferred) or academia.
• Expertise in Concentration Response (CTI), Time Intensity (TI), Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) and other Temporal Perception evaluation, analysis and reporting, a must. Chemosensory & Oral Processing practical experiences would be a plus.
• Demonstrated proficiency in applying sensory methodologies including design of experiment, descriptive, discriminative, and quantitative testing.
• Experience using sensory software (Compusense Cloud and XLSTAT).
• Statistical knowledge in univariate and multivariate techniques for sensory and consumer data.
• Excellent statistical analysis skills with proven data interpretation knowledge
• Experience in food industry and working with product development cross functional teams.
• Ability and desire to manage scientists and technicians.
• Empathetic leadership and a Team Player, ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of people and work styles. 
• Ability to address multiple priorities and bring work to a closure.
• Solid communication skills (both verbal and written), presentation, organizational and time management skills.  
• Solid Excel and PowerPoint skills. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Act as key sensory lead on project teams to understand business and project objectives. Develop the appropriate sensory test plans/designs and execute sensory testing that is valid and reliable.  Provide sound conclusions and actionable recommendations from sensory efforts to the project teams. Write concise reports that convey valid results and recommendations.  Influence and lead project teams in understanding sensory language, methods, and results.
• Contribute to the sensory elements of the overall Sugar Reduction Global Innovation strategy and support implementation and promotion of sensory capabilities and feedback.
• Lead descriptive panels, which include development of lexicon and use of corresponding scales to evaluate products; construction of valid presentation designs; set-up and execution of tests; completion of appropriate data analysis and delivery of sound conclusions.
• Lead sensory element of project team for some initiatives beyond descriptive program globally with limited supervision.
• Explore, identify, propose and implement improvements and “new thinking” for the descriptive program.  Initiate and implement more effective, innovative, and efficient methodologies or approaches. 
• Participate as an active and positive key member of the global sensory team. Influence and support the alignment of best practices, methods, and common sensory language (Texicon) across the regions.
• Document sensory knowledge and activities.  Support the development, maintenance, and global sharing of the Sensory Texicon data base and Share Point.
• Investigate and/or engage with external collaborators to generate novel methods.
• Prepare and conduct effective presentations to internal clients and external customers. 
• Engage with customers to collaborate on projects.
• Engage with global project teams and provide sensory support for the goals of the project team.  Influence the technical and operational direction of projects to align best practices.
• Enable sensory communities to share knowledge and experience with relevant regional and global teams.
• Be a member of and participate in an external sensory organization.
• Contribute to the sensory elements of the overall Sugar Reduction strategy and support implementation and promotion of sensory capabilities and feedback.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs. 

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, military status, or disability status.