Sensory Specialist

Category/Area of Expertise: Private Brands
Job Requisition: 535335
Address: USA-ME-Scarborough-145 Pleasant Hill Rd
Store Code: Product Excellence (5139481)
Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the U.S. family of brands, which includes five leading omnichannel grocery brands - Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Our associates support the brands with a wide range of services, including Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Commercial, Digital and E-commerce, Technology and more.
Primary Purpose
This position is responsible for the ownership (development and leading) of the routine quality monitoring program for Private Brands. They will plan, execute and oversee a routine quality review testing strategy. Partners with Sensory Manager to assign and manage sensory team members to support. Leads the task force meetings; reviews product concern inputs and complaints and develops action plans; Responsible for success of in-store blind sampling program for private brand products. Owns store communications, testing schedules, provides training and support to the sensory team in report generation and data analysis. Communicates results and develops action plans in conjunction with the sensory manager and business counterparts to drive product quality improvements. Responsible for ensuring all projects and quality improvements stay on track and within specified project timelines.
Our flexible/ hybrid work schedule includes 3 in-person days at one of our core locations and 2 remote days. Our core office locations include Salisbury, NC, Quincy, MA, Carlisle, PA, and Scarborough, ME.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads planning, executing and overseeing of quality review testing strategy (including internal testing, organization of ad hoc third party testing and customer research testing) for all private brand items in alignment with the sourcing event calendar, private brand priority strategies and risk assessment calendar
• Owns the relationship with third party testing agency including budget, communication, testing calendar, test result review
• Leads the weekly Product Excellence task force meeting to address trending quality concerns via complaints and developing action plans.
• Conducts a prioritized and sequenced review of all categories of private brand products.
• Leads the customer research testing program and supplier outreach on reformulation efforts.
• Incorporates new technologies such as Trace One for enhanced product tracking and analysis.
• Compiles & communicates the master data report to be cascaded to category management teams and communications with third party execution team and sensory software company.
• Communicates results and developing action plans in conjunction with the Sensory Manager and business counterparts to drive product quality improvements.
• Responsible for ensuring all quality improvement projects stay on track within specified project timelines.
• Monitors supplier transitions for Private Brand items to help mitigate potential issues in customer perception of changes in quality.
• Product Quality Monitoring: Manages the review of internal data points and creates action plans for product quality improvements. Partners with cross-functional team members collaboratively (consumer affairs, category development, sourcing, sensory). Collaborates with Private brand manufacturers and outsourced QA third party organizations (where applicable) to monitor quality.
• Ownership of createing store rotation schedules, sensory tech support schedule and leading store location changes.
• Creates and writes Sensory Ballots and sets up sensory panels utilizing relevant sensory science and techniques to create unbiased customer sensory research.
• Additional job duties may be assigned as needed to meet the needs of the business and support our Values.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent combination of education and related work experience in one of the following or related subjects: Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Sensory Science, Biochemistry or Microbiology
• 5+ years of related experience, preferred in private label/manufacturing
• Must be able to work collaboratively and independently with minimal supervision
• Expertise in sensory testing and guidance and consumer product testing
• Ability to evaluate mulitple aspects of food products
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills
• Travel around 20-40% of time (includes sample procurement across multiple retailers in multiple states, processing for perishable shipments, third party site visits)

Preferred Qualifications

• Story telling and customer focus
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultanesouly and adapt to change
• Understanding of consumer food products brand management
• Understanding of the private label retail food business environment and metrics
• Communicate and influence cross functionally
• Proven analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze, interpret and take appropriate action on information

ME/NC/PA/SC Salary Range: $63,440-$95,160
IL/MA/MD/NY Salary Range: $72,880 - $109,320
Actual compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on their unique qualifications and experience, internal equity, and market conditions. Final compensation decisions will be made in accordance with company policies and applicable laws.
#LI-LL1 #LI-Hybrid
At Ahold Delhaize USA, we provide services to one of the largest portfolios of grocery companies in the nation, and we're actively seeking top talent.
Our team shares a common motivation to drive change, take ownership and enable our brands to better care for their customers. We thrive on supporting great local grocery brands and their strategies.
Our associates are the heartbeat of our organization. We are committed to offering a welcoming work environment where all associates can succeed and thrive. Guided by our values of courage, care, teamwork, integrity (and even a little humor), we are dedicated to being a great place to work.
We believe in collaboration, curiosity, and continuous learning in all that we think, create and do. While building a culture where personal and professional growth are just as important as business growth, we invest in our people, empowering them to learn, grow and deliver at all levels of the business.
#BI-Hybrid