Sensory Scientist

Chick-fil-A, Inc. ('Chick-fil-A' or 'the Company') Staff members play a vital role in achieving our strategic goals by developing their skills, fostering inclusive teamwork, and embracing innovation. All Staff are expected to contribute to a compelling future by inspiring and motivating those around them. Growth and development are essential at Chick-fil-A. We want Staff to seek new perspectives and adopt new methods to drive continuous improvement and adaptation to evolving business needs. Lastly, we ask Staff to seek wisdom, expect the best, accept responsibility, respond with courage, and think others first. Our Flexible Futures Model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually,  strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.This individual will be responsible for leading, coordinating, and executing sensory activities on and off-site. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing the recommended learning plans in addition to operation, maintenance, organization, and cleanliness of all sensory panel activities. This includes working with project owners and third-party groups to design the testing needed, identify all resources, interpret test results, and report key stakeholders across the organization. This role would collaborate with the Insights (CMI) team to develop consumer learning plans that integrate sensory with customer assessments as needed for a project.This individual will have the ability to build strong relationships and provide leadership to internal partners to facilitate the execution of the sensory program. This individual must have the ability to plan, organize, and execute multiple sensory initiatives and may also provide training support as needed.The Sensory Sr. Specialist, Menu Services will report to the Sr. Team Leader of Menu Services.This role needs to have the ability to lead collaborative support teams to execute sensory.Lead Sensory related activities including:Lead, coordinate, and execute the design of sensory testing including descriptive & discrimination methodologyInterpret sensory data for organizational projectsDevelop and maintain budgetary discipline for Sensory resources; staffing, inventory and equipmentEnsures all Sensory tasks meet project timelines and cost targetsSchedule and coordinate contractor teams needed to accomplish effective operation of Sensory projectsEnsure all contractor team members are practicing Chick-fil-A procedural compliance and following food safety best practicesMaintain Sensory inventories including reference library itemsManage sensory testing schedule with internal and external partnersLead Discrimination Panel ExecutionManage, grow, and maintain panelSupervises and manages scheduling of support teamUtilize sensory software to program and execute test methodsReviews results and report findingsIdentify, develop, strengthen, and maintain vendor relationshipsCollaborate and strengthen integration with Customer Market Insights as needed for customer testingAssist Training as needed to convert work methods into training materials of various formatsParticipate in project teams as Menu Services Sensory SME as needed.3+ years in an industry Sensory roleProven track record of excellence in leadership, problem solving, and analytical skillsExcellent communicator of technical information to non-technical audiences.High attention to quality & detailIn-depth project management experienceExperience in designing experiments, process and testingA versatile mind and proven ability to influence key stakeholders along the project decision track and across multiple areas of the organizationAbility to raise, manage, and mitigate project issues and risksProven success in multi-tasking and managing multiple project deadlines simultaneously while quickly adapting and re-prioritizing work based on the needs of the businessExperience in supporting the work of multiple leadersProficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Apple computer software applicationsProficiency in math and statisticsMaintains highest level of confidentiality • Restaurant experienceTraining in sensory scienceTraining in statistical process controlServSafe CertifiedExperience managing a trained panelExperience integrating sensory and consumer insights data in order to make business decisionsExperience using sensory testing software (such as SIMS, RedJade, Compusense)Skills and abilities:People: Personable and approachable. Exhibits strong interpersonal skills that encourage team cooperation, promote enthusiasm, and motivate relationship-building.Excellence: Gives personal best every day; demonstrates positive attitude and confidence; sets high standards and meets self- expectations; pursues everything with energy, drive, and a need to finish; is committed to and works actively to growing and developing capabilities and capacity; seeks feedback on performance and acts upon feedback received; practices accountability.Collaborator: The ability to bring diverse groups across internal and external teams together to work across multiple disciplines and successfully lead those SMEs toward a common outcome.Passion: Go-getter with the relentless pursuit of excellence in a competitive, changing landscape.Communication Skills: Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect.Creativity: Thinks across disciplinary lines; uses the insights or techniques from one discipline to take on the challenges of another. Passionately curious. Thinks and learns and practices their craft all the time.Making Complex Decisions: Can solve even the toughest and most complex of problems; is a quick study of the new and different; adds personal wisdom and experience to come to the best conclusion and solution, given the situation.Restaurant experienceTraining in sensory scienceTraining in statistical process controlServSafe CertifiedExperience managing a trained panelExperience integrating sensory and consumer insights data in order to make business decisions320%Bachelor's DegreeMaster's DegreeFood Science, Sensory Science, or other technical disciplineFood Science, Sensory Science, or other technical discipline

Created: 2026-04-04