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Form of workCompany Description
Oats Overnight is changing the way people eat breakfast, and since launching in 2016, our high protein spoon-free oatmeal has been enjoyed by over 1,000,000 customers. We are scaling quickly in both direct-to-consumer and retail with the goal of becoming a household brand. We have end-to-end control of all phases of the business, producing and fulfilling the product in-house, which is extremely rare for companies our size. This allows us to create new flavors and products quickly and is a tremendous advantage for our brand – we’re able to give customers a behind-the-scenes look at what we do, highlighting our people and process in content. Being vertically integrated also enables us to incorporate customers directly in the development process.
What We Value
- Ability to influence at varying levels across the organization.
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and navigate in a fast moving environment.
- Individuals who are self-motivated and able to work with little supervision, who consistently take the initiative to get things done, do things before being asked by others or forced to by events.
- Ability to artfully convey even subtle or complex messages clearly, as appropriate for the topic and audience.
- A relentless drive to get things done.
- Curious and entrepreneurial mindset.
- Enjoys working in a highly collaborative and supportive team environment.
What We Are Looking For
The Sensory Scientist will be the company champion for ensuring that our great tasting products taste great from lot to lot, manufacturing location to manufacturing location and pouch to pouch. This mission starts by working hand-in-hand with product development while formulas are being formulated at bench all the way through scale-up and full commercialization. The Sensory Scientist will serve a key role in helping us maintain our consistently high standards for amazing tasting products that our consumers love.
Specifically, the Sensory Scientist will design, execute, analyze, and report sensory and shelf-life studies. They will work with cross-functional teams to develop sensory testing protocols and implement them throughout the product development process into full commercialization. Work closely with the product development team to design and perform tests on RTE products and maintain appropriate data. By working closely with the product development team, the Sensory Scientist will be responsible for all aspects of sensory research and consumer insights for product optimization and innovation. Additionally this role will be responsible for creating organoleptic release criteria for finished products at two manufacturing locations within the U.S., including training staff to participate in sensory panels.
Who You Are
- Not afraid to get out into a manufacturing operations environment to work shoulder-to-shoulder with plant teams to resolve problems and challenges.
- Adept at problem-solving and finding new perspectives, always looking for areas to continuously improve and drive the organization forward.
- Flexible, willing, and quick to learn new processes, new technology, and new ways of thinking.
- A people person, able to quickly build rapport and relationships at all levels of the organization from the CEO to production operators.
- Skilled at leading and influencing people across direct and cross-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Designs sensory methodologies in support of product optimization and innovation during product development cycle.
- Creates, monitors, manages and improves reference standard library for manufacturing release testing of all finished goods at two manufacturing locations.
- Leads and develops processes for on-going improvement in sensory including support for all R & D categories, R & D/sensory shelf-life program, and quality control/quality assurance sensory programs at manufacturing facilities.
- Creates, monitors and manages shelf-life studies with respect to flavor integrity over time in conjunction with quality assurance and product development teams.
- Develops standardized practices, protocols and processes to align sensory across the organization including multiple manufacturing locations.
- Manages sensory panel performance and monitor ability of panel to deliver client KPIs.
- Plans for panel growth, maintenance and panelist replacement.
- Coordinates the execution of the various sensory tests and manages the preparation of resources needed for the test design, including excellent communication with the quality control technicians.
- Analyzes the data and provides feedback to appropriate team members, including but not limited to product development, marketing, quality, manufacturing, and market research.
- Reports findings and provides recommendations of next steps to team members.
- Coordinates and helps manage the internal and external testing schedules.
- Maintains internal and external database of consumers and qualified sensory panelists.
- Leads sensory panels for consistent and reliable data collection.
- Interprets sensory data for actionable product insights.
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams, mainly Product Development, aligning sensory goals with strategies.
- Improves sensory evaluation processes for efficiency and accuracy.
- Stays updated on analysis techniques and industry trends.
- Balances sensory duties with product shelf-life study monitoring and reporting.
- Coordinates external shelf-life study quantitative and qualitative analyses, compilation of data and reporting.
- Other duties as assigned
Must Have REQUIREMENTS
- BS, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Food Science, Sensory Science, or related degree and relevant experience with strong working knowledge of sensory science in all qualitative and quantitative methodologies
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in sensory science or related field, preferred 8+ years experience
- Experience in developing flavor sensory programs for RTM beverages.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent understanding of food industry standards of quality and foods safety, and FDA regulations.
- Strong computer skills and strong knowledge of statistical data collection and analysis packages
- Ability to lead multiple projects in an efficient, timely and precise manner
- Strong interpersonal skills; excellent oral communication and ability to work independently, as well as a high aptitude for learning and adaptability.
- Experience and desire to support a culture built on collaboration, sharing of ideas and celebration of successes as well as drive for positive outcomes with cross-functional teams.
Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Often standing and working in a laboratory environment
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Must be able to work near food ingredients, exposure to food allergens
Location: inside an R&D laboratory and at times also inside an air-conditioned manufacturing and warehouse environment
You must be able to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards
You must be able to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Often standing and working in a laboratory environment
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Must be able to work near food ingredients, exposure to food allergens
Location: inside an R&D laboratory and at times also inside an air-conditioned manufacturing and warehouse environment
You must be able to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards
You must be able to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards
Perks:
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Flexible PTO, and stock options, as we strongly believe that every team member is important to our success.
And last but never least...
We value people who roll up their sleeves and support their fellow team members. We embrace diversity and encourage equal opportunity every chance we get, and we look forward to learning from people whose backgrounds, skills, and perspectives challenge and enrich our own.
Oats Overnight provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Oats Overnight complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.
