Sr. Manager, Sensory & Guidance Research

Utz Quality Foods is seeking a Sr. Manager, Sensory & Guidance Research. The Senior Manager, Sensory & Guidance Research supports the R&D, Quality and Marketing teams by leading the sensory evaluation strategy and providing actionable research guidance to drive product innovation and quality standards. This role is responsible for orchestrating both internal and external sensory programs, ensuring products meet and exceed consumer expectations, and delivering market-driven recommendations to the R&D department. The position collaborates closely with product developers, marketing, sales, and business partners to facilitate successful product launches, optimize product attributes, and maintain competitive advantage in the snack food industry.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and oversee sensory evaluation protocols, including organizing sensory panels, managing external labs, and interpreting sensory data.
• Develop and maintain Product Quality Standards (PQS) documentation, and train plant teams on sensory evaluation best practices.
• Lead shelf-life studies and product sampling initiatives to ensure ongoing product excellence and compliance with market demands.
• Partner with marketing and sales teams to provide product insights and consumer guidance that inform R&D project priorities and product development pipelines.
• Leverage market data and sensory results to guide strategic product launches, transitions, and continuous product improvements.
• Manage data collection, analysis, and reporting, ensuring transparency and actionable feedback for business teams.
• Represent the sensory and guidance research perspective in cross-functional team meetings and product cuttings, driving consensus and alignment.
• Support First Production Runs (FPR) for new manufacturing lines, ensuring sensory and analytical validation of products.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support company and department objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 10+ years' experience in food quality assurance, sensory science, or R&D, preferably in snack foods.
• Proven ability to translate market data and consumer insights into actionable R&D guidance.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing cross-functional teams and projects.
• Advanced knowledge of laboratory testing methods, analytical and sensory evaluation, and data management software (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PowerBI, Minitab).
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel as required for business and plant training needs.

External Recruitment Process

• Easy Application (5 mins): Introduce yourself and answer a few key questions to get started.
• Engaging Chat Interview (20-25 mins): Share your experiences in an online chat, highlighting how your values align with ours.
• Live Interview: Selected candidates will meet with the hiring manager to explore their alignment with the team and overall Utz company culture.

Continuously Pursuing Excellence!

Here at Utz, we have a passion for exciting and delighting consumers with delicious snack foods made from high quality ingredients. After over a century with a strong family heritage, our diverse portfolio of brands includes Utz, Zapp's, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border. Our associates are the reason for the success of this company, so it is important we provide a supportive, caring and inclusive environment that offers opportunities for career growth and advancement. We also help take care of our associates by providing benefits, resources, and programs that ensure they live their healthiest lives. Our benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer match 401k, profit sharing plan, employee stock purchase plan and much more. Join our world class team and help us become the fastest growing pure-play U.S. snacking company of scale!

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.