5-10 years in Food and Beverage or Consumer Product Goods, ideally in Product Development or Quality Assurance
Designated Q and optional R Grader certification(s) preferred
Professional Sensory Training Certification preferred
Bachelor's degree preferred
People leadership experience
Strong project management skills
Excellent problem-solving abilities
Responsibilities
Evaluate and describe coffee sensory profiles for raw materials and finished goods
Lead staff in setting up cupping tables and conducting sensory assessments
Approve Green cupping and grading
Confirm specifications for in-process and finished products, communicating adjustments to production
Ensure compliance with sensory quality control functions in collaboration with Quality Assurance
Oversee day-to-day operations of the cupping lab
Lead customer-specific sensory quality programs
Benefits
Health benefits coverage starting on day 1
Employer-matched retirement savings plans
Employee discount program on coffee and tea products
Annual Safety Shoes Program
Tuition Assistance Program for continuous learning
Full Job Description
The Role:
The Sensory Quality Manager is a subject matter expert in the area of sensory evaluation (cupping) for our locations in Fort Worth and Mississauga. This position enables appropriate blend diversions based on sensory profiles, verification of roasted product sensory profiles and participates in customer sensory quality calibration sessions, as needed. This role is responsible to ensure that network-wide best practices for roaster qualification and calibration and sensory quality lab standards and procedures are followed specific to their location and cupping lab.
What you get to do:
As a sensory professional specializing in coffee, evaluate and describe the coffee sensory profile for both finished goods and raw materials, utilizing a repeatable and systematic methodology that enables comparing a variety of samples side by side or samples to a sensory profile specification.
Lead and develop staff in the proper handling of raw materials and finished goods in relation to setting up a cupping table, conducting raw material and finished good physical and sensory assessments.
Responsible for Green cupping and grading approval
Lead and develop staff to approve in-process and finished products by confirming specifications; conducting visual and measurement tests; communicating required adjustments to production supervisor/manager and reporting inspection results with recommended revisions.
Partner with site specific Quality Assurance to ensure sensory quality control functions are performed properly
Ensures network-wide sensory standards and protocols are followed at specific site locations.
Responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the cupping lab in designated location
Responsible for all meeting all customer specific sensory specifications and requirements
Leads customer specific sensory quality programs for specific site location, as required.
As a sensory professional, specializing in coffee, evaluate and describe the coffee sensory profile for roasted coffee, utilizing a repeatable and systematic methodology that enables comparing a variety of samples side by side and samples to a sensory profile specification to ensure sensory profile is met in the roasting process for each roaster.
Lead and develop staff in evaluating roasted coffee utilizing a repeatable and systematic methodology that enables comparing samples side by side and samples to a sensory profile specification to ensure sensory profile is met in the roasting process.
Ensures network-wide roaster sensory standards and protocols are followed at specific site locations.
As a sensory professional, specializing in coffee, evaluate and describe the coffee sensory profile for roasted coffee, utilizing a repeatable and systematic methodology that enables comparing a variety of samples side by side and samples to a sensory profile specification to ensure sensory profile meet the roasting profile across the network.
Lead and develop staff in evaluating roasted coffee utilizing a repeatable and systematic methodology that enables comparing samples side by side and samples to a sensory profile specification to ensure sensory profile is met in the roasting process and meets the network wide standard.
Ensures network-wide roaster sensory standards and protocols are followed at specific site locations.
Set objectives with the team in close collaboration with functional stakeholders that align with the business plan
Identify and communicate key responsibilities and practices to ensure the team promotes Mother Parkers values, and builds on core competencies to achieve superior results. Ensure compliance with all food safety and general occupational safety standards, quality specifications, local and governmental environmental requirements
Ensure a high level of compliance with the internal systems including to maintain the required certifications
Active People developer that recognizes the importance of supporting the Individual Development and Succession/Talent Review processes to develop organizational capability
Lead by example and challenge, inspire the Sensory Quality team to deliver the operational plan
Conduct and ensure the timely completion of performance reviews
Ensure employees adhere to legal, ethical and operational compliance requirements
Set expectations for training and development of team directly and indirectly managed
Provide coaching, direction and leadership support to employees in order to achieve employee, company and customer results.
What you bring to the role:
The ability to assess coffee quality objectively. Identify, evaluate and articulate the attributes of the coffee, detect any defects, and the coffee characteristics using accepted industry terminology utilizing fundamental knowledge of Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) evaluation standards and protocols. Designated Q and optional R Grader certification(s), preferred.
Professional Sensory Training Certification (University or College) is preferred.
Bachelor's degree is preferred.
5 - 10 years in the Food and Beverage industry or Consumer Product Goods - preferably in Product Development, Operations, Continuous Improvement or Quality Assurance
People leadership experience
Technical training / facilitation skills
Experience communicating / presenting to both Technical and Non-technical audiences
Cross-functional influencing and relationship building skills
Strong project management capability and experience.
Excellent problem-solving skills
Continuous improvement mindset
Deep knowledge of impact of ingredients and formula on manufacturing.
Ability to travel as needed to our Fort Worth location.
What we offer you:
Competitive Total Rewards package - health benefits coverage on day 1, employer matched retirement savings plans, optional Health or Wellness Spending Accounts.
Employee discount program on our coffee and tea products.
Annual Safety Shoes Program - your safety is our #1 priority.
Tuition Assistance Program - we value continuous learning and self-development.
The hiring range for this role is $115,000 - $130,000 annually.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
We use AI enabled tools to support parts of our selection process; however, every hiring decision is reviewed and finalized by our people.
While Mother Parkers welcomes all applications, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies or search firms. Only those candidates who meet the minimum requirements will be contacted.
