Senior Sensory Scientist

Looking for a role that challenges you while making an impact on products people use every day? We are looking for an experienced Sensory Scientist to drive R&D cognitive research within R&D and the Scent Business Unit.

IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences, we deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.

Scent: Harnessing the full emotional power of scent, driven by pioneering creativity, science, consumer expertise and a mindful approach to fragrance design.​

The role is based in Shanghai (anchor role), China. This position provides scientific excellence within a global team based on strong scientific credentials in sensory/consumer science. Be part of a motivated, passionate, and open-minded team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Experience building high performing human panels for routine sensory and/or consumer research. Tasks include:
  • Planning and execution of panelist recruitment, screening, and training of new panelist
  • Ongoing panelist training, monitoring, calibration and maintenance to ensure a high level of panelist performance
  • Implementing standard research protocols for both sensory and consumer tests
  • Setting up daily testing sessions, ensuring all supplies, equipment, and samples are ordered, arranged, and ready for daily panel sessions
  • Setup study designs for protocols using data acquisition software, i.e., EyeQuestion
  • Managing panelist schedules and payroll for sensory and consumer panelist
  • Maintaining a safe and productive sensory testing facility
• Conduct R&D sensory and consumer researcher within the Scent Business Unit, ensuring scientific rigor, collaboration, and professional growth
• Implement scientific excellence in experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and communication of insights to internal stakeholders, in full compliance with internal and external ethical standards for human subjects’ research
• Translate insights into actionable business recommendations, facilitating speed, collaboration and focus
• Foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the research function
• Present research in internal and external forums, contributing to thought leadership and scientific credibility
• Automate workflows to improve efficiency and effectiveness

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Master’s or PhD (preferred) degree in Sensory Science
• At least 3 years of experience leading sensory research in academia and/or the consumer goods industry; fragrance experience is preferred
• Deep knowledge of sensory methodologies, experimental design, controlled testing environments, and planning /executing sensory and consumer insights research.
• Proven ability to apply data analysis in perceptual research and communicate insights clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience leading research projects, promoting rigor, collaboration, and development
• Ability to work independently within a broadly defined technical area, manage multiple priorities, and connect strategic goals with project execution.
• Strong communication, organization, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills

How Would You Stand Out?

• Advanced statistics, with experience in one or more Power BI, Python, R, SQL, or MATLAB
• Data management experience
• Fragrance-industry experience and a strong scientific vision for the future of fragrance
• Automating routine workflows

Why Choose Us?

• Join a creative, collaborative environment that encourages innovation and personal growth.
• The role offers opportunities to expand expertise across regions and categories, work with global clients, contribute to worldwide initiatives, and receive competitive compensation and benefits packages, including performance incentives.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more