Sensory Trained Panelist (Part-Time | Open to Scheduling Needs | Fun!)

SAM is a fast-growing and global sensory and consumer research consultancy. Our mission is to allow consumers a voice in the development of outstanding food, beverage, pet, and health & beauty products so as to create high quality and memorable experiences. We help our clients:

• Develop new product ideas
• Re-energize a well-established product
• Assess product-concept fit or packaging effectiveness
• Understand the product, brand and category competitive landscapes
• Protect product quality from inception to the end of shelf life

SAM The National Food Lab is the division of SAM that provides these services for all USA-based clients. Our sensory science program resides in our USA headquarters in Minneapolis, MN.

In addition to conducting consumer research, SAM The National Food Lab conducts evaluations of products using trained taste testers. Instead of indicating their likes and dislikes for products, these trained tasters describe the specific flavors and textures of products and how they are similar or different from one another. This information is used by major food manufacturers in developing new and improved products. The trained tasters who currently participate in our program comment that learning how to become a trained tester is fun and have given them a chance to develop new friendships with their fellow tasters.

If you are selected to participate in the trained sensory program, you will be trained to evaluate a wide variety of products. During training, SAM The NFL panel leaders will teach you how to describe different flavor and texture characteristics of food products and rate them in terms of intensity. Training will generally take place on three mornings a week between the hours of 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Training will be start in June 2025 and will run for ~3 months. Since a great deal of time and effort will go into your training, we need a long-term commitment from you once you have completed the trainings.

After training is completed, you will participate in trained panels. Panels are typically two hours in duration and are conducted on weekdays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Depending on the number of projects we are working on, there will be some weeks with no taste tests and other weeks with up to 20 hours of taste tests. Since the frequency of the taste panels is variable, you should not consider this program if you are looking for a regular full-time job, as this position is viewed as an on-call part-time job. However, we do ask that you are available for at least a 2-hour period between the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm daily.

During training and panel participation you will be paid $15.00 per hour; once training is complete, you will be paid $16.00 per hour.

All roles require the following skills:

• Ability to be consistently available on weekdays from 10:00 am to 3:00pm
• Comfort with a part-time, variable work schedule
• No food allergies and a non-smoker as smoking interferes with a person’s sense of taste and/or smell.
• Willingness to taste a wide variety of food and beverages, including alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, meat, dairy, wheat, gluten, and sweets/sweeteners.
• Interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable sharing ideas in a group setting.
• Basic computer and math skills and ability to navigate the computer easily (particularly Internet, Microsoft Office and Outlook programs and systems)
• Pride in self by maintaining a professional appearance and demeanor

Education and Experience: Minimum of high school diploma or a GED equivalent certificate from a certified institution; one to two years of related work or volunteer experience and/or training. Safe Serve certified a plus.

Required Licenses or Certificates: Valid Driver’s License and Proof of Insurance.

Work Enviroment & Physical Demands:

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds (50 lbs. with assistance).
• The employee must have the ability to stand for long periods of time.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Eurofins USA Food Testing is a Disabled and Veteran Equal Employment Opportunity employer.