Manager, Sensory Quality

Who is Mother Parkers?

We are one of the largest tea and coffee manufacturers in North America, with a mission to create a better beverage experience for our customers. As a leading customer solutions provider to some of North America’s largest retailers and foodservice chains, we use state-of-the-art technology and new product innovation to help our customers grow their business and deliver superior products to their clientele. Our team of coffee and tea experts are deeply passionate about what we do, proud of our 100+ years of business success, and excited about building a future with endless possibilities. Come join our team and work among the best, collaborate with high performers, and contribute to challenging work every day!

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. Mother Parkers is committed to providing accommodation for persons with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

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