Job title: Applications & Sensory Supervisor
Reporting to: Head of Product Development
Location: Lakeland, USA
The Opportunity
The Applications & Sensory Supervisor supervises the development and evaluation of product applications and sensory testing to support customer projects, research initiatives, and commercial objectives. This role supervises demo preparation, compounding, and prototype testing, while ensuring laboratory operations comply with safety, quality, and regulatory standards. Serving as a technical resource, the supervisor coordinates sensory panels, provides expertise to internal teams and customers, and applies market insights to guide application development. Additional responsibilities include training and mentoring junior staff, maintaining accurate documentation, and collaborating across functions.
What it’s like to work here
We’ve been making the world taste better since 1886 and sell over 3000 products in more than 90 countries, but we’re only just getting started. We’re on an exciting journey and have ambitious plans to become the indispensable partner of choice for the world’s leading flavor and fragrance houses, beverage and consumer brands.
On joining Treatt, you’ll become one of over 300 international experts, working together to collectively surprise and delight our customers. Nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our people as without them, we’d never succeed.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Oversee demo support activities for sales visits, ensuring demos are developed, approved, and dispatched within agreed timelines.
• Supervise compounding activities, ensuring application formulas are prepared accurately and in compliance with project requirements and safety standards.
• Participate in the development of applications using product portfolio knowledge, supporting technical execution.
• Review and evaluate flavors for customer briefs, research projects, and portfolio assessments, providing feedback.
• Coordinate and oversee consumer sensory panels.
• Participate in sensory testing, taste panels, and evaluation sessions for Quality Control and Product Development.
• Act as a technical point of contact for internal and external customers regarding product use in application.
• Assess customer briefs and demo requests to identify key requirements and assign tasks to team members.
• Collaborate with global Applications counterparts to share insights and align best practices.
• Apply market trend insights to guide project execution.
• Support the Sales Team during key customer visits by providing technical expertise.
• Represent the department at company and industry events to showcase capabilities.
• Supervise day-to-day lab operations, ensuring compliance with health & safety standards and HACCP protocols.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and orderly laboratory environment, addressing hazards and implementing preventive measures.
• Follow and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Risk Assessments.
• Support change control procedures, including new item setup, BOM amendments, specifications, and feasibility documents.
• Train team members in using departmental IT systems (e.g., JDE, STARS, SDS Viewer, MADs, WERCs, SharePoint, Salesforce).
• Oversee ingredient sampling, prototype testing (including basic wet chemistry), and data reporting.
• Provide guidance and feedback to junior staff on technical tasks.
• All other duties as customary or delegated
• Act in the best interest of Treatt at all times
Education & Training
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Chemistry or related field
• Minimum 5 years of industry experience preferred
Knowledge & Experience
• Proven experience in applications development and sensory evaluation within the flavors, food, or beverage industry.
• Strong knowledge of formulation techniques, and sensory methodologies.
• Experience supervising laboratory operations, with a solid understanding of HACCP, GMP, and health & safety protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor technical personnel, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in departmental IT systems (e.g., JDE, SharePoint, Salesforce) and data reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide technical expertise to both internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Familiarity with industry trends and the ability to apply market insights to guide application development.
Skills & Abilities
Leadership & Team Development
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop technical staff in a laboratory setting.
• Skilled in task delegation, performance feedback, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Experience training team members on systems, protocols, and technical procedures.
Technical Expertise
• Strong knowledge of flavor formulation, compounding techniques, and sensory evaluation methodologies.
• Proficient in coordinating and conducting sensory panels, taste evaluations, and prototype testing.
• Familiarity with basic wet chemistry and ingredient sampling procedures.
Project & Operations Management
• Capable of managing multiple customer briefs and demo requests, ensuring timely and accurate execution.
• Experienced in supervising day-to-day lab operations, including compliance with HACCP, GMP, and safety standards.
• Skilled in maintaining documentation and enforcing SOPs, risk assessments, and change control procedures.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Effective communicator with the ability to provide technical expertise to internal teams and external customers.
• Experienced in supporting sales teams during customer visits and representing the department at industry events.
• Able to collaborate with global counterparts to align practices and share insights.
Strategic Thinking & Market Awareness
• Ability to apply market trends and consumer insights to guide application development and project direction.
• Demonstrated commercial awareness in aligning technical execution with business objectives.
Systems & Data Management
• Proficient in departmental IT systems including JDE, STARS, SDS Viewer, MADs, WERCs, SharePoint, and Salesforce.
• Skilled in managing data reporting and documentation related to applications and sensory testing.
Working Conditions
Normal laboratory and manufacturing working conditions.
Travel
Ad-hoc