R&D Section Manager, Food Sensory

Land O'Lakes is seeking a visionary sensory science leader to lead our Food Sensory team in the Dairy Foods R&D organization. This role is responsible for advancing sensory science as a strategic business capability while developing a high-performing team of scientists and technical professionals.

This leader will combine deep scientific expertise with people leadership to shape the future of sensory science within our R&D organization. The successful candidate will elevate the team's impact on innovation, product development, consumer experience, manufacturing and product quality, as well as input into business decision-making across the Dairy Foods portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and Lead a High-Performing Team

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of sensory scientists, technologists, sensory panel leaders, and support personnel.

• Create an engaging, inclusive, and high-accountability culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Build succession plans and individual development plans to strengthen organizational capability.

• Serve as the central connector for sensory science with key internal and cross functional partners (ex. Other R&D Teams, Marketing Research, Product Development, Quality, Manufacturing and Packaging) by maintaining strong wiring connections, enforcing roles & responsibilities, and holding teams accountable

Set the Scientific Vision

• Along with the Foundational Sciences R&D Director, establish the technical direction and long-term strategy for sensory science at Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods R&D.

• Ensure adoption of best-in-class sensory methodologies, statistical approaches, and closely follow emerging technologies.

• Advance sensory science capability through focused and strategy-aligned research, external partnerships, and thought leadership.

• Serve as Dairy Foods primary expert and champion for sensory science.

Drive Business Impact

• Ensure sensory insights directly influence formulation decisions, commercialization strategies, product quality, and consumer acceptance.

• Translate complex scientific findings into actionable recommendations for senior leaders and business partners.

Lead Strategic Portfolio Management

• Own prioritization and resource allocation across the sensory portfolio.

• Balance near-term business needs with long-term capability development.

• Drive continuous improvement in project intake, execution, and knowledge management.

• Ensure efficient utilization of team resources while maintaining the necessary scientific rigor at all levels of projects and activities.

Foundation Science Data Integration

• Establish governance for sensory + analytical data interoperability (shared identifiers, metadata standards, controlled lexicon conventions, data quality checks) to enable advanced analytical modeling at scale.

• Partner with analytical teams to operationalize sensory-chemistry correlation workflows (e.g., linking volatile profiles/analytical markers to sensory attributes and consumer response).

• Oversee deployment and consistent use of sensory software/data tools; drive reusable analytics that reduce cycle time.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in Sensory Science, Food Science, Flavor Chemistry, or related scientific discipline.

• Minimum 15 years of sensory science experience within the food, beverage, ingredient, flavor, fragrance, or consumer packaged goods industry.

• Minimum 7 years of experience leading technical teams and developing scientific talent.

• Demonstrated expertise across descriptive analysis, discrimination testing, consumer research, sensory statistics, predictive model development, and sensory interpretation.

• Proven record of influencing product development and business decisions through science-based insights.

• Strong understanding of food systems, flavor perception, consumer behavior, and sensory methodologies.

• Exceptional ability to build relationships and influence decisions across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and executive leadership.

Work Environment

• Arden Hills, MN, four days per week in office when not traveling; office, lab, pilot plant, and manufacturing environments. Travel estimated at 10–20%.

The salary range for this role is $142,160 - $213,240. In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges.

Land O'Lakes does not use Automated Decision-Making Technology, as defined by California law, to substantially replace human decision-making or make significant decisions about applications for employment or contracting opportunities.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.

If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.