Sensory Taste Panelist

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Job Title: Sensory Taste Panelist
Location: Plymouth, MN, Midwest United States, USA

Company: Cargill, Inc
Industry Sector: Agribusiness
Industry Type: Input Retail, Cooperative and Related Crop Services
Job Type: Full Time
Salary: USD 20.00 per hour
Job Description: New, easy-to-apply options are available for this role: chat with our recruiting assistant Ana at careers.cargill.com or text CargillJobs to 60196

This position is in Cargill's food and bioindustrial business, where manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice companies rely on us to consistently deliver the products and services they need, and use our technical expertise and market knowledge to develop innovative products.

This is a unique part-time position that works in a team to assist in development of food, beverage, and non-food products (personal care, candles, etc.). In this role, you will evaluate different food and non-food products through appearance/smell/taste/texture. As a trained sensory panelist this unique role involves sampling products including tasting, smelling, consuming and/or applying products, and discussing results with your team.

Job Type: Part -Time
Shift Available: 1st, Available Monday - Friday from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Compensation: $20.00/hr

Principal Accountabilities:

Upon employment you will:
- Be trained on basic tastes (salt, sweet, sour, bitter, umami), recognition of odors, texture/mouthfeel and aftertaste attributes of different food products/ingredients and learn how to use scales to quantify attributes of a product.
- Actively participate in all aspects of the sensory panel including training, attribute generation, reference discussion, ballot development, process finalization, and data collection.
- Work in a team environment on activities during which you will identify, discuss and describe sensory attributes and communicate/share observations effectively with the Panel Leader and other panelists.
- Perform sensory evaluation of different food and non-food products
- Consistently exhibit sensory acuity and generate consistent data

Required Qualifications:

Right to work in the U.S. that is not based solely on possession of a student visa or a visa sponsored by a third-party employer
Must be 18 years or older
Ability to understand and communicate in English (verbal/written)
Because this job involves consuming food, you may not have any food sensitivities, intolerances, allergies, dietary restrictions, or other health/medical conditions that may be aggravated by consuming any food ingredients (including alcohol) or by applying or using personal care items such as skin creams/lotions, toothpastes, shampoos/conditioners, etc.
Must successfully complete a series of taste/smell sensory acuity sampling as well as a round table discussion session with fellow candidates as part of the interview process
Must be open to changing weekly schedules and be reliable
Available Monday - Friday from 9:30 - 2:30 with an unpaid lunch break 11:30 - 12:00 and a paid mandatory clearing time 12:00 - 12:30. This job does not work every day or week but typically the position works 3-4 days per week.
Must have basic computer skills including using Microsoft apps (Outlook, Teams, Excel, etc.)
Must be team oriented and able to communicate opinions and observations during team discussions in a classroom-type setting

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in working as a sensory taste panelist

Considered candidates will receive a phone call from a (952) area code. Please note that this position does not include relocation reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Disability/Vet

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Job Post Date: 07/10/25