Associate Manager Role – Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is hiring an Associate Manager, R&D Sensory Cocoa Science to join its Technical Center in Hershey, PA. This role involves leading sensory research projects, managing a professional tasting panel, and supporting cocoa science initiatives that drive quality, innovation, and product excellence across Hershey’s confection and snacking portfolio. Join for the Manager Role at Hershey Careers. Apply for the Food Science Job and drive advancements in product innovation, sensory science.
Job Details:
- Job Title: Associate Manager, R&D Sensory Cocoa Science
- Job Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Job Type: Full-time
- Requisition Number: 126110
- Reports To: Manager, Sensory Professional Panels
- Travel Requirement: Up to 10% (primarily within the U.S.)
About The Hershey Company:
The Hershey Company is one of the world’s leading chocolate and snack manufacturers, known for iconic brands such as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kit Kat®, and more. With over a century of innovation and commitment to quality, Hershey continues to bring moments of happiness to consumers worldwide. The company’s Technical Center in Hershey, PA, serves as a hub for research and development, driving advancements in product innovation, sensory science, and sustainable cocoa initiatives.
Educational Requirements for the Manager Role:
- Bachelor’s degree (4–6 years’ experience) or Master’s degree (2–4 years’ experience) in Food Science, Psychology, or Statistics.
- Completed coursework and/or practical experience in Sensory Science.
- Minimum of 1–3 years of experience managing a Descriptive Panel.
Key Responsibilities of the Manager Role:
- Manage a team of 12 professional sensory panelists and 1 Panel Leader, including HR performance management and training.
- Support advancement of Cocoa Science and ingredient testing, applying appropriate sensory research methods.
- Design, execute, and report Descriptive Analysis, Discrimination, and Hedonic testing projects for quality, innovation, and troubleshooting.
- Lead Descriptive Program development, including calibration and maintenance.
- Develop sensory lexicons and attributes for new product categories.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including R&D, Procurement, Quality, Marketing, and Supply Chain.
- Drive Sensory & Product Insights (SPI) capability building through method assessment and implementation.
Skills Required for the Manager Role:
- Proficient in Sensory Spectrum Descriptive Analysis methodology.
- Hands-on experience with Descriptive project leadership in a CPG or research environment.
- Knowledge of sensory methodologies: Descriptive, Affective, and Discrimination.
- Proficiency in data collection and analysis tools (EyeQuestion, Compusense, SIMS, StatGraphics, SAS, R, etc.).
- Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
- Ability to multi-task, lead teams, and collaborate across departments.
- Employee or contractor management experience preferred.
How to Apply for the Manager Role?
Interested candidates for the Food Science Jobs can apply through The Hershey Company Careers Page. Ensure that your resume highlights relevant sensory and research experience.
