Sensory Panel Leader & Quality Specialist

You will join the Quality team at our Induno Olona Brewery and report to the Quality Manager. You will lead and continuously develop the site sensory programme, ensuring reliable assessments, a capable and engaged panel, and clear communication of results. You will also be involved in quality engineering activities, supporting the B&P and Packaging teams in investigating process deviations and delivering continuous improvement.

What you’ll do – key responsibilities

• Plan, organise and lead sensory panel sessions, ensuring compliance with Carlsberg standards and sensory sampling plans.
• Coordinate the collection, preparation, storage and shipment of samples, including ageing samples and samples sent to central laboratories.
• Recruit, train, motivate and maintain the calibration of panellists, managing sensory capability and proficiency programmes.
• Ensure sessions are run under appropriate conditions and in line with operating rules, health and safety requirements, and responsible alcohol-consumption practices.
• Collect, analyse and communicate sensory results to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Connect sensory findings with production process deviations, working with the relevant teams on investigations, root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Support the investigation of complaints, non-conforming products, new product development and supplier performance from a sensory quality perspective.
• Collaborate with regional and Group teams and with the Carlsberg Sensory Programme, sharing and implementing best practices.
• Contribute to quality engineering activities, including quality, food safety and personal safety standards, equipment calibration, trend analysis, internal audits, hygiene programmes and continuous improvement initiatives in B&P and Packaging.
• Support operator training and help build a strong quality culture across the Brewery.

What we’re looking for

• A degree in life sciences, food science or a relevant technical discipline or an equivalent qualification.
• At least 3+ years of experience in sensory analysis, quality or production within the food & beverage industry.
• Experience in organising sensory sessions within the beverage or food industry; knowledge of beer tasting, sensory sampling plans and relevant assessment methods would be a plus.
• A good understanding of sensory techniques and the ability to interpret and analyse data.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to enforce sensory panel operating rules.
• The ability to train and engage colleagues from production teams.
• A proactive approach, personal ownership and the ability to collaborate across functions.
• Good knowledge of Excel; familiarity with Power BI, Compusense and auditing techniques would be a plus.
• Fluency in Italian and a good working knowledge of English to collaborate with regional and Group Quality and Sensory teams.

Workplace

Induno Olona (VA)

Contract Type

• Permanent, CCNL Industria Alimentare, full time.
• Annual Gross Salary between € 35.000,00 and € 45.000,00 depending on the candidate’s experience.
• Company canteen.

Carlsberg Group: Brewing for a better today and tomorrow

For us success has always been in the diverse mix of our people, our beers and our brands. At Carlsberg, we want to recruit and develop people with a global mindset, cultural understanding, and international experience to ensure that our organization stays agile, inclusive and prepared for future growth. Only by acknowledging and harvesting from different perspectives and experiences, will we gain competitive advantage and leverage the effect of diversity for business growth. Carlsberg aims to create equal access to opportunity regardless of social identity, and we encourage everyone to apply regardless of gender, nationality, race, religion or any other characteristics protected by law.