Remote Part-Time Panel Leader

Remote Part-Time Panel Leader

Department: Sensory

Employment Type: Contract / Temp

Location: SSC Pleasantville, NY

Reporting To: Shannon Fekula

Description

Are you an experienced Sensory Panel Leader looking for your next opportunity? Do you want to work for a global and growing Sensory and Consumer research agency?

MMR Research is seeking a dynamic and empathetic leader to guide our Remote Sensory Panel comprised of Women of Color.

This position is part-time, requiring approximately 10-12 hours of your time per month. Blending sensory expertise with people leadership, requiring a thoughtful and inclusive approach to promoting equity, ensuring consistent, high-quality sensory data, and fostering safety.

The ideal candidate brings experience in sensory science, strong personal care expertise, cultural fluency, and conflict-resolution skills to proactively manage interpersonal dynamics and drive collaboration in a remote environment.

A bit about us

MMR is the place where sensory science meets exciting, powerful commercial application, from branding and innovation to product development and retail strategy. We partner with over 50% of the top 100 global food and drink brands.

We were founded on the belief that successful products, those that really deliver on their brand promise, are built from the perfect blend of sensory science and consumer insight. We help clients to achieve this, right across the globe with offices in London New York, Shanghai and everywhere in between.

It’s our people that make all of this possible.

We are proud of our collaborative culture which is driven by strong leadership and offers industry-leading training and growth opportunities.

Key Responsibilities
As the Panel Leader, you will oversee the full lifecycle of panel operations; from candidate onboarding and training to real-time session management and post-session debriefs. You’ll play a pivotal role in nurturing panelist growth, navigating group dynamics, and ensuring all voices are heard and valued.

Facilitate approximately 9 hours/month of virtual training and calibration sessions focused on skill development, alignment, and panel growth. An additional 1-3 hours will be required for internal planning and alignment.

Apply personal care expertise to guide panel discussions, provide context on product attributes (e.g., skinfeel, application), and ensure panel training reflects consumer-relevant evaluation.

Lead and empower a remote sensory panel of Women of Color, cultivating an inclusive culture that supports engagement, open dialogue, and consistent panelist performance.

Provide individualized coaching, conflict mediation, and feedback to panelists to strengthen accuracy, collaboration, and trust within the group.

Oversee session logistics, monitor attendance, troubleshoot tech/sample issues, and ensure high-quality data delivery aligned with research timelines.

Deliver concise, meaningful summaries of panel insights, highlighting trends and actionable implications for clients.

✉️ Serve as the primary liaison between panelists, clients, and MMR project teams, ensuring transparent, timely communication throughout.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
• Degree in Food Science, Sensory Science, Psychology, Sociology, or a related discipline.
• Experience working within the personal care industry.
• Proven experience leading and managing sensory panels or leading diverse teams in a research, remote, or educational settings.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and conflict resolution skills; able to navigate group dynamics, address challenges with diplomacy, and foster shared accountability.
• Excellent communication and project coordination skills across multiple stakeholders.
• Proficient with remote research platforms (e.g., Compusense, RedJade) and comfortable with digital dashboards and data interpretation.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in team settings.
• Self-starter with a high level of organization, flexibility, and emotional intelligence.

Job Benefits
MMR is the place where sensory science meets exciting, powerful commercial application, from branding and innovation to product development and retail strategy. We partner with over 50% of the top 100 global food and drink brands.

We were founded on the belief that successful products, those that really deliver on their brand promise, are built from the perfect blend of sensory science and consumer insight. We help clients to achieve this, right across the globe with offices in London New York, Shanghai and everywhere in between.

It’s our people that make all of this possible.

We are proud of our collaborative culture which is driven by strong leadership and offers industry-leading training and growth opportunities.
At MMR, we’re committed to ensuring the happiness and well-being of each employee, regardless of where they are in the world!

We offer a wide range of core and additional benefits. Competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and market-leading training opportunities are standard here. Our vibrant culture, talented team, and focus on employee wellbeing is what makes MMR so special.