Position Title: Sensory Lead
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Scarborough
Requisition ID: 35239
There’s nothing beige about McCain…
Except our potatoes — and we’re extremely passionate about them.
When you join McCain, you’ll be joining the biggest player in the frozen potato game, bringing people together around the nation for over 60 years by sharing simple, delicious planet friendly food.
We’ve partnered with thousands of the country’s supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, hospitals, and schools to change the way people see the humble spud. It’s all about elevation and creating something better.
So, come and make your career at McCain Foods.
About the role
The Plant Sensory Lead position is critical to the success of McCain Quality Program.
Plant Sensory Lead plays an essential role in supporting the plant quality management program by ensuring that the quality of the products we produce in our plants continuously meets our customers and consumers expectations. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to drive quality improvements and enhance customer satisfaction.
Plant Sensory Lead will have responsibility for managing the plant sensory program and leading quality panels. Key responsibilities for this role include (but are not limited to):
• Screen, select and train panellists in sensory evaluation techniques
• Conduct sensory and product calibration training
• Ensure Sensory Best Practice in line with policies and procedures
• Validate assessor performance and develop plans to support any training needs
• Implement and maintain an incentives program to ensure panellist continued attendance and motivation
• Ensure all Product Gold Standards and Calibration References used for product evaluation and panel maintenance are retained in the quantity and quality required.
• Maintain accurate records of sensory evaluations
• Prepare reports summarising sensory results communicate findings and make recommendations for improvement to stakeholders.
• Conduct internal compliance audits of the sensory program, recommend and support improvement activities in line with procedures.
A Plant Sensory Lead will actively partner with the Regional Sensory Quality Manager and Plant Quality Teams to continuously improve plant sensory programs and ensure the quality and integrity of McCain products.
About you
You’re a proactive and results-driven professional who thrives on accountability—both for yourself and those around you. A natural collaborator, you excel at building strong partnerships and working together to achieve shared goals. Your customer-first mindset ensures that you build strong relationships, resilient in the face of challenges and you consistently deliver outstanding results, even in high-pressure situations.
Experience:
• Delivering effective training
• Data management
• Project management
• Demonstrate a good level of use of data management packages i.e Excel
• Communication – verbal and written
• Ability to interpret and report data trends
• Critical thinking and problem solving
What’s in it for me?
Although we do encourage you to taste the goods you’ll be pleased to know we don’t pay you in chips. For working hard, you’ll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:
• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
• Flexible holidays – where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Optional health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• ‘Chips In’ Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the long-term development of McCain communities across the globe
And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an impressive 5 year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.
WHERE YOU’LL WORK:
You’ll be based at our Scarborough plant in North Yorkshire. We opened this plant back in the swinging sixties, but it’s definitely not stuck in the past. It’s one of the largest French fry factories in the world and after a recent development, it’s also one of the most high tech. Our team of over 300 colleagues work hard to make sure the quality of our products keep our customers returning for more, for now and years to come!
Or
You'll be based at our Whittlesey plant in Peterborough. If you’ve spotted our three wind turbines, then you’ll know where we are! With about 400 employees on site, we’re one of our largest plants across the GB business. Our Whittlesey plant is where we make our famous French Fries as well as our chilled products, such as our Shake Shake Fries.
#LI-OW1
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Privacy Policy
Job Family: Quality & Food Safety
Division: GB Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Department: Operational Quality
Location(s): GB - United Kingdom : England : Scarborough
Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd