Educational Specialist (Sensory Coordinator, 0097638) [
EXTENDED CLOSING DATE
] Location Leeward CC, Various Locations, HI Job Type Full-Time Permanent Job Number 2026-01640 Department Leeward Community College - Career & Technical Education - Dean's Office Opening Date 08/04/2026 Closing Date 8/24/2026 11:59
PM Hawaii Position Number:
0097638
Description Title:
Educational Specialist (Sensory Coordinator)
Position Number:
0097638
Hiring Unit:
Career & Technical Education Dean's Office Location:
Leeward Community College Date Posted:
August 4, 2026
Closing Date:
August 24, 2026, 11:59 PM HST [
EXTENDING CLOSING DATE
]
Band:
B Salary:
Salary schedules and placement information
Additional Salary Info:
PBB; minimum $5,640 monthly
Full Time/Part Time:
Full-time Month:
11-month
Temporary/Permanent:
Permanent Other conditions: General funds, to begin approximately 10/2026, pending availability of funds and actual staffing requirements. Assignments may include day, evening, and/or weekend and off-campus sites.
Duties and Responsibilities:
(
NOTE:
- denotes Essential Functions)
- Under general supervision, manage the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center (WVAPDC) sensory program.
- Coordinate sensory and consumer testing services for WVAPDC clients, collaborators, entrepreneurs, and industry partners.
- Consult with potential research collaborators and industrial clientele about sensory and consumer testing, and prepare written letter proposals suggesting a testing strategy (if appropriate) to handle these questions.
- Responsible for the completion of industry contracts and services testing agreements including methods for consumer recruitment, training, sample preparation and evaluation, data collection, analysis, interpretation and liaising with University of Hawaii's Office of Research Compliance, as needed.
- Upon completion of industry contracts and service testing agreements, develop written technical reports to communicate testing results.
- Collaborate with the Product Development Manager and Center staff with sensory evaluation client projects and other Product Development lab tasks.
- Train and assist consumers hired or volunteering as test subjects.
- Collaborate with other WVAPDC staff in order to successfully complete extramural grants/contracts and industry services testing agreements. Collaborate with related facilities scheduling
- Manage routine supply purchases, developing/managing a structured sensory testing room at the Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center.
- Implement and manage sensory and consumer research projects, and assist with the determination of appropriate research procedures and data analysis techniques, including statistical, qualitative and other quantitative analysis methods
- Train student interns, graduate students and temporary staff in research methods, data collection techniques, statistical software, and product preparation skills used for sensory and consumer testing.
- Assist with the development and implementation of workshops, short courses, seminars and lectures.
Attend and/or present research results at WVAPDC conferences, symposia, and meetings. Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Food Science, Sensory Science, Food Technology, or related field, and 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience with consumer/sensory science; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated. Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of sensory science-including, but not limited to, sensory evaluation and/or consumer research studies (academic, industry, or applied setting), data collection, basic statistical analysis, and reporting of sensory or consumer research results-as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies. Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with sensory science. Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software. Familiarity with sensory software or data analysis tools (e.g., Compusense, RedJade, XLSTAT, R, SPSS, or similar) If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations. Experience with data collection, basic statistical analysis, and reporting of sensory or consumer research results. Ability to work effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and clients in the public and private sectors. Ability to attend off-site meetings in a timely manner and work evenings and weekends as required.
Desirable Qualifications:
Master's degree in Sensory Food Science or MBA with graduate experience in sensory/consumer analysis and/or Market Research. Progressively responsible professional experience in consumer/sensory science, managing or coordinating sensory or consumer research programs, with IRB processes or human subjects research compliance requirements. Record of successful work in experimental design, data analysis, technical reporting, and scientific presentation. Experience working on grant-funded or contract research projects.
NOTE :
The best-qualified selectees from the applicant pool will be contacted for an on-campus interview and will be required to perform live demonstrations determined by the interviewing committee.
Application Submission:
Click on the "Apply" button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach required documents: 1. Cover letter explaining how you meet the minimum and desirable qualifications, 2. Resume, 3. Graduate and undergraduate transcript(s) showing the name of institution, degree conferred and coursework to date appropriate to the position (Copies of official transcripts are acceptable; however, original official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Diplomas and copies will NOT be accepted). All degree(s) and/or credit(s) must be earned from regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary colleges and universities recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Transcripts issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant.)
NOTE:
Transcripts must be attached to receive credit for degree(s). Separate documents and application materials must be submitted for each position. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. If multiple applications are received from the same candidate, only the last one will be reviewed. The application will be considered incomplete if any of the required documents/materials are not included or are unreadable. Applications lacking transcripts will be reviewed on work experience equivalency to meet minimum qualifications (MQs). MQs must be met by the closing date of the advertisement. Please REDACT references to social security numbers and birthdate on submitted documents. All requested documents/information become the property of Leeward Community College and will not be returned. If you have not applied for a position before using NEOGOV, you will need to create an account.
Inquiries:
Leeward Community College Human Resources Office 808-455-0326 lcchr@hawaii.edu EEO, Clery Act, ADA The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/ Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks. In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/ , or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office. In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.
Accommodation Request:
The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/ Employer University of Hawaii Website http://workatuh.hawaii.edu
