Sample Coordinator (walnut creek)

Our client, Kinder's, is looking to fill a temp-to-hire Sample Coordinator position.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY DIRECTLY ON OUR JOB PORTAL:
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About the Role

This role serves as the central point of coordination for ingredient sample requests and trial support activities, working closely with suppliers, sourcing managers, logistics partners, and internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly. If you enjoy coordinating multiple projects, building strong cross-functional relationships, and helping teams bring new products to life, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities Include

Sample Request Management

• Monitor and manage the daily ingredient sample request process, ensuring requests are reviewed and actioned in a timely manner.
• Coordinate ingredient sample requests directly with suppliers and maintain ongoing communication regarding status and delivery timelines.
• Track inbound sample shipments and proactively resolve delivery issues as they arise.

Product Development and R&D Support

• Serve as a key liaison between Product Development, R&D, Procurement, and suppliers to facilitate ingredient sourcing activities.
• Maintain visibility into open requests and communicate status updates to stakeholders.
• Support product innovation and commercialization efforts by ensuring timely availability of ingredients and materials.

Co-Manufacturing Trial Support

• Coordinate ingredient procurement and logistics for co-manufacturer production trials.
• Verify trial quantity requirements and coordinate procurement activities as needed.
• Generate or facilitate purchase orders to support trial material acquisition.

Operational Excellence

• Maintain accurate records, trackers, and documentation related to sample requests and trial support activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, visibility, and communication across the sample coordination workflow.
• Provide ad hoc support for sourcing, procurement, product development, and commercialization initiatives as needed.

Your Background

• 2+ years of experience in supply chain, procurement, product development support, customer service, logistics coordination, or a related operational role.
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Experience working with suppliers, purchase orders, shipping carriers, or inventory systems is preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with changing priorities.
• Experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), manufacturing, or related industries is a plus.

Success In This Role Means

• Sample requests are fulfilled accurately and on time.
• Product Development and R&D teams receive ingredients and documentation when needed to support innovation timelines.
• Co-manufacturer trials are supported with the right materials delivered to the right location at the right time.
• Suppliers, sourcing teams, and internal stakeholders experience clear communication and seamless coordination.
• Tracking systems and documentation remain accurate, organized, and audit-ready.

About Kinder’s

What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.