About this Sample Coordinator (Temp to Perm) role at Kinder's
BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.
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.
Your Impact at Kinder's
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.
- Partner with Sourcing Managers to identify approved and preferred suppliers for requested ingredients.
- 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.
- Ensure samples are delivered to the appropriate internal stakeholders and maintain accurate documentation of completed requests.
- Request and collect supporting ingredient documentation, specifications, certifications, and other required compliance materials.
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.
- Partner with Sourcing Managers to identify appropriate suppliers and secure required materials.
- Verify trial quantity requirements and coordinate procurement activities as needed.
- Generate or facilitate purchase orders to support trial material acquisition.
- Coordinate shipments using appropriate carriers and logistics partners to meet trial deadlines.
- Track deliveries and confirm receipt of materials at manufacturing and testing locations.
- Obtain and distribute ingredient documentation required to support trial execution.
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.
Skills + Experience:
- 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.
Succes 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.
Location + Pay Transparency:
This role will be located in our Walnut Creek, California office. The expected pay rate for this role is $40 per hour.
SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:
- No two days here are the same.
- We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
- We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
- We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
- We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
- We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:
We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:
We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:
Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at careers@kinders.com
