Samples Planner

dsm-firmenich; Thirsk; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

dsm-firmenich in Thirsk, UK is seeking a Samples Planner to effectively plan and manage short-term production, coordinate raw material requirements, and balance capacity to meet customer demand.

The role emphasizes inventory optimization, production efficiency, and on-time delivery, with responsibilities spanning daily scheduling, material procurement, and coordination with internal teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in the food industry.
• Previous experience in planning or a similar role.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to prioritize workload and proactively resolve issues.
• Fluent level of English – oral and written.
• Good communication skills and team spirit.
• Analytical and methodological.
• Strong level of computer literacy including Excel and SAP.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage daily production schedules in line with customer order requirements, production capacity and raw material availability.
• Manage the timely ordering and availability of raw materials required to support production and order fulfilment.
• Create warehouse pick lists to support the internal replenishment of stock and ensure materials are available when required.
• Monitor and review sales orders, including fixing or rejecting orders where necessary, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
• Proactively identify and communicate order, production, material or capacity issues to Customer Experience and other relevant teams, ensuring risks to customer delivery are clearly understood and managed.
• Monitor and manage inventory levels for collection materials, balancing stock availability with business requirements.
• Deputise for the Samples Manager as required, ensuring continuity of day-to-day activities and responsibilities during periods of absence or increased workload.
• Assist team with potting / packing / shipping / production as and when required.

Skills

Planning

Organizational skills

Communication

Attention to detail

English fluency

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Time management

Tools

Excel

SAP

Job description

Job title: Samples Planner

Location: Thirsk, UK

Job model: Onsite

Purpose of the Role

To effectively plan and manage short-term production to support the end-to-end order fulfilment process. This includes planning for finished goods production, coordinating raw material requirements and balancing production capacity to ensure customer demand is met. The role will maintain a strong focus on inventory optimization, production efficiency and on-time delivery, while proactively identifying and resolving potential supply and capacity constraints.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and manage daily production schedules in line with customer order requirements, production capacity and raw material availability.
• Manage the timely ordering and availability of raw materials required to support production and order fulfilment.
• Create warehouse pick lists to support the internal replenishment of stock and ensure materials are available when required.
• Monitor and review sales orders, including fixing or rejecting orders where necessary, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
• Proactively identify and communicate order, production, material or capacity issues to Customer Experience and other relevant teams, ensuring risks to customer delivery are clearly understood and managed.
• Monitor and manage inventory levels for collection materials, balancing stock availability with business requirements.
• Deputise for the Samples Manager as required, ensuring continuity of day-to-day activities and responsibilities during periods of absence or increased workload.
• Assist team with potting / packing / shipping / production as and when required.

We offer:

• A rich history and a promising future of bold scientific innovation and passionate creation with our customers;
• A space to grow by encouraging and supporting curiosity and an open mindset;
• A culture that prioritises safety and well-being, both physically and mentally;
• The opportunity to work for a company where sustainability is much more than a claim and is core to our strategy and purpose;
• Barrier-free communities within our organization where every employee is equally valued and respected – regardless of their background, beliefs, or identity;
• A firm belief that working together with our customers is the key to achieving great things;

You bring:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in the food industry
• Previous experience in planning or a similar role
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to prioritize workload and proactively resolve issues
• Fluent level of English – oral and written
• Good communication skills and team spirit
• Analytical and methodological
• Strong level of computer literacy including Excel and SAP

About dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them.

Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day.

Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to