STS Sample Lab Planner

Bell Flavors & Fragrances; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary (40,000–80,000 USD)

Benefits available to regular full‑ime

Job summary

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. seeks a highly organized Sample Lab Planner to coordinate daily activities within the Shared Technical Services Sample Lab in Northbrook, IL.

You will balance workloads across Sample Compounding, Shipping, and Inventory while prioritizing customer and business needs. The role involves creating and maintaining daily schedules, managing ERP-based material requirements, monitoring inventory, and generating KPIs.

Qualifications

• Two years of college coursework or five years of related experience.
• Three or more years of experience in production planning, scheduling, supply chain, inventory control, or related operations environment.
• Two or more years of experience using ERP and Warehouse Management Systems; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is required, and Batch Metrics or similar manufacturing-system experience is preferred.
• Strong planning, organization, time-management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams, including the ability to prepare and present reports, metrics, and KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily sample compounding and shipping schedules based on customer demand and business priorities.
• Manage and prioritize domestic sample requests from submission through production and shipment.
• Use ERP and planning systems to generate material requirements, monitor inventory, and coordinate resolution of raw material shortages.
• Maintain accurate planning, inventory, and production data while supporting data integrity across systems.
• Monitor sample usage trends and frequently requested flavors to support inventory availability and rapid customer response.
• Partner with Sample Compounding, Shipping, Procurement, Flavor R&D, Fragrance R&D, Sales, Quality Control, and other teams to keep work moving efficiently.
• Prepare operational reports and KPIs and maintain SOPs, work instructions, training materials, and process documentation.
• Investigate planning, scheduling, inventory, and workflow issues and implement corrective actions and continuous improvements.

Skills

Planning

Organization

Time management

Analytical

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Associate degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, Accounting, or related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Batch Metrics

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

Warehouse Management Systems

Job description

Sample Lab Planner - Shared Technical Services

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Sample Lab Planner to coordinate and prioritize daily activities within our Shared Technical Services (STS) Sample Lab. Reporting to the STS Sample Lab Manager, this role serves as the primary planning liaison between Sample Compounding, Shipping, and Inventory functions, balancing workload priorities, optimizing resource utilization, and supporting the timely fulfillment of customer and business needs.

Your Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily sample compounding and shipping schedules based on customer demand and business priorities.
• Manage and prioritize domestic sample requests from submission through production and shipment.
• Use ERP and planning systems to generate material requirements, monitor inventory, and coordinate resolution of raw material shortages.
• Maintain accurate planning, inventory, and production data while supporting data integrity across systems.
• Monitor sample usage trends and frequently requested flavors to support inventory availability and rapid customer response.
• Partner with Sample Compounding, Shipping, Procurement, Flavor R&D, Fragrance R&D, Sales, Quality Control, and other teams to keep work moving efficiently.
• Prepare operational reports and KPIs and maintain SOPs, work instructions, training materials, and process documentation.
• Investigate planning, scheduling, inventory, and workflow issues and implement corrective actions and continuous improvements.

Your Qualifications

• At least two years of college coursework or five years of related experience.
• Three or more years of experience in production planning, scheduling, supply chain, inventory control, or a related operations environment.
• Two or more years of experience using ERP and Warehouse Management Systems; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is required, and Batch Metrics or similar manufacturing-system experience is preferred.
• Associate degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, Accounting, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Strong planning, organization, time-management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams, including the ability to prepare and present reports, metrics, and KPIs.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will be proactive, accountable, customer-focused, and comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment, while coordinating multiple tasks within the department. Success in this role requires sound judgment, attention to detail, adaptability, and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Physical And Work Environment Requirements

This role requires regular movement between office, laboratory, production, inventory, and shipping areas. The employee must be able to frequently lift or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds, perform repetitive hand and wrist movements, review screens and documentation for accuracy, and wear required personal protective equipment. Work may involve exposure to odors, flavor and fragrance materials, dust, temperature variations, moving equipment, and moderate noise.

Why Join Bell?

• Work in a collaborative, hands-on environment that connects planning, production, shipping, inventory, R&D, sales, and quality teams.
• Build valuable experience in production planning, supply chain coordination, inventory management, and logistics.
• Use ERP and planning systems to support efficient operations and strengthen your technical skills.
• Make a direct impact on customer satisfaction by helping to ensure samples are produced accurately and shipped on time.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance workflows, accuracy, and operational performance.
• Join a team committed to safety, quality, accountability, and dependent service.
• Receive competitive salary pay of $40,000-$80,000, based on qualifications and experience.
• Access competitive benefits available to eligible regular full-time employees.

Education

Preferred

• Associates or better

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.