Position Overview:

At Kinder's, you will support the day-to-day operations of the Product Development and Research & Development teams by blending hands-on lab support with documentation and systems administration, ensuring timelines stay on track and cross-functional teams stay aligned.

You'll work closely with Product Development/Research and Development, Quality, Operations, and Sales to help manage priorities, and support product and operational initiatives. This is a highly collaborative role with strong visibility across the organization and opportunity for growth into broader responsibilities over time.
Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for a highly organized Lab Operations Specialist who will facilitate laboratory operations and ensure smooth day-to-day functioning of our Product Development and Research and Development teams, which this role will directly support.

• Support daily laboratory operations to ensure efficient workflow and organization
• Maintain lab organization, cleanliness, and onboarding documentation for new team members
• Support shelf-life evaluation scheduling and documentation
• Assist in developing and updating lab Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Research equipment and materials to support new product development initiatives
• Maintain documents to ensure adherence to product safety, legality, regulatory compliance, and quality systems
• Work cross-functionally with Kinder's sourcing, quality, finance and product development team to ensure that documentation prioritization is complete and highly coordinated
• Coordinate preparation and shipment of sales samples and finished product samples
• Support analytical testing documentation and reporting aligned with project needs
• Communicate with vendors and external partners to support lab and ingredient and product documentation
• Support presentations, internal meetings, and facility coordination as needed

What Success Will Look Like:

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in food science or related discipline or minimum 1 year of experience in operations related field. Lab experience is a plus
• Excellent organizational, time management, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to prioritize, be proactive, multitask, and work with cross-functional teams in a dynamic setting
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiarity with Trace Gains system is a plus

Personal Characteristics:

• An ambitious individual that wants to grow their skillset at one of the premier, growing food companies
• Self-starter that requires minimal oversight with an ability to problem solve and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and tasks
• Effective communication and teamwork skills are critical
• Adaptable to changing priorities and a high tempo, dynamic environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and a great attitude to support a high growth company

The expected starting salary range for this role is $105,000- $115,000 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinder's reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education, experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs. This role is an onsite position at our office in Walnut Creek, CA.

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.