Fragrance Sample Lab and Shipping Manager

Bell • Northbrook, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. is seeking a hands-on, highly organized Fragrance Sample Lab & Shipping Manager to lead the daily operations of our Sample Laboratory and sample shipping functions in Northbrook. This position combines people leadership, laboratory operations, quality oversight, safety coordination, and customer-focused execution. You will guide a team of Laboratory Technicians, balance competing priorities, and ensure samples are compounded, evaluated, packaged, and shipped accurately and on time. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable coaching employees, improving processes, investigating quality concerns, collaborating across departments, and stepping in to support laboratory work when business needs require it.

Requirements

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical science, or a related scientific discipline.
• At least three years of laboratory experience; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety practices and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and effective problem-solving ability.
• Ability to collaborate across organizational levels while maintaining accuracy, quality, confidentiality, and customer focus.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience leading, training, mentoring, or supervising laboratory personnel.
• Experience developing SOPs, improving laboratory processes, or supporting quality investigations.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office and portfolio or project management systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan, assign, and prioritize daily work across the Technician team to meet project deadlines and customer commitments.
• Provide hands-on support with sample compounding and other laboratory activities as needed.
• Coordinate the preparation, packaging, and shipment of outgoing samples, securing additional resources when required.
• Build cross-training programs and backup coverage plans to maintain continuity across essential team functions.
• Train, mentor, and supervise Laboratory Technicians on procedures, quality expectations, safety requirements, and best practices.
• Monitor team performance and reinforce standards for productivity, accuracy, quality, service, and safety.
• Partner with Sales and other internal stakeholders to establish realistic, customer-focused timelines for sample requests.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures while leading process-improvement and efficiency initiatives.
• Oversee specification development and validation activities that support commercialization while protecting confidential formulas and laboratory data.
• Manage laboratory supplies and equipment-maintenance programs and help ensure the quality of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished fragrances.
• Investigate quality issues, determine root causes, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Coordinate assigned stability-testing programs and evaluate fragrance samples across multiple applications.
• Lead departmental safety compliance, training, and emergency-preparedness activities.
• Set goals, provide continuous feedback, support professional development, and manage the performance of assigned direct reports.

Benefits

• Competitive salary of $42,500–$80,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience.
• Competitive benefits available to eligible regular full-time employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree