Demand Planner - Berkeley Culinary Center

whitsonsculinarygroup; Berkeley (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Benefits package

Paid time off

Job summary

Whitsons Culinary Group seeks a Demand Planner (Planning Coordinator) to align customer demand with production while adhering to USDA and FDA guidelines in a fast-paced food manufacturing setting. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to schedule production and optimize material usage for quality and efficiency.

This role requires meticulous attention, strong teamwork, and a safety-first mindset.

Qualifications

• Experience in production planning or demand planning in a food manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, USDA/FDA regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and data reporting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage detailed production schedules using Sage X3 to support daily, weekly, and long-term demand while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
• Coordinate with Purchasing, Warehouse, QA, and Production to ensure materials meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Communicate clear work orders with Production Managers and verify timely completion of scheduled production.
• Collaborate with intercompany facilities to ensure product availability and address supply chain challenges.
• Participate in daily operations meetings, identify risks, and support solutions in a team environment.
• Maintain accuracy in planning, inventory management, and documentation for traceability and audit readiness.
• Utilize Sage X3 tools and reporting to drive continuous improvement and reduce waste.

Skills

Communication

Planning / Scheduling

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Regulatory compliance knowledge

Food safety awareness

Education

Associate Degree

Bachelors preferred

Tools

Sage X3

Microsoft Office Suite

Excel

Job description

Demand Planner (Planning Coordinator)

Position Summary

This role is responsible for ensuring customer demand is met while adhering to all company manufacturing standards and regulatory requirements, including USDA and FDA guidelines. Operating in a fast-paced and ever-changing food production environment, this position collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to support efficient operations. The role emphasizes attention to detail, strong teamwork, and fostering a positive, safety-first culture while managing production scheduling and material utilization to maintain product quality, minimize waste, and prevent potential loss of sales.

Essential Functions, Responsibilities, and Duties

• Develop and manage detailed production schedules using the ERP system (Sage X3) to support daily, weekly, and long-term customer demand while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
• Coordinate with Purchasing, Warehouse, Quality Assurance, and Production teams to ensure raw materials, packaging, and resources are available and meet quality and regulatory standards.
• Partner with Production Managers and floor leadership to communicate clear work order plans and verify accurate, timely completion of scheduled production.
• Collaborate with intercompany facilities to ensure product availability and proactively address potential supply chain or production challenges.
• Participate in daily operations meetings, contributing updates, identifying risks, and supporting solutions in a team-oriented environment.
• Maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail in planning, inventory management, and documentation to support traceability and audit readiness.
• Utilize Sage X3 system tools and reporting to drive continuous improvement, enhance efficiency, and reduce waste across operations.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Regularly interact with team leads and employees on the production floor, fostering strong working relationships and a culture of collaboration and respect.
• Enter manufacturing and warehouse areas as needed, adhering strictly to food safety, sanitation, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Follow all GMPs, HACCP plans, and USDA/FDA regulatory requirements to ensure product safety and quality.
• Support and promote a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and audit-ready work environment at all times.

• Competitive pay
• Medical, dental, vision, and 401K with company match
• Paid time off

Pay Rate: $36.05-$38.46/hour

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• Associate Degree required
• Bachelors preferred

Computer Skills

• Use of Microsoft suite applications.
• Excel experience.
• Knowledge of ERP systems, Sage X3 is the platform used.

Required Competencies

• Communication
• Effectively write, present and transfer ideas and information for the advancement of individual and company performance.
• Client Focus
• Act in the best interest of the client, both internal and external.
• Innovation
• Create new ideas, processes or products which when implemented lead to positive effective change.
• Organization Leadership
• Apply strategic thinking, prioritization and decision-making to drive results.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

The physical demands described below represent those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Frequently required to sit, walk, talk, and hear.
• Regular use of hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms.
• Required to stand for a portion of the workday and walk between work areas.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds; lifting while turning side to side may be required.
• Vision requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

This position may require extended work hours, including evenings and/or weekends, travel to multiple work sites, and occasional out-of-state travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment with a moderate noise level.
• Additional work is performed in manufacturing and warehouse environments, including packing and warehousing areas, where noise levels may range from moderate to loud.
• Standing for portions of the workday is required.
• Work involves movement in and out of storerooms and proximity to heavy machinery and freezers.
• Exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold) due to cooking and refrigeration equipment may occur.

The duties listed above are intended as examples of the types of work performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Whitsons reserves the right to modify or add duties as business needs require.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between Whitsons and the team member and is subject to change based on organizational and operational requirements.