Inventory Gatekeeper: Food Production & Traceability

Urban Farmer; Manteno (IL); On-site; USD 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Urban Farmer seeks a 2nd Shift Gatekeeper in Manteno, IL to safeguard inventory integrity and traceability across warehouse and production lines. You will verify BOM alignment, record batch data, and maintain real-time ERP entries to support food safety and cost control.

The role requires attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate across Production, Warehouse, and Quality teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in warehouse, production, or inventory control (food manufacturing preferred)
• Strong knowledge of FIFO rotation, lot control, and reconciliation
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel and data entry
• Excellent attention to detail and strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration across departments

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for inbound and outbound materials between the warehouse and production floor
• Verify materials issued to production align with BOM, correct quantities, item codes, and descriptions
• Record lot numbers, expiration dates, and quantities for all materials issued to and returned from production
• Maintain traceability for every ingredient and packaging component used in each batch, ensuring SQF, FDA, USDA, and GMP compliance
• Identify and isolate materials with incorrect labeling, expired dates, or quality concerns and escalate promptly
• Update ERP or inventory system in real time reflecting all material movements
• Support cycle counts, physical inventories, and reconciliation of discrepancies with root-causes documented
• Verify product staging and line setups against production schedules and recipes prior to each run
• Communicate shortages, substitutions, or material discrepancies to line leads and supervisors
• Monitor material usage and reconcile variances between actual consumption and system usage
• Ensure proper labeling and identification of all return materials, partial pallets, and unused items
• Coordinate material changeovers with minimal downtime and accurate inventory adjustments
• Track yield variances and unusual usage patterns for investigation by Inventory or CI teams
• Accurately enter all material transactions into the inventory management system
• Maintain batch documentation, usage logs, and traceability reports for audits or recalls
• Prepare daily summaries of inventory movement for management review
• Assist in SOPs and process documentation related to material handling and data accuracy
• File all paperwork in compliance with retention policies
• Follow GMP, Food Safety, and Workplace Safety policies and maintain sanitary workstations
• Verify proper storage conditions (temperature, allergen segregation, FIFO)
• Participate in internal and external audits with accurate records
• Report safety, food safety, or quality concerns promptly
• Adhere to OSHA, SQF, and Urban Farmer Safety standards including PPE usage
• Coordinate with Warehouse, Production, Quality, and Planning teams for smooth data flow
• Provide timely communication regarding shortages, discrepancies, or process issues
• Assist onboarding or training of new team members in inventory control procedures
• Participate in cross-department meetings to address recurring issues and improvements
• Demonstrate accountability, professionalism, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment

Skills

Warehouse operations

Inventory management

ERP systems

MS Excel

Tools

ERP software

Data entry systems

Job description

Urban Farmer seeks a 2nd Shift Gatekeeper in Manteno, IL to safeguard inventory integrity and traceability across warehouse and production lines. You will verify BOM alignment, record batch data, and maintain real-time ERP entries to support food safety and cost control.

The role requires attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate across Production, Warehouse, and Quality teams.