Load Planner/Logistics Coordinator

About the role

The Load Planner/Logistics Coordinator coordinates and manages outbound shipment planning, order flow, and carrier scheduling to ensure accurate, timely, and efficient delivery of customer orders. This role acts as a key connection between Shipping, Customer Service, Carriers, and Internal Operations, maintaining schedule accuracy, compliance, and smooth communication across departments. Reports to: Logistics Manager.

Responsibilities

• Order Management
  • Process and manage order printouts and Goods issue (GI) dating.
  • Verify routing accuracy prior to shipment.
  • Prepare shipping manifests for the warehouse and shipping team.
  • Communicate manifests and shipment details to carriers.
  • Manage revisions, pallet counts, and weight calculations to ensure proper load planning and compliance.
• Advanced Appointment Coordination (Key Customers)
  • Proactively set up advanced appointment communications for key retail accounts.
  • Provide purchase order (PO) details to carriers several times weekly to secure Required Delivery Dates (RDDs).
  • Maintain heightened scheduling accuracy and carrier coordination during peak periods.
• Connection with Shipping Department
  • Maintain daily communication with Shipping Supervisors regarding order transfers, manifest updates, schedule adjustments, driver arrival alerts, and dock placement coordination.
  • Conduct day-of-shipment communications with carriers to ensure schedule adherence.
• Connection with Customer Service
  • Work closely with Customer Service daily regarding order revisions, Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) updates for deliveries in transit, real-time detention issues at customer delivery sites, and additional support for smooth customer delivery operations.
• Shipping Board Management
  • Oversee and maintain the Shipping Board (internal scheduling control system) as the central control system for daily loading plans, future carrier appointment times, and coordination with warehouse teams to align order picking schedules for upcoming shifts.
• Temperature-monitoring Device Management
  • Manage temperature-monitoring devices, download, track, and file temperature data for customer compliance and cold-chain documentation.
• Samples Management
  • Generate sample pick tickets and coordinate and process outbound sample shipments via UPS.

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience in logistics, load planning, transportation coordination, or warehouse operations.
• Experience working with major retailers preferred.
• Familiarity with shipping manifests, carrier scheduling, and dock coordination.
• Experience with temperature-monitoring devices.
• Efficiency in SAP preferred.
• High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.

Skills

• Strong organizational and multitasking skills in a fast-paced logistics environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Shipping, Customer Service, Warehouse Operations, and external carriers.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to respond effectively to schedule disruptions.
• High attention to detail with strong numerical abilities (pallet counts, weight checks, load calculations).
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet tight deadlines.
• Proficiency with logistics, warehouse, and transportation management systems (WMS/TMS).
• Ability to handle high-volume workloads, especially during peak seasons.

Physical Demands

• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to thirty-five (35) pounds.
• Ability to sit for extended periods and perform repetitive tasks.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

• This role may occasionally require presence in the production environment with exposure to cold temperatures and raw meat products. If production floor presence occurs, exposure to cold temperatures and moving mechanical equipment will occur.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet; however, it can be moderate or loud when on the production floor.
• Employees must wear proper food-safe, steel-toe shoes, hair net and beard net, nitrile gloves, frock, bump cap, hat, and proper hearing protection while working in certain areas.