Position Summary

The Material Handling Lead ensures that the Material Handling – Forklift Operator Team executes standard operating procedures of unboxing and moving of product to the processing line all while ensuring safe operations of equipment and following prescribed safety standards for lifting and movement

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Essential Functions
  • Oversees the function of Material Handling – Forklift Operators as described below.
  • Trains all staff members in this function.
  • Ensures all employee certifications are kept current.
  • Conducts safety audits and reports on standard safety protocols compliance and / or retraining needs.
  • Maintains all required training documentation.
  • Maintains equipment in their area and necessary records regarding maintenance.
  • Works with Plant Manager and provides input and recommendations for performance feedback, disciplinary actions.
  • Creates and manages employee schedules.
• Forklift Operator Duties
  • Safely drive forklift to transport and move frozen product boxes from storage to the unboxing area.
  • Ensure the forklift is used according to safety guidelines (e.g., wearing a seatbelt, following speed limits).
  • Load and Unload Boxes:
    • Use the forklift to carefully lift and move boxes, ensuring they are placed safely in designated area.
    • Transport frozen boxes from receiving areas to designated unboxing or storage spaces.
  • Inspect the Load:
    • Check that boxes are properly secured on the forklift to prevent spillage or damage during transport.
    • Ensure the forklift is capable of handling the weight and height of materials being moved.
  • Stack and Organize Pallets:
    • Ensure proper stacking of the boxes in the unboxing area according to standard operating procedure.
  • Monitor Environmental Conditions:
    • Ensure the forklift is operating in a safe environment, especially when dealing with frozen products, which may require colder temperatures or specific handling practices.
• Material Handler Duties
  • Unboxing and Sorting:
    • Open and remove 60# boxes of frozen products, making sure to handle boxes with proper lift assist equipment.
    • Place product boxes in designated area.
• Inventory Tracking:
  • Record the unboxing and receipt of inventory, updating systems (manually or through software) to ensure accurate stock levels.
  • Label or tag products for easy identification and tracking.
• Ensure Proper Storage:
  • Store frozen products in designated areas that meet temperature requirements.
  • Move frozen items into the correct cold storage units (freezers, refrigerators) to maintain product quality.
• Safety and Cleanliness:
  • Maintain a clean and safe working area by cleaning up any debris or spills that may occur during the unboxing process.
  • Following all safety protocols, including proper lifting techniques and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensuring compliance with company policies and OSHA regulations
• Assist in Stock Movement:
  • May assist in moving and restocking products within the facility to ensure smooth inventory flow.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to safely operate a forklift in tight spaces and crowded warehouses.
• Knowledge of safety procedures, load capacities, and basic maintenance.
• Ability to perform basic troubleshooting and maintenance on forklifts.
• Familiarity with inventory management systems (e.g., barcode scanners, RFID).
• Basic understanding of safety protocols, especially in relation to handling heavy or temperature-sensitive items.
• Good organizational and communication skills to ensure smooth product movement and reporting.
• Attention to Detail: Both roles require accuracy, whether it's logging inventory, ensuring proper box placement, or confirming correct handling and storage procedures.
• Teamwork: Coordination between forklift operators, material handlers, and other warehouse staff is key to ensuring smooth operations
• Physical Requirements
  • Communicate with others both verbally and in writing.
  • Be independently mobile.
  • Use a computer and keyboard.
  • Regularly sit, stand, walk, reach, stretch, stoop, bend, for extended periods.
  • Ability to lift and move heavy products, 60-pound boxes frozen meat products.
  • Exposure to noise levels that require hearing protection.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Forklift Certification Required
• Previous Forklift Experience: Previous experience operating a forklift or other material handling equipment is preferred, especially in warehouse, manufacturing, or logistics settings. This helps ensure the operator can handle different types of forklifts and work in different environments.
• Experience with Specific forklifts of the following types: sit-down, stand-up, reach trucks
• Experience with Frozen Products and/or temperature-controlled environments.