Forklift Operator

WAWONA FROZEN FOODS

ABOUT THIS COMPANY

We pride ourselves on being family-owned and operated and treating our employees like family. Working at a company where safety and quality are top priorities. Every day, Wawona Frozen Foods' commitment to excellence justifies its reputation for delivering superior quality, value, and service. Wawona's state-of-the-art production methods and facilities ensure consistent high-quality products - all while maintaining the highest food safety standards as required by the USDA and state regulators.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The role of a forklift operator with Wawona Frozen Foods provides a wide range of activities including moving product, dumping product, stacking product, moving or transporting product with pallet jacks, dumping product to production process, finished product weight testing, putting finished product in finished boxes, assisting operators, batchers or other employees. Operate propane and electric powered forklift industrial trucks in an efficient and safe manner while transporting product, supplies, pallets and other parts or equipment. The individual will be required to work in a team-based environment by working well with multiple departments such as attending to production needs, ensuring inventory control is being properly managed and working within all warehousing guidelines and parameters. The individual in this role must complete Entry Level Operator role for a minimum of ninety (90) days or have a minimum of two (2) years in similar role experience and demonstrate advance driving experience.

DUTIES INCLUDE

• Active participation in Wawona Frozen Foods safety program to maintain a healthy and injury-free environment.
• Participate in training and company meetings to facilitate individual and company growth.
• Follow all GMP, HAACP, Food Safety, Food Defense, and SQF policies and procedures.

• Extensive knowledge with sit-down electric and propane forklifts
• Ability to use and operate double fork lifts.
• Can push, pull, stack, tier, move pallets of product, equipment, or materials.
• Willingness to be training in shipping, receiving, take-offs, palletizing, and shuttling.
• Move levers and press pedals to drive truck and control movement of lifting apparatus.
• Position forks under loaded pallets, skids, boxes, products, or materials
• Transport, load, and unload in designated areas, in trailers, or trucks
• Inspect trailers prior to loading and unloading product.
• Ability to fill out or complete any necessary paperwork or documentation associated with the role.
• Stacks product in accordance to finished product specifications.
• Report any major or unusual issues to lead or supervisor.
• Conduct daily safety inspections are being conducted on forklift prior to using.
• Accountable for supplying product to job function in a timely manner, such as sufficient product to production or sufficient product to load up a truck on the dock.
• Understanding of available inventory, inventory reports and variances.
• Ability to used RF handheld for inventory purposes.

REQUIREMENTS

• At least 1 year experience working as a forklift operator.
• Ability to read, write, follow instructions, and recognize similarities and difference.
• Ability to perform operations while maintaining high level of safety, wearing proper personal protection equipment, and maintaining safe driving and operation of equipment standards.
• Ability to do continuous repetitive work.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent spatial awareness to identify issues with stacking, loading, unloading.
• Strong common sense to operate equipment effectively around pallets, bins, and boxes.
• Excellent listening skills and strong communication skills
• A strong work ethic and a can-do attitude
• Self-motivated and self-starter
• Ability to work with various employees and employee levels while building rapport and respect.
• Ability to read, write, and understanding instructions in English.
• Must be punctual and regular attendance is required.
• Understand and follow all color-coding rules as stated in procedures.

LOCATION & SHIFT INFO

• This position will work out of our Cedar or Alluvial locations, based on assignment.
• Shifts include 1st, 2nd, Graveyard (24-hour operations).
• Ability to work weekends and overtime as needed.

BENEFITS

• Wawona Wednesday's, End of Season Appreciation Events, T-shirts and Hats, Employee of the Month
• You'll have the opportunity to work with great people and make a real impact - while being your unique, authentic self at work.

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY

• We learn together. We believe in supporting all employees with all the training, resources, and tools to be successful. We invest in our people, we learn together, we take the time to train, and we grow together. We celebrate OUR people and want each employee to have a long career with Wawona Frozen Foods.
• We focus on building and keeping relationships, going above and beyond, and offering world-class service. Empowering each team member to make Wawona Frozen Foods better every day, come up with improvements and suggest suggestions, and help us be innovative. We are proud of our history and want to continue to leave a legacy.
• Wawona Frozen Foods promotes a work environment that encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and a culture of growth. We roll up our sleeves, we get dirty, we exemplify true grit, and we support each other because we truly care about our people.
• We pride ourselves on having a diverse team matching our diverse product base. We have an inclusive culture where different professional and personal perspectives, ideas, and suggestions are respected and welcomed.
• We pride ourselves on the fast-paced environment that our season creates, and we recognize that if it was not for our people working hard that we would not be as successful.
• We strive to deliver the best fruit products available and to be a valued partner in every one of our customer's successes.
• We take the time to build a relationship with our customers and make sure we are producing and delivering the best products specific to your needs.

PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Work in an environment where there can be medium to loud noise and in cold temperatures.
• Stand and walk, feel, reach with hands and arms. Ability to sit for long periods of time while operating forklift. Ability to climb, step, and balance.
• Ability to talk or hear instructions, machinery, equipment, horns, and other vehicles.
• A fast-paced environment that requires high attention to details and minimal down time.
• Occasional lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as buckets of fruit, boxes, pails, etc. Lifting requirement: Must be able to lift or move up to 50 lbs. independently.
• Other duties as assigned requiring repetitive tasks, duties, or assignments such as sorting, packing, stacking, or cutting.
• Work flexible/varying schedules to support the team, customers, and deadlines.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision, ability to see all colors, and ability to practice behaviors to watch for pedestrians, vehicles, and other hazards required to maneuver forklifts around.
• You will be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, extreme cold, and vibration. Exposure to smell of cleaning products and agents for the sanitation of equipment and machinery regularly.
• Wear appropriate personal protection equipment and adhere to dress code as outlined for working in a food manufacturing facility.
• Cannot be allergic to fruit.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Applicants must be fully authorized to work in the U.S. and physically be in the U.S.

Wawona Frozen Foods is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected factor.

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

NOTICE TO RECRUITERS, EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES, AND/OR VENDORS

Please note that Wawona Frozen Foods does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or vendors. Without a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Wawona Frozen Foods will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without Wawona Frozen Foods' authorization, Wawona Frozen Foods is without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Wawona Frozen Foods. Verbal commitments from any Wawona Frozen Food employees will not be considered binding terms. This applies to all Wawona Frozen Foods locations and offices. It is the responsibility of all third-party recruiters and vendors to know this policy.