Warehouse Associate

Warehouse Associate

Join the Southern States team and help keep our warehouse, inventory, and customer operations running smoothly.

As a Warehouse Associate, you'll play an important role in supporting customers, managing inventory, operating equipment, and maintaining a safe and organized facility. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on work, providing excellent customer service, and working in a fast-paced environment.

What You'll Do

• Receive, unload, inspect, and stock incoming merchandise.
• Operate forklifts, loaders, pallet jacks, and other warehouse equipment safely and efficiently.
• Assist customers by locating products, filling orders, and loading purchases into vehicles.
• Organize and maintain warehouse inventory to support accurate stock levels and efficient operations.
• Replenish product displays and support showroom merchandising efforts.
• Fill propane cylinders and support fertilizer operations where applicable.
• Conduct equipment inspections and report maintenance needs.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and organized warehouse, showroom, grounds, and outdoor storage areas.
• Follow all company safety procedures and PPE requirements.

Education: High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) preferred

Experience:

• Warehouse, retail, agriculture, or industrial equipment experience preferred.
• Forklift experience preferred or willingness to obtain certification.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Licenses: Licensing requirements vary by location and are based on state/federal regulations.

• May require Commercial Driver's License (or ability to obtain within given period)
• May require Propane Certification (or ability to obtain within given period)

Requirements -- complexity of requirements increases with grade level

• Able to learn and effectively operate a forklift, front-end loader, pallet jack, skid loader and/or other industrial equipment
• Able to learn, understand and follow safety, quality control and operating procedures at all times
• Able to learn and accurately identify / locate merchandise utilizing labels, barcodes, reports, and other documentation or tracking methods
• Able to apply logic and understanding to carry out instructions provided in written, oral, or diagram form
• Able to add, subtract, multiply, divide and calculate percentages using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals
• Able to effectively communicate with customers
• Attention to detail
• Able to speak, read, write the English language in a proficient manner
• Able to complete paperwork in a legible, organized, and timely manner
• Able to work in a fast-paced team environment
• Able to work extended hours to meet business demands especially during peak seasons

Work Environment

Performs essential job functions in a variety of settings depending upon location, primarily a warehouse environment (not climate controlled experiencing seasonal temperatures and humidity), a retail showroom, and occasionally outdoors where there may not be protection from weather conditions.

May be exposed to hazards including:

• Drafts, temperature changes and wet floors due to facility doors opening during adverse weather and the merchandising and care of plant material
• Merchandise, supplies and tools with sharp edges or containing hazardous materials
• Dust, odors, fumes and hazardous chemicals associated with sales and storage of dry and liquid fertilizers, crop protectants and other agricultural, residential, animal care and home care products
• Moving mechanical parts and vehicles, vibrations and electric current
• Noise levels where hearing protection is optional per PPE Plan

Physical Activities & Requirements

• Continuously balance, bend, and stack; finger and handle merchandise, tools and controls; reach with arms and hands; stand and walk for extended periods on concrete surface; twist back and neck; utilize hand/eye/foot coordination; Pull, push, lift, carry 10-50 pounds unassisted.
• Frequently crouch, kneel and stoop. Drive motorized equipment. Utilize feet and hands in repetitive motion while driving motorized equipment. Pull, push, lift, carry 50-100 pounds, may be assisted.
• Occasionally climb, sit, shovel and sweep. Pull, push, lift, carry over 100 pounds, may be assisted.
• Must be able to hear equipment sounds, warehouse pages, co-workers and radio. Must be able to speak to co-workers regarding production and safety. Specific vision abilities required by this position include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Tools & Equipment

Hard hat, steel toed shoes required while in the warehouse/merchandise storage facility. Effectively operate industrial equipment including: forklift, front end loader, pallet jack, skid loader. Effectively utilize gloves and other PPE (required or optional), RF scanner, scale, safety knife/box cutter, writing instrument, reports, logs, plan-o-grams, diagrams, computer, printer, telephone.

Southern States Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, color, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws or regulations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, functions and skills required for this job. Functions and requirements may change at any time with or without notice.