Material Handler

Material Handler

The Material Handler operates sit-down and stand-up forklifts to move materials between production lines, warehouse areas, and shipping docks. This role supports both production and warehouse operations by staging, stacking, and wrapping pallets, preparing products for shipment, and loading and unloading trucks. The position involves working in a modern, temperature-controlled facility and requires consistent attention to safety, organization, and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Operate sit-down and stand-up forklifts to move materials to and from production lines, warehouse areas, and shipping docks.
• Gather materials from inventory and deliver them to designated production lines in a timely and accurate manner.
• Transport products from docks to inventory locations and from production lines back to docks for shipment.
• Stage, stack, and wrap pallets to ensure products are secure and ready for storage or shipping.
• Prepare finished products for shipment by organizing, packaging, and positioning them for loading.
• Load and unload trucks safely and efficiently, following all facility procedures and safety guidelines.
• Work approximately half the time in the production area and half in the warehouse/shipping area, adapting to changing priorities.
• Use RF scanners to track inventory movements, verify orders, and maintain accurate records.
• Lift, sort, count, wrap, and stage products as needed to support production and warehouse workflows.
• Perform repetitive material handling tasks while maintaining focus on quality and safety.
• Support batch mixing and packaging processes by ensuring materials are available at the right time and location.
• Collaborate with production and warehouse teams to keep lines supplied, docks organized, and shipments on schedule.
• Follow all safety protocols and contribute to a clean, orderly, and well-organized work environment.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of experience operating a sit-down forklift.
• At least 2 years of experience operating a stand-up forklift for work at the Alsip location.
• Proficiency in loading and unloading trucks using forklifts and manual handling as needed.
• Hands-on material handling experience in a production or warehouse environment.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions and physical tasks such as lifting, sorting, and wrapping products.
• Experience using RF scanners for inventory tracking and order verification.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage multiple material movements and priorities.
• Comfort working in both production and warehouse/shipping areas.
• Reliability and attention to safety, with the ability to follow established procedures consistently.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Background in chemical, oil, or food manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Experience with packaging, picking, packing, and staging products.
• Familiarity with batch mixing processes and supporting production lines.
• Strong organizational skills to maintain orderly inventory and staging areas.
• Ability to work effectively in both smaller, tightly organized teams and larger, high-activity operations.
• Willingness to adapt to different facility layouts, production volumes, and workflow styles.
• Comfort working in environments where production can be fast-paced and occasionally chaotic.

Why Work Here?

Employees benefit from working in temperature-controlled facilities where safety is a top priority and operations are well-established. The organization offers excellent employee benefits and provides a choice of environments, from a modern, highly organized site with a close-knit team to a larger, high-volume facility with multiple lines and break rooms. Team members have the opportunity to support essential manufacturing and shipping operations in a stable setting that values cleanliness, organization, and long-term facility investment.

Work Environment

The work takes place in temperature-controlled manufacturing and warehouse facilities. One location is a modern, very clean site that has been remodeled within the last decade, with a strong emphasis on safety, organization, and clearly arranged inventory and supplies. This facility has a smaller workforce, with roughly 1015 people on first shift and about half that on second shift, and fewer lines, kettles, fillers, and blenders, creating a more focused environment. The other location is larger and not as new, but still in good condition and also temperature controlled. It houses a few hundred employees across shifts, has more lines and higher production volume, and can be fast-paced and occasionally chaotic due to the amount of work and number of people on site. This facility includes security checkpoints at the front and multiple break rooms for employees. In both locations, the chemicals used are not harmful, and operations follow a consistent process of manufacturing products, bottling, staging, and shipping. Work is performed on structured shifts, including a first shift from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a second shift from 4:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. Dress code is typical for a production and warehouse environment, focusing on practical, safety-oriented attire appropriate for forklift operation and material handling.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ford Heights, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $18.25 - $19.35/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 4, 2026.