Warehouse Specialist

Warehouse Specialist

The mission of Hope the Mission is to prevent, reduce and eliminate poverty, hunger, and homelessness by offering immediate assistance and long-term solutions.

HTM's programs run on supplies. Cleaning products, toiletries, bedding, food service items, and everything else that keeps a shelter operational and a participant cared for. Every one of those items passes through the warehouse and arrives at a site because someone loaded it, drove it, and handed it off.

The Warehouse Specialist is that person. This role receives, inspects, and stores incoming materials; picks, packs, and stages outbound orders; loads and secures deliveries; drives assigned routes to HTM program sites across Los Angeles County; and completes the documentation that confirms what was delivered and what was not. The role also performs daily vehicle inspections and reports defects before a vehicle goes out of service unexpectedly.

This is a physical, detail-driven role that ends at the site door, not at the loading dock. Accuracy in the warehouse and reliability on the route are the same job. The Warehouse Attendant / Driver owns every order from receipt to delivery.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Receiving and Warehouse Organization

• Receive, inspect, verify, process, and route all incoming materials into the facility.
• Place warehouse items in designated storage areas and maintain organization of all inventory locations.
• Notify the Warehouse Manager of any discrepancies between received materials and shipper documentation.
• Sweep and clean warehouse floors daily. Keep walkways clear of debris and obstructions at all times.
• Complete weekly inventory reports accurately and on time.
• Support periodic inventory counts.
• Assist with intake, sorting, and staging of donated goods.

Order Processing and Fulfillment

• Maintain, organize, and issue inventory of approved supplies and equipment.
• Process inbound and outbound orders promptly through picking, packing, labeling, and staging.
• Verify order accuracy against the pick list before loading.
• Operate hand trucks, pallet jacks, and forklift equipment to move and stage materials.

Delivery and Route Execution

• Load and unload assigned vehicles. Distribute and secure loads properly for safe transport.
• Drive assigned delivery routes to HTM program sites according to the delivery schedule.
• Deliver, verify, and hand off orders to site staff. Obtain confirmation of delivery.
• Document delivered, short, and refused items and report discrepancies to the Warehouse Manager the same day.
• Communicate route delays, access problems, and site issues to the Warehouse Manager promptly.
• Adjust delivery sequence as directed when priorities change during the day.

Vehicle Operation and Inspection

• Complete daily pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections and submit inspection reports as required.
• Report vehicle defects, damage, and warning indicators to the Warehouse Manager and Fleet immediately.
• Maintain assigned vehicle cleanliness, fuel level, and cargo area condition.
• Operate all vehicles in compliance with California vehicle code, HTM driving policy, and insurance requirements.
• Report all vehicle incidents, collisions, and near misses to the Warehouse Manager and Operations leadership immediately.

Safety and Site Conduct

• Follow all safety policies, material handling procedures, and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Operate powered equipment only with current certification and in accordance with training.
• Report all incidents, injuries, and unsafe conditions to the Warehouse Manager promptly.
• Work respectfully and professionally at program sites, coordinating with site staff on delivery access and staging.
• Complete all assigned safety and compliance training by the required deadline.

Marginal Functions

• Support special events, seasonal distributions, and donation drives.
• Assist with initial stocking and equipment logistics for new site openings and de-mobilizations.
• Support other warehouse team members on high-volume order days.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Warehouse Manager.

Skills

• Receives, inspects, and routes incoming shipments accurately and without delays.
• Maintains an organized warehouse with inventory in designated locations at all times.
• Processes inbound and outbound orders through the full cycle of picking, packing, labeling, and delivery accurately and on time.
• Loads and secures cargo safely for transport across varied site conditions.
• Drives safely and courteously in Los Angeles County traffic while managing a route schedule.
• Identifies and reports discrepancies between received materials, shipping documentation, and delivered orders promptly.
• Operates hand trucks, pallet jacks, and forklift equipment safely and proficiently.
• Completes vehicle inspections consistently and reports defects before they become breakdowns.
• Manages a steady workflow of tasks under pressure without losing accuracy or attention to detail.
• Works collaboratively with the warehouse team and communicates clearly with the Warehouse Manager and site staff.
• Provides consistent, reliable service to program sites that depend on accurate and timely supply delivery.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Prior experience in warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, delivery driving, or a closely related role preferred.
• Valid California Class C driver's license required.
• Minimum two years of licensed driving experience required.
• Experience driving box trucks, cargo vans, or similar delivery vehicles preferred.
• Forklift certification required, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Ability to operate hand trucks, pallet jacks, and standard warehouse equipment.
• Ability to read and follow pick lists, delivery manifests, and route schedules.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Background Screening – Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of background checks as required per worksite.
• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Candidates must pass pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol screenings in accordance with company policy.
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check – For roles requiring driving, employment is contingent upon an acceptable driving record (meeting criteria of HTM's commercial insurance), a CA drivers license, and proof of vehicle insurance coverage.
• Legal Eligibility to Work – Maintain proof of legal authorization to work in the US.
• Compliance with Company Policies and HIPAA standards – All employees must comply with company policies, including safety, confidentiality, and conduct standards.
• Must have reliable transportation.

Physical, Demands, Environmental Conditions, Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The employee is required to: walk and climb stairs; stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis; grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead; handle, finger, grasp and feel objects and equipment; reach with hands and arms; be mobile by moving oneself from place to place quickly and easily; repeat various motions with the wrists, hands, and fingers; be able to perform visual activities for (including, but not limited to) administrative and clerical tasks; ability to lift up to 75 lbs.; communicate, receive and exchange ideas, information by means of the spoken and written word; drive vehicles in and around Los Angeles County; be able to enter various buildings that may require climbing stairs; be periodically subjected to outside environmental conditions. The employee may work in proximity to service animals and emotional support animals; use a desktop and/or laptop computer; various office machines. Complete all required forms in personal writing.

Work Environment

The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using alcohol and drugs, and who may not be attentive to basic personal hygiene, health and safety practices. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with the participants' use of alcohol and drugs, and lack of personal hygiene. The employee must be ready to respond quickly and effectively to many types of situations, including crisis situations and potentially hostile situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate in an office setting. Sometimes work may become stressful when working under pressure or in crisis intervention.

EEO: HTM (Hope the Mission) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees