Crating and Packaging Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title:

Crating & Packaging Associate

Department:

Warehouse

Reports To:

Warehouse Manager

Location:

Woonsocket, RI

Employment Type:

Full Time, Long-Term

Schedule:

Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

About Us

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Woonsocket, RI, Surplus Solutions is a world-leading provider of Equipment Lifecycle Management (ELM) services focused on procuring and reselling clinical, research, laboratory, and processing equipment for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, and healthcare end-markets. Through an actively cultivated network of sourcing relationships, the Company obtains laboratory, processing, and packaging equipment across a wide range of sizes and use cases, either via outright purchase or consignment. This equipment is resold through multiple channels to a large and diverse buyer base of life sciences market participants.

Position Overview

The Crating & Packaging Associate is responsible for building custom wood crates and protective packaging to safely prepare high-value laboratory and industrial equipment for shipment. Every piece of equipment is different, so this role calls for someone who can size up a shipment, apply general packing specifications, and build a crate that will hold up in transit — without needing engineering drawings to get there. This is a hands-on, long-term position with room to grow into an independent, go-to crater for the facility.

What Success Looks Like

First 2 Weeks: Building crates that meet our current crater's quality and shipping requirements, working alongside experienced staff for guidance.

30 Days: Consistently producing acceptable, ship-ready crates with support and coaching available as needed.

60–90 Days: Independently designing and building crates for a wide range of equipment types with minimal oversight, asking for guidance on unfamiliar or unusual shipments.

Key Responsibilities

Crating & Packaging

• Build custom wood crates and packaging to safely ship laboratory and industrial equipment, sizing crate design to each piece of equipment.
• Apply general packing specifications to determine crate style, bracing, and cushioning — no formal drawings required; learn through hands-on training and by asking questions.
• Select and prepare appropriate materials (lumber, foam, plastic wrap, strapping, etc.) for each build.
• Identify special handling needs for fragile, sensitive, or high-value equipment and adjust crate design accordingly.
• Label crates clearly and completely, including any handling instructions, weight, and destination information.
• Use in-house tools and equipment (all crate-building tools are provided on site) safely and in good working order.

Order Fulfillment & Shipping Support

• Coordinate with warehouse and logistics staff to sequence crating work around shipment deadlines.
• Verify crated equipment against packing lists and shipping paperwork prior to pickup.
• Assist with staging and loading of crated equipment for freight pickup.

Cross-Functional Warehouse Support (as needed)

• Pick and stage equipment for outgoing orders when crating volume is light.
• Operate a forklift and pallet jack to load and unload trucks.
• Assist customers on-site as needed.

Safety & Process Compliance

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe crating and packaging work area.
• Follow all company safety procedures and OSHA guidelines, including safe use of power tools and material handling equipment.
• Follow documented standard operating procedures consistently to support standardized, scalable processes across sites.

Qualifications

Required

• Experience building crates, custom packaging, or working with wood and hand/power tools (carpentry, construction, or industrial packaging background all welcome).
• Strong attention to detail and pride in producing quality, ship-ready work.
• Ability to lift and move moderate-to-heavy equipment and materials.
• Comfortable operating material handling equipment (forklift experience preferred).
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, including proactively asking questions when unsure.

Preferred

• Prior experience crating or packaging equipment for freight shipment.
• Forklift certification.
• Experience handling laboratory, medical, or industrial equipment.
• Familiarity with shipping documentation and freight coordination.

Key Competencies

Craftsmanship: Builds sturdy, well-fitted crates that protect equipment through transit.

Problem-Solving: Adapts crate design to fit each unique piece of equipment using general specs and sound judgment.

Safety Awareness: Follows best practices to prevent damage and injury when using tools and material handling equipment.

Process Discipline: Follows documented SOPs consistently to support standardized operations across sites.

Adaptability: Moves fluidly between crating, picking, loading, and customer support as priorities shift.

Reliability & Accountability: Takes ownership of assigned tasks and meets shipping deadlines consistently.