Forklift Operator

Forklift Operator

This role operates a sit-down forklift to safely load, unload, and organize materials within a food-grade warehouse while supporting accurate inventory control and strong customer service. You will handle both human food and animal feed products, ensuring strict separation and accurate labeling, and you will coordinate shipments, documentation, and communication with customers and carriers to meet critical delivery requirements.

Responsibilities:

• Operate a sit-down forklift to load and unload materials from semi-trailers and organize products within the warehouse.
• Handle inbound and outbound freight, including receiving, verifying, and reconciling product against packing lists to identify any discrepancies.
• Generate and manage shipping documents such as warehouse pick sheets, packing lists, and bills of lading.
• Pull and stage orders accurately based on customer requirements, using paper work orders and inventory information.
• Create and apply labels to properly identify parts and products in line with customer specifications.
• Maintain strict separation between food-grade products for human consumption and animal feed products, ensuring they do not get mixed.
• Perform inventory control tasks as needed, including counting, tracking, and reconciling stock levels.
• Lift up to 50 pounds occasionally to move product when necessary, while primarily using the forklift for material handling.
• Work directly with customers to coordinate shipments to and from the warehouse to meet key delivery requirements.
• Communicate with carriers and drivers, including greeting drivers, providing loading and unloading instructions, and signing necessary documents.
• Promptly communicate any issues related to outbound shipments or inbound receipts, such as product availability, damage, inventory discrepancies, or carrier problems.
• Follow all safety procedures and warehouse guidelines while operating forklifts and handling products in a food-grade environment.
• Remain flexible to stay until work is completed when overtime is required to meet customer needs.
• Engage in constant sitting, standing, walking, reading, writing, stooping, hearing, and talking as required by daily warehouse and forklift operations.
• Collaborate with a small team to prepare orders and load semis, typically working in groups of two to complete tasks efficiently.

Essential Skills:

• Minimum of 2 years of recent sit-down forklift operating experience.
• Proven experience loading and unloading product with a forklift from semi-trailers connected to a dock.
• Material handling experience in a warehouse environment.
• Ability to perform warehouse inventory control tasks, including counting and reconciling stock.
• Strong attention to detail when pulling, placing, and labeling products based on customer requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Effective customer service skills to coordinate shipments and address customer needs.
• Strong communication skills to interact with customers, carriers, and drivers and to report issues promptly.
• Ability to read and follow work orders, packing lists, and related documentation.
• Comfort working in a semi-fast-paced warehouse environment with constant physical activity.
• Reliability and flexibility to work overtime when required to complete customer orders.
• Basic logistics and supply chain understanding related to shipping, receiving, and inventory.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• Racking experience preferred.
• At least 1 year of inventory control experience preferred.
• Experience using RF scanners for inventory and shipping tasks is beneficial.
• Experience in shipping, receiving, loading, and unloading in a warehouse setting.
• Experience working with food-grade products or in a food-grade warehouse is a plus.
• Familiarity with logistics and supply chain operations, including coordination with carriers.
• Ability to work effectively in a small team environment and support colleagues across two nearby warehouse buildings.

Why Work Here?

You will join a small, family-oriented company that values flexibility and understands the importance of worklife balance, especially when family situations arise. The team operates in a close-knit environment where employees work together in small groups, fostering collaboration and support. Benefits start quickly, with 401(k) eligibility and paid time off accrual on day one. Paid time off increases with tenure, offering 40 hours in the first year, 80 hours in the second year, and 120 hours in the third year, plus additional unpaid leave options. Health benefits are structured to be affordable, particularly for single plans, and the organization offers a stable, semi-fast-paced work setting with consistent weekday hours. You will work with a steady base of long-term customers and enjoy the stability of a well-organized, family-run logistics operation.

Work Environment:

This position operates in a food-grade warehouse that stores ingredients for human food and animal feed for key customers. The facility runs on a first-shift schedule, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with occasional overtime depending on load completion and customer needs. The company is a small, family-owned operation with a tight-knit team that includes customer service representatives, forklift operators, a cleaner, and management support. Across two nearby buildings, there are approximately nine team members, with one building being temperature controlled. The warehouse is kept relatively clean and organized, and the work is semi-fast-paced, typically performed in groups of two to prepare orders and load semis. You will spend much of the day operating a sit-down forklift and performing physical tasks such as walking, standing, and handling paperwork. Dress code includes closed-toe shoes, jeans, and a t-shirt, suitable for a warehouse environment where safety and comfort are priorities.

Job Type & Location:

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Des Moines, Iowa.

Pay and Benefits:

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $19.00/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)

Workplace Type:

This is a fully onsite position in Des Moines, Iowa.

Application Deadline:

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 2026.