Forklift Operator

Forklift Operator

This role involves operating gas and electric sit-down forklifts to support a busy manufacturing environment. You maintain accurate inventory, move materials safely and efficiently, and ensure production areas receive the supplies they need. You use a variety of tools and equipment, follow established procedures, and help keep operations running smoothly and on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Operate gas and electric sit-down forklifts safely and efficiently throughout the shift.
• Maintain accurate inventory of materials and update records as needed.
• Supply designated production areas with materials in a timely and organized manner.
• Operate tools and machines essential to the job, including forklifts, hand jacks, tape measures, calculators, computers, loading docks, cranes, scales, data collection equipment, radios, and copy machines.
• Verify incoming material shipments for accuracy, including counts and documentation.
• Inspect and check the quality of materials, identifying and reporting defective materials.
• Receive and stock materials in appropriate sector locations within the facility.
• Conduct cycle counts and physical inventory counts of assigned materials.
• Accurately document all shipments and material movements to and from production areas.
• Follow instructions for daily picking and supplying of materials to production areas, including manual placement in specified locations.
• Transfer materials between warehouses and return unused materials to stock as directed.
• Load and unload materials from trailers and trucks using forklifts and other material handling equipment.
• Follow all safety procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment and adherence to facility rules.
• Communicate effectively with team members and supervisors to coordinate material flow and resolve issues.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 6 months of experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• At least 6 months of experience operating a sit-down forklift.
• Proven ability to perform material handling tasks such as loading, unloading, shipping, and receiving.
• Ability to lift 50+ pounds regularly throughout the shift and remain on your feet, consistently moving.
• Experience maintaining inventory accuracy and handling material documentation.
• Ability to operate gas and electric sit-down forklifts safely and efficiently.
• Comfort using basic tools and equipment such as hand jacks, tape measures, calculators, computers, scales, and data collection devices.
• Attention to detail when verifying incoming shipments and checking material quality.
• Ability to work safely in a loud, non-climate-controlled manufacturing environment.
• Reliability and punctuality to support production schedules and training requirements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a large manufacturing or warehouse facility.
• Familiarity with transferring materials between multiple warehouse locations.
• Comfort working with loading docks, cranes, and related material handling equipment.
• Ability to follow detailed written and verbal instructions for picking, stocking, and material placement.
• Willingness to cross-train in other areas of the facility.
• Interest in expanding skills, including potential training in welding.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate with production and logistics teams.

Why Work Here?

You join a stable operation with a strong backlog of work, offering job security and consistent weekly pay. You have opportunities to work overtime, increasing your earnings while contributing to a high-demand production environment. The facility provides a large, dynamic setting where you can be cross-trained in multiple areas, including potential access to welding school to expand your skill set and career options. You benefit from annual reviews and the opportunity for raises, with a typical increase of around 3%, recognizing your performance and growth. As the facility moves toward greater automation, you gain exposure to evolving processes and technologies, positioning yourself for future opportunities within an advancing operation.

Work Environment

This role is based in a very large, active manufacturing facility that is not climate controlled, which means it is cooler in the winter and hot in the summer. The environment is loud, and ear plugs are required and provided. The standard schedule for the first shift is Monday through Thursday from 5:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with current operations also running on Fridays from 5:30 AM to 4:00 PM. All new employees train on first shift on Monday and Tuesday of their first week from 5:30 AM to 4:00 PM, then report to second shift on Wednesday and Thursday for the remainder of that week. You work around heavy equipment, forklifts, loading docks, and other industrial machinery, following strict safety procedures. The dress code requires jeans, a work-appropriate t-shirt, and steel-toe shoes. Hard hats and ear plugs are provided. Steel-toe shoes are mandatory on the first day; those who arrive without them will be sent home and will not be able to start until the following week.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.

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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 2, 2026.