The Forklift Operator is responsible for ensuring that finished product is prepared for shipment to the appropriate destination in a timely and cost effective manner. This position is the final operation in meeting customer requirements with on-time, correctly loaded, and Bill of Lading accurate finished product. This role is responsible to include but are not limited to pack put away, loading outbound shipments, unloading inbounds both finished goods and packaging supplies, freight picking, building copack pallets, operating pallet tag station, cleaning and maintaining proper GMPs in the warehouse, and moving product inside the walls of the warehouse.

What are we looking for?

Desired Education

• High school diploma plus 1-3 years manufacturing experience.

Key Functional Skills/Knowledge

• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong problem solving skills.
• Ability to plan work on a daily basis, work independently and be a self motivator.
• Ability to work with a team and effectively interact with other departments and outside
• Ability to learn basic pest control principles.
• Ability to lift 52 pounds.
• Ability to work in extreme conditions, at heights, in confined spaces and in very dusty
• Ability to operate a variety of lifts and fork trucks safely.
• Ability to work rotating shifts.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Responsible for the proficient execution of any combination of the following unit operations:
• Warehouse Operations: Perform carrier integrity checks and assure accurate deployment of finished products with the associated paperwork.
• End of Line Handling: Operate forklift, scan LPs, and communicate issues with pallet labeler, stretch wrapper, and/or top sheet.
• Finished Product Movement: Operate forklift to load carriers from end of line, move finished skids to staging for direct ship.
• Material Handler: Perform inventory accuracy transactions into JDA, load trailers, organize pallets in the warehouse, and receive packaging materials.
• Manual Palletizing: Palletize finished bagged product and stretchwrap finished skid to include freight pick.
• Optimize warehouse utilization and transportation costs to ensure least cost method are used while monitoring predetermined inventory and service levels.
• Maintain a clean, safe work environment that promotes associate safety and product integrity.
• Provide relevant information to Operations and Commercial on the supply of packaging materials for production.
• Improve operations through individual and group problem solving and provide leadership in solving problems on the floor and in meetings.
• Promote high quality team environment through effective teamwork and self-direction with a positive attitude.
• Provide feedback to Outbound Logistics Coordinator and Senior Warehouse Operator to achieve relevant shipping schedules.
• Collect data on quality of shipping equipment used to transport finished product.
• Coordinate shipment schedule with production and be an available resource to production for shipping issues.
• Coordinate with the LFO and SWO for the minimization of on-site inventories and carrying cost through inventory control, ensure accuracy of inventories to the level of 98.1%
• Collect work hours by task type each day and give info to the SWO for generating the warehouse productivity report.
• Achieve or exceed the standard throughput measures for all forklift operator tasks assigned to in the warehouse. This includes freight picking, bulk picking, one touch, transporting, put away, loading, unloading, staging, rack pick, and replenishments.
• Communicate effectively with the packaging and commercial teams in order to maximize plant performance.
• Stage materials to minimize damage and maximize easy access to materials.
• Communicate when maintenance on fork trucks, lifts, and/or battery recharging stations is necessary to the SWO or maintenance personnel.
• Red Prairie WMS/SAP Station Operation
• Place pallet tags in the proper position on pallets of finished product.
• Change pallet stretch wrap, restart wrapper and assist with changing top sheet film and keep pallet slip sheet feeder filled with slip sheets
• Obtain and maintain proficiency in job specific business systems such as MIS and Red Prairie. Remain current with facility utilized business systems.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in problem solving groups as appropriate.
• Participate in vendor assurance activities.
• Check current shipment orders for accuracy and make daily reports.
• Assist LFO with training other associates in operation of all areas and systems.
• Participate in site safety program and actively look for ways to improve site and area safety.
• Associate is responsible for communicating and elevating any quality and food safety concerns to site management.
• Other similar duties as assigned.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Total rewards at Mars includes base pay, competitive benefits, and annual bonus (if position is eligible). The full-time pay range for this role is:

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.