Forklift Operator - 1st Shift

Russell Stover Chocolates; Abilene (KS); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates in Abilene, KS is hiring a Forklift Operator to move materials and finished goods, load trailers, and support plant operations with accuracy and efficiency.

You will use handheld scanners, verify inventory, and help maintain GMP and food safety standards. The role requires 18+, English fluency, and forklift certification; overtime may be required. Join a team with safety-first culture and a climate-controlled facility where chocolate aromas accompany your day.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older and able to communicate in English.
• Able to operate and maintain a forklift and perform basic math.
• Capable of performing quality control checks and working overtime as needed.
• Share responsibilities to maintain a clean, safe, audit-ready workspace.

Responsibilities

• Operate machinery safely according to standards and instructions.
• Unload and load trailers and move products to storage locations.
• Use handheld scanners to receive orders and place products in storage.
• Verify inventory and perform routine counts to ensure accuracy.
• Distribute products to production lines and consolidate as needed.
• Keep work areas clean and organized and ensure GMP compliance.
• Follow FSQA training and food safety requirements and report issues.
• Assist with loading/unloading trucks and support plant management.

Skills

Forklift operation

English fluency

Basic math

Quality checks

Teamwork

Tools

Handheld scanner

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As a Forklift Operator, you will play a key role in ensuring the efficient movement of materials and finished products throughout our facility. Your primary responsibilities will include transporting materials to work areas, moving finished goods to storage, and returning unused materials to their designated locations. You will also be tasked with tasks such as placing pallet tops, banding and shrink-wrapping skids, moving trash bales, and loading trash trailers.

In addition, you will use scanning equipment to accurately track inventory movement and ensure proper placement in storage. Maintaining accurate counts and entering data into the system is essential. Other duties may include maintaining the printer for the shrink wrapper, managing ribbons and labels, assisting with loading and unloading trucks, and supporting plant management with additional tasks as needed.

What You Will Be Doing…

• Operating machinery in a safe and proficient manner according to standards, guidelines, and instructions.
• Unloading and loading trailers.
• Using handheld scanners to receive orders and put away products into storage locations.
• Verifying and maintaining inventory.
• Performing routine inventory counts to ensure accuracy and maintain proper stock levels.
• Issuing products to the production lines.
• Consolidating product as needed.
• Keeping the area clean and organized to be audit ready.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
• Must be able to operate and maintain a forklift.
• Strong numerical skills with the ability to perform basic math calculations accurately.
• Able to perform quality control checks.
• Ability to work overtime.
• Must be able to pass forklift certification training (within the first week).
• Ottawa certification (may be required).

(Preferred Qualifications)

• 2 or more years’ experience operating a forklift.
• Experience operating a handheld scanner.
• A passion for learning

Experience Life at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside cutting-edge equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens like nuts, milk, and more.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.