Forklift Operator (Cold Storage) — Training & Growth

Hilmar Cheese Company; Dodge City (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilmar Cheese Company is a leading dairy producer with global reach, delivering cheese, whey protein and lactose to markets worldwide. The Forklift Operator role supports shipping and receiving in our cheese plants, emphasizing accuracy, safety and teamwork.

You will operate equipment, manage paperwork, and use the warehouse management system, with a strong focus on food safety and SOP compliance. This full-time position requires flexibility for 8- or 12-hour shifts, including weekends.

Qualifications

• English skills must be proficient to understand, read, write and speak English
• Must be able to work 8-hour or 12-hour variable shifts, including weekends, holidays and overtime as needed.
• Ability to work in a cold environment, estimated temp of 35 degrees
• Ability to lift 60lbs

Responsibilities

• Create a positive work environment. Strive to develop good relational skills, communication and teamwork.
• Must take personal initiative to advance knowledge of warehousing/distribution procedures.
• Assist packaging areas in the plants with an emphasis on communication and teamwork.
• Required to follow all safety measures and standard operating procedures.
• Ability to perform operations in a consistent, repeatable fashion.
• Stage all products before shipment and verify paperwork for shipping. Report any inaccuracies on the paperwork to the supervisor’s office.
• Responsible for making adjustments to quantity inaccuracies using the warehouse management system.
• Inspect all incoming products to insure HCC product will not be contaminated.
• Insure all incoming products are marked correctly including product types, case count and production date.
• Maintain order and cleanliness in the cold box and surrounding areas.
• Complete daily forklift inspection and report unsafe conditions.
• Sort all incoming products by plant and organize them accordingly.
• Follow and understand Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
• Must complete all shipments as required/stated by the manifest.
• Responsible for the operation of equipment, and must report any malfunctions to their supervisor
• Must consult the shipping schedule for any changes as communicated by the logistics coordinator or by direct supervisor.
• Active participation and ownership in your training and development program and associated activities, classes and events, which will be held before, during, after shifts and during scheduled days off.
• Help coach and train teammates and participate in on the job, buddy training.
• Place high priority on food safety and sanitation by understanding and executing HCC’s food safety and sanitation policies and procedures. This includes communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates as well as participating in food safety and sanitation root cause analysis and improvement activities when required.
• Prioritize safety above all other job duties by having a safety first approach at all times. This includes reporting any safety issues, observations, opportunities to your teams and follow up.

Skills

English proficiency

Shift flexibility

Cold environment work

Lifting 60 lbs

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Warehouse management software

RF scanning

Job description

Hilmar Cheese Company is a leading dairy producer with global reach, delivering cheese, whey protein and lactose to markets worldwide. The Forklift Operator role supports shipping and receiving in our cheese plants, emphasizing accuracy, safety and teamwork.

You will operate equipment, manage paperwork, and use the warehouse management system, with a strong focus on food safety and SOP compliance. This full-time position requires flexibility for 8- or 12-hour shifts, including weekends.