Forklift Operator - Seasonal

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Protective gear

GMP training

Climate-controlled environment

Chocolate aroma environment

Job summary

Russell Stover Chocolates is hiring a Forklift Operator to move materials and finished goods safely within the plant. You will load/unload trailers, use scanners, and maintain accurate inventory counts in a fast-paced chocolate production setting.

The role requires forklift operation certification, English fluency, and reliability for overtime. You’ll work in a climate-controlled environment with protective gear and GMP training provided.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Ability to operate a forklift and pass certification.
• Strong numerical and basic math skills for QA checks.
• Excellent English communication and reading/writing.
• Willingness to work overtime and stay safety compliant.

Responsibilities

• Operate machinery safely according to standards and instructions.
• Unload and load trailers accurately.
• Use handheld scanners to receive orders and store products.
• Verify inventory and perform routine counts for accuracy.
• Issue products to production lines and consolidate stock.
• Keep areas clean and audit-ready.
• Follow GMP to ensure food safety and quality.
• Complete FSQA training and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Report food safety hazards and deviations to plant supervisor.
• Support continuous improvement of the Food Safety Culture.

Skills

Forklift operation

Handheld scanner

English fluency

Numerical skills

Quality control

Overtime availability

Forklift certification

Ottawa certification

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).

Do you stand above the rest?

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 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.