Large Capacity Forklift Operator

Valmont Industries; Petersburg (VA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)

401k retirement plan

Paid time off

Employer paid life insurance

Disability coverage

Work-life balance programs

Tuition reimbursement

Voluntary programs

Job summary

Valmont Industries is hiring a Material Handler to receive, unload, and store incoming loads, inspect products, and ensure accurate data entry. You will operate forklifts and pallet jacks, read shipping papers, and coordinate with drivers to move material efficiently.

This entry-level role requires lifting up to 50 pounds, standing for extended periods, and occasional overtime including weekends. No degree is required; on-the-job training is provided.

Qualifications

• No degree required.
• 0–1 year of relevant experience.
• Ability to read tags, bills of lading and shipping papers.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.
• Ability to operate small hand tools (tape measures, saws, drills, riveters, nail guns).
• Must be able to become forklift certified.

Responsibilities

• Receive, unload and store incoming product loads.
• Inspect finished products for damage and defects; reject non-conforming items.
• Operate forklifts and pallet jacks to move steel and other material up to 50 pounds.
• Maintain safety and housekeeping in the plant; follow PPE requirements.
• Cross-train in supporting production departments as needed.

Skills

Reading tags

Attention to detail

Safety consciousness

Team communication

Education

No Degree

Tools

Forklift operation

Hand tools usage

Job description

Why Valmont

Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward?

A Brief Summary of This Position

This is an individual contributor position responsible for receiving, unloading, and storing incoming product loads, inspecting finished products for damage and defects, and ensuring product tags are correct and material information is entered correctly. They will operate equipment used to move material including forklifts and pallet jacks. Incumbent will be responsible for identifying material and product being loaded and unloaded. Incumbent will be responsible for making recommendations to resolve any damage or defects found in products. Interact with customers and truck drivers, coordinate special handling resulting from inspection, general plant housekeeping, and working safely with the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Essential Functions

• Operate forklifts with the capacity to move up to 35,000 lbs. of material on and off flatbed trailers or box trucks when applicable.
• Communicating potential problems or needs with material to site leadership
• Inspect incoming material for proper venting and draining holes/lifting attachments
• Inspect galvanized material to ensure it meets the quality standards, reject material that does not meet quality standards, and coordinate special handling for this material
• Move pieces of steel and other material up to 50 pounds by hand from different locations in the plant and yard
• When otherwise under-utilized, the employee will be cross trained in various production departments to assist with general operations.

Important Details about the Role

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide

Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook and VCCMax

Proficient at reading tags, bills of lading, and shipping and receiving papers

Stand 90% of a shift and work outside in extreme weather conditions

Operate forklifts, small hand tools

The ability to communicate and interact with coworkers, customers, truck drivers, and management in a positive manner

Pay attention to detail and follow work instructions

High awareness for safety

The ability to work overtime to include weekends and potentially holidays

Must be a person of passion and integrity who has the drive to excel and deliver exceptional results

Required Qualifications of Every Candidate (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• No Degree
• Zero (0) to (1) year of relevant experience
• Ability to work with wood and small hand tools such as tape measures, saws, drills, riveters, and nail guns
• Ability to become certified in operation forklifts
• Ability to ensure that products meet quality standards
• Ability to bundle, crate, box, and wrap products to be shipped
• Ability to load a truck
• Ability to operate computer to enter product information
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently throughout a shift

Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications

• One (1) year of experience as a Material Handler
• Two (2) years of experience operating a forklift in a professional environment

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SKILL Educational Background

Must be able to read and follow written and verbal instructions. Requires adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Must understand the quality requirements of finished product. Must be able to read tags, bills of lading, and shipping and receiving papers. Must be knowledgeable about safe galvanizing practices including proper venting and hanging devices. Must possess adequate communication skills to work efficiently from verbal instructions given by departmental supervision. Must have a working knowledge of small hand tools including tape measures, micrometers, saws, drills, riveters, and nail guns.

Job Training Skill Development

The Material Handler 2 will require 6 months on the job experience to achieve a minimum acceptable level of performance.

Decision Making

Must be able to identify proper loading as per special loading instructions, identify quality issues and bring those to the attention of site leadership, and resolve identification and equipment issues by notifying the Lead or Supervisor. Must be able to stage trailers with easy access to material being loaded. Independent creativity for setting up and loading is required for 75% of this job function. Ensure proper safety precautions are used during all aspects of loading and unloading while operating equipment. Must communicate problems and/or needs to departmental supervision to aid in the maximum utilization of equipment, material and human resources.

EFFORT Physical Effort

Material Handler 2 will be operating equipment including forklifts approximately 85% of the shift. This requires continuous in and out of the equipment including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, climbing, twisting, and turning to inspect and correct material loads. The other 15% will be spent walking and moving around product loads to create tags, inspect the quality of finished products, and enter data into the computer. When assigned to production departments, the employee will work on his feet 95% of the time, intermittently operating forklifts to maintain flow of material through the facility.

Mental and Visual Effort

Constant visual effort must be expended while operating equipment in the congested areas around the galvanizing environment. Must be mentally aware of how and where to place material on trucks being loaded and stage material for processing. Must be aware and practicing all safety considerations while operating equipment in and around the galvanizing area. Employee must be aware that all custom material is to be identified and tagged. Use of small hand tools including, saws, drills, grinders, bolt cutters, riveters, and nail guns requires employees to be alert at all times.

Responsibility for Equipment and Process

Proper attention is required while operating the equipment to minimize damage, extend the life of the equipment, and to perform in a safe and efficient manner.

Responsibility for Safety of Others

Extreme caution must be maintained to prevent injury to others when operating equipment in the storage yard, in and around vehicles, and inside the building. Typical injuries could be broken bones, arms, hands, legs, crushed feet, cuts, and abrasions. Must be very careful in identifying possible venting restrictions on material by informing the Lead or Supervisor to prevent zinc explosions. Each employee is responsible for learning and applying all provided safety training as outlined by the company and department safety representative and/or supervisor. Keeping safety at the forefront in the daily performance of job duties includes personal safety, safety of others in the department and safekeeping of all company resources. Actively participates in department safety; demonstrates excellent safety practices and behaviors and conforms to all Valmont safety policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
• Work Life Support
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email [e-mail].

Company Overview

Valmont serves two primary markets — agriculture and infrastructure — and seven diverse product lines: Utility, Lighting and Transportation, Telecom, Solar, Coatings, Irrigation and Ag Tech. We manufacture products in 85 facilities spread across six continents, and we do business in 100 different countries. That’s what Valmont does. We conserve resources and improve life, finding ways to make innovation and technology beneficial in the real world. Valmont is here to modernize vital infrastructure and increase agricultural productivity, sustainably and reliably. We galvanize steel to last a century with minimal environmental impact. We modernize irrigation to feed a growing population by utilizing the latest technology. We harden the electrical grid to enable the delivery of reliable power to millions of homes around the world. And we help make communities everywhere safer, cleaner and more connected through our smart infrastructure technology.