Lead Forklift Driver

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago; Romeoville (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

Competitive benefits package

Paid time off

Job summary

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago is seeking a Lead Forklift Driver to guide workflow in warehouse operations, set the pace for production, and collaborate with supervisors and peers to meet quality and efficiency goals. The role emphasizes hands-on leadership, safety compliance, and active involvement in material handling, inventory control, and process improvements across multiple Goodwill locations.

This position requires reliable transportation and the ability to travel for shift coverage

Qualifications

• Forklift operation experience and safety awareness are preferred.
• Experience with machinery is beneficial but not required.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and adapt to workflow changes.
• Strong communication with supervisors and team members.

Responsibilities

• Set pace of production and movement of product, assisting teammates to meet standards.
• Meet or exceed productivity goals and safety requirements.
• Provide training to employees as directed by management to ensure best practices.
• Maintain inventory control and accurate production records.
• Identify safety concerns and address them promptly.
• Assist with securing freight inside trailers and ensuring load weights meet expectations.
• Complete logs and reports as directed.

Skills

Forklift operation

Machinery experience

Prioritization

Communication skills

Job description

The Lead Forklift Driver serves as a lead worker by providing solutions to workflow issues, meeting customer needs and achieving established standards.

Through individual action, sets the pace for production, movement and/or warehousing of product. Works cooperatively and productively with supervisors and other associates in order to complete tasks. Serves as a lead worker by providing solutions to workflow issues, meeting customer needs and achieving established standards. Brings valuable experience and depth of knowledge to the job and the team.

Principal Duties

• Sets pace of production and the movement of product, assists teammates and adjusts workflow as needed to ensure standards and goals are met. Communicates with management, as required, when support is necessary.
• Consistently meets or exceeds established goals and standards.
• Performs training, at the direction of management, to all employees ensuring good practices are understood and applied.
• Is self-directed in workload. Works with supervisor and/or other lead(s) to ensure work is at a steady pace.
• Identify and address safety concerns.
• Follow defined processes for protection and usage of high value company assets including but not limited to transportation fleet, forklifts, balers and other equipment.
• Maintain inventory control processes (First In First Out).
• Contribute to continuous improvement by suggesting improvements in material flow and job tasks and maintenance of equipment used (forklifts, balers, etc.) to management.
• Ensure bale and load weights meet customer expectation.
• Secure freight inside trailers using appropriate tools and supplies.
• Meet assigned productivity goals by utilizing best practices.
• Complete logs and reports as directed.
• Maintain organization and supply of operating materials.
• Operate equipment in accordance with safety guidelines, including the use of protective equipment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Work varied schedule and flexible hours.
• Must have reliable transportation to travel between Goodwill locations during shift
• Experience working with machinery preferred, but not required.
• Experience baling preferred, but not required.
• Forklift certification may be requested or required.
• Prior work experience must include roles with forklift usage up to 50% of the day.

Core Competencies

• Meets quality guidelines.
• Prioritize multiple work assignments and competing priorities.
• Communicate supply needs to management.
• Communicate to customers, donors, employees and visitors in a professional and pleasant manner.
• Consistently provide the highest levels of customer service by meeting Retail standards/expectations and Goodwill’s Values.
• Follow established security procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality of business results.
• Maintain accurate production records.
• Basic reading, writing, and math skills.

Physical/Sensory Demands

• Able to stand or be stationary for eight or more hours.
• Able to lift 75 pounds and push and/or pull cages weighing 600 pounds.
• Good hand/eye coordination. Small finger dexterity for some functions.
• Able to grasp material for baling on a continuous basis.
• Able to observe and remove materials to meet production and quality standards.
• Able to hear and respond to warning signals and/or alarms.
• Able to work in an environment that includes varying temperatures, dust, handling of unwashed clothing and loud noise.

When determining placement within the salary range for this position Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the rage for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on facts and circumstances of each case.

Certain roles are eligible to participate in an incentive plan. Participation in this plan does not guarantee an incentive payment and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan, which are subject to change.

In addition to compensation, we offer a competitive benefit program that may include medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, retirement plan, paid time off (PTO) and more. The specifics of each benefit package will vary depending on factors such as full or part time jobs, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.

Equal Opportunity Employer

(SEW)

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.