Manager, Advanced Sorting Operations

Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

401(k)/Pension

403(b) Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Dental and Vision

Job summary

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is seeking a Manager, Material Recovery to lead salvage, grading, recycling, and textile recovery operations. You will oversee daily production, drive safety, quality, and cost controls, and foster strong buyer/vendor relationships to maximize donated goods value.

The role requires 3+ years in management, strong leadership and communication, and proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of management experience preferred in thrift, production, or textile operations.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop others.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily salvage, grading, recycling, and material recovery activities.
• Meet production, revenue, and safety goals aligned with budgets.
• Monitor stock levels and optimize sorting priorities.
• Manage payroll and operating costs to budget.
• Ensure safe, clean, and organized work environments.
• Train and develop team members; perform reviews and coaching.

Skills

Management experience

Coaching & training

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's degree preferred

Job description

Use your skills to transform your local community. Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina offers numerous career opportunities with competitive pay, excellent benefits, and the reward of knowing your hard work is helping others.

WHY WORK FOR GOODWILL?

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc. (Goodwill) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC. We employ more than 1,100 team members who are dedicated to our mission of providing employment and training services that help people find jobs and reach financial stability. With 52 retail stores, 28 career centers, and dozens of attended donation centers across a 31-county territory, Goodwill is a complex enterprise offering a wide range of career opportunities.

At Goodwill, the work we do makes a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve and, in turn, in the community in which we live. Our business operations provide stability to our organization that is not always enjoyed by nonprofit organizations solely funded by outside sources. Our employees enjoy excellent benefits and a unique work environment that is professional, fast paced, and fulfilling.

Our organization’s values shape our culture and guide our interactions with program participants, customers, and each other. Our shared commitment to Living the Mission; Promoting Teamwork; Driving Improvement; Taking Responsibility for Actions and Behaviors; and Respecting and Appreciating Others is what makes us successful and inspires all that we do.

Want to learn more about Goodwill? Click on the links at the top of this page or go to: www.goodwillnwnc.org.

Job Summary

The Manager, Material Recovery is responsible for leading salvage, grading, recycling, and textile recovery operations. This position oversees daily production, team performance, safety, quality, buyer/vendor relationships, and process improvement.

This role helps maximize the value of donated goods, reduce waste, and support Goodwill’s sustainability goals. It also supports the successful operation of the textile sorting system, including speech sorting and Fibersort functions, category setup, production flow, and adjustments needed to keep the system operating correctly.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations for salvage, grading, recycling, and material recovery activities.
• Execute department plans to meet daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals for production, revenue, profit, and environmental impact.
• Monitor product levels daily and determine sorting priorities based on product availability, customer needs, and operational goals.
• Manage payroll and operating costs to budget while looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Ensure the work location is clean, organized, safe, and reflective of the Goodwill brand.
• Implement and maintain procedures that improve production, sales, customer service, quality, safety, and cost control.
• Ensure department leaders and team members are trained, understand their responsibilities, and meet performance expectations.
• Provide coaching, feedback, discipline, performance improvement plans, annual reviews, staffing support, and team development.
• Partner with support departments such as Human Resources, Safety, Asset Protection, and Finance to support business goals and compliance.
• Ensure team members follow company standards related to security, health, safety, and required personal protective equipment.
• Oversee correct operation of the sorting system and support adjustments to categories, recipes, speech software, and Fibersort software as needed.
• Add or delete sorting categories in the speech and Fibersort systems using manager-level access when operational changes require it.
• Ensure operators complete required speech training when new categories are added.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent, required. Associate's degree preferred.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of management experience preferred, ideally in thrift, production, textile recovery, recycling, warehouse, or related operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, train, motivate, and develop others.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Standing and walking frequently; handling materials constantly.
• Occasionally sitting, reaching, climbing, crawling, squatting, kneeling, or bending.
• Frequently lifting/carrying up to 50 pounds; occasionally lifting 51-100 pounds or more, based on business need and safety requirements.

Benefits

Goodwill believes strongly in supporting our team members and offers excellent benefits, professional development, and opportunities for internal career growth. We are continuously looking for opportunities to expand our benefits program to accommodate the needs of our team members. While this list is not all-inclusive, some of the many benefits we offer to all employees are:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Money Purchase Pension Plan
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Free Telehealth
• Employee Referral Program
• Quarterly Incentive Programs (for all retail positions)
• Corporate Discount Programs

In addition, we offer the following benefits for our full-time team members working 30 or more hours per week:

• Medical Insurance
• Prescription Coverage
• Dental and Vision Coverage
• Flex Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement

EOE. E-Verify Employer.