Material Handler - $25/hr

Kelly Services; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid holidays

Transit spending account

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Kelly Services in Louisville, KY is hiring Material Handlers (Chemical Operator Trainees) for an established chemical manufacturing facility. This entry-level role offers long-term career growth with on-the-job training and opportunities to advance into chemical operations.

Starting at $25.00 per hour, with conversion to $27.00 per hour within 30–90 days, you will work in the powder packaging area, operate packaging equipment, handle finished products, and prepare materials for storage.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial production environment required.
• Forklift experience preferred, but training and certification will be provided.
• Ability to lift and handle materials weighing approximately 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Operate automated bagging equipment that fills, seals, and palletizes 50 lb bags of powdered products.
• Set up and assist with filling large bulk containers (super sacks) using specialized packaging equipment.
• Secure, stretch wrap, label, and prepare finished products for storage and distribution.
• Operate forklifts to transport packaged materials to designated staging and warehouse areas.
• Perform product labeling and stenciling to ensure proper identification.
• Monitor packaging equipment and assist with basic troubleshooting to keep operations running efficiently.
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and follow all established safety procedures.
• Participate in training and development opportunities to build skills for future advancement into chemical operations.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Mechanical aptitude

Problem solving

Willingness to learn

Tools

Forklift operation

Packaging equipment

Job description

Kelly is hiring Material Handlers (Chemical Operator Trainees) for an established chemical manufacturing facility in Louisville, KY. This is a great opportunity for individuals with manufacturing experience who are looking for a long-term career with excellent opportunities for growth and advancement.

Starting at $25.00/hr, this position offers the potential to transition into permanent employment within 30–90 days, with an increase to $27.00/hr upon conversion.

You’ll work in the powder packaging area of the facility, operating packaging equipment, handling finished products, and preparing materials for warehouse storage. This role provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience in a chemical manufacturing environment while developing skills that can lead to more advanced operator positions.

Previous chemical manufacturing experience is a plus, but not required!

What You’ll Be Doing

• Operate automated bagging equipment that fills, seals, and palletizes 50 lb bags of powdered products.
• Set up and assist with filling large bulk containers (super sacks) using specialized packaging equipment.
• Secure, stretch wrap, label, and prepare finished products for storage and distribution.
• Operate forklifts to transport packaged materials to designated staging and warehouse areas.
• Perform product labeling and stenciling to ensure proper identification.
• Monitor packaging equipment and assist with basic troubleshooting to keep operations running efficiently.
• Maintain clean, organized work areas and follow all established safety procedures.
• Participate in training and development opportunities to build skills for future advancement into chemical operations.

What We’re Looking For

• At least 2 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial production environment required.
• Experience operating manufacturing or packaging equipment preferred.
• Previous chemical manufacturing experience is a plus but not required.
• Forklift experience preferred, but training and certification will be provided.
• Ability to lift and handle materials weighing approximately 50 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Good mechanical aptitude, problem-solving skills, and willingness to learn new equipment and processes.
• Strong commitment to workplace safety and following established procedures.
• Ability to work rotating 12-hour shifts, including days, nights, and weekends.
• Willingness to work in an industrial environment and wear required PPE, including hard hats, safety glasses, flame-resistant clothing, cut-resistant gloves, steel-toe boots, and dust masks.

Work Schedule

This position follows a rotating 12-hour schedule with a combination of day and night shifts.

• Day Shift: 4:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Night Shift: 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM
• Rotating schedule includes weekdays and weekends.
• Workweeks generally consist of 36 or 48 scheduled hours.
• Additional overtime opportunities may be available on scheduled days off.

Candidates must be comfortable rotating between both day and night shifts.

Compensation & Career Growth

• Starting Pay: $25.00/hr
• Night Shift Differential: Additional $0.50/hr
• Potential Pay Upon Conversion: $27.00/hr
• Temp-to-Hire: Eligible for consideration for permanent employment within 30–90 days, based on skills assessment and overall performance.
• Training provided on specialized packaging equipment and forklift operation.
• Opportunities to expand technical skills and advance into higher-level chemical manufacturing positions.
• Long-term career development opportunities within an established manufacturing company.

Why Join Us?

This is more than just a material handling position. It's an opportunity to get your foot in the door with an established chemical manufacturer that offers training, career development, and opportunities for advancement.

If you have manufacturing experience, take pride in working safely, and want to develop a long‑term career, we'd love to hear from you.

As part of our promise to talent, Kelly supports those who work with us through a variety of benefits, perks, and work‑related resources.

Please note: The following benefits reflect Kelly's general offerings. Eligibility may vary by assignment, location, and job type.

• Kelly offers eligible employees voluntary benefit plans including medical, dental, vision, telemedicine, term life, whole life, accident insurance, critical illness, a legal plan, and short-term disability.
• As a Kelly employee, you will have access to a retirement savings plan, service bonus and holiday pay plans (earn up to eight paid holidays per benefit year), and a transit spending account.
• In addition, employees are entitled to earn paid sick leave under the applicable state or local plan.
• For more information on benefits and perks that may be available to you as a member of the Kelly Talent Community.

About Kelly

Work changes everything. And at Kelly, we’re obsessed with where it can take you. To us, it’s about more than simply accepting your next job opportunity. It’s the fuel that powers every next step of your life. It’s the ripple effect that changes and improves everything for your family, your community, and the world. Which is why, here at Kelly, we are dedicated to providing you with limitless opportunities to enrich your life—just ask the 300,000 people we employ each year.

Kelly is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and we take affirmative action to recruit, employ, and advance qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in the workforce. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to the Kelly Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment. Kelly participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Kelly may use AI-powered tools during the recruitment and hiring process. For full details, including how Kelly uses AI, your rights, and how to request a reasonable accommodation, visit the Recruitment Artificial Intelligence Notice (https://www.kellyservices.com/hubfs/myKelly/Resources/Employment_Policies/Recruitment-Artificial-Intelligence-Notice.pdf?hsLang=en).

Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly’s Human Resource Knowledge Center. Kelly complies with the requirements of California’s state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.