Material Handler - 3rd Shift

Avantor; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor in Bakersfield is seeking an entry-level Warehouse Associate to support inbound, order picking, and outbound processes. You will unload shipments, move goods to storage, and ensure accurate picking and labeling using forklifts and pallet jacks, while maintaining safety and proper handling of all materials.

The role emphasizes following directions, lifting up to 50 pounds, operating MHE, and supporting inventory controls with attention to detail and quality standards.

Qualifications

• High School education or GED preferred.
• 1–2 years of experience; open to entry-level candidates.
• OSHA forklift and HAZMAT certification are a plus.
• Warehouse/MHE experience is a plus.
• Must lift 50 pounds with proper technique.
• Safety-focused with ability to follow directions.

Responsibilities

• Unload trucks, trailers, and containers; check shipments against manifest for damage or codes.
• Move inbound shipments to storage locations and stack efficiently.
• Select correct items by product number, lot, batch, or serial.
• Transport orders to shipping areas using forklifts, cherry pickers, or pallet jacks.
• Label, tag, band, wrap, and palletize as required.
• Ensure outbound accuracy and signatures when needed.
• Operate equipment safely and maintain a neat work area.
• Assist with inventory and cycle counts; adjust records as needed.
• Repack/re-box goods per customer instructions; repair damaged items as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Forklift operation

HAZMAT certification

Warehouse experience

MHE experience

Lifting 50 pounds

Safety awareness

Hands and feet coordination

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

What we’re looking for

• Education: High School education or GED preferred.
• Experience: Entry-level 1-2 years’ experience - Open to those who are eager to start their career in the warehouse industry.
• Preferred Qualifications: OSHA Forklift and HAZMAT certification a plus. Warehouse/distribution experience a plus. Experience with MHE, such as reach truck operators and order pickers, is a plus.
• Must be able to use proper techniques to lift 50 pounds.
• The ability to follow directions, with an emphasis on safety, is extremely important.
• Must be able to use hands and feet simultaneously and for repetitive movements.

Inbound

Unload trucks, trailers, and containers of freight; count products; and compare them to the manifest to check shipments for damage, infestation, or production code dates. Material handlers must report shortages, damages, and mis-shipments on appropriate forms. Also, sign for inbound shipments when necessary.

Move all inbound shipments safely to storage locations and stack them efficiently as store merchandise.

Order Picking

Ensure the correct product number, quantity, and type (lot, batch, serial number) are picked. Transport orders to shipping locations or delivery platforms with material handling equipment such as, but not limited to, fork trucks, cherry pickers, or pallet jacks.

Materials handlers must be able to label, stencil, tag, mark orders, band, bundle, wrap, over-pack, and palletize as required.

Outbound

Compare quantity, labeling, and address with order to ensure outgoing shipments are complete and correct. Assign signature for outbound, as necessary. Efficiently move products, cartons, and pallets into trailers, rail cars, or containers.

Equipment

Maintain equipment in a neat, clean, and orderly fashion. Operate equipment safely and efficiently. Comply with company standards and OSHA requirements.

Inventory

Keep accurate records and reports. Assist in physical inventory and cycle counts. Ensure proper stock rotation. May key inventory adjustments in the computer.

Other Duties

Repack or re-box cases with customer instructions. Repair and consolidate damaged goods as required. Operate a shrink-wrap machine. Charge forklift battery as needed; stack and/or separate good from bad pallets when necessary; clean railcars, trailers, and truck docks and bays as requested. Performs other duties as assigned.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Why Avantor?

Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

Pay Transparency

The expected pre-tax pay for this position is $35,500.00 - $56,925.00. Actual pay may differ depending on relevant factors such as prior experience and geographic location.

EEO Statement

We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address. For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the Know Your Rights poster.

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3rd Party Non-Solicitation Policy

By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Company Overview

Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.