Material Handler I

SunOpta Inc.; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Material Handler I, where you will play a crucial role in the efficient operation of our warehouse. This position involves operating forklifts and palletizing equipment, ensuring the safe and accurate movement of products. You will be part of a dedicated team that values safety, quality, and effective communication. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, this role offers the opportunity to contribute to a healthier future for food while developing your skills in a supportive environment. If you're ready to make a difference, this is the role for you!

Qualifications

• Ability to operate forklifts and palletizing equipment safely.
• Knowledge of inventory control and Good Manufacturing Practices.

Responsibilities

• Operate forklifts to move and stack products efficiently.
• Ensure accurate shipping and receiving of products.

Skills

Problem-Solving

Communication

Teamwork

Troubleshooting

Hygiene

Education

High school diploma or GED

One or more years of related experience

Tools

Forklift

Pallet Jack

Floor Scrubber

Palletizing Robot

Shrink Wrap Machine

Job description

Allentown Facility, Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM | Expires Friday, March 14, 2025 at 3:59 AM

SunOpta Overview:

SunOpta (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) is an innovative and sustainable manufacturer fueling the future of food. With roots tracing back over 50 years, SunOpta drives growth for today’s leading brands by serving as a trusted innovation partner and value-added manufacturer, crafting organic, plant-based beverages, fruit snacks, nutritional beverages, broths, and tea products sold through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels. Alongside the company’s commitment to top brands, retailers, and coffee shops, SunOpta also proudly produces its own brands, including SOWN, Dream, and West Life. For more information, visit SunOpta and LinkedIn.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solving, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Operations Material Handler I

Pay Rate: $23.70
Shift Differential: $1.50
Schedule: 2:00 pm to 12:30 pm
FLSA Status (US): Non-Exempt
Department: Warehouse
Location: Congdon
Reports To: Victor Flores

Job Summary:

Material Handler I is responsible for operating all energized and non-energized Forklift and Palletizing equipment including Forklifts, Pallet Jacks, Floor Scrubber, Palletizing Robot, and shrink wrap machines. Ensure efficient operation of equipment as well as maintaining all paperwork accurately. Follow written and verbal instructions to ensure quality and efficiency standards are being met. Assume responsibility for safety, quality, and effective communication relevant to shift and plant performance.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Responsible for operating a forklift to move, locate, relocate, stack, and count product.
• Pull and prepare product for shipment, ensuring that the exact number and type of product is loaded and shipped per load sheets in an efficient manner that meets customer service standards.
• Efficiently move product from staging and/or storage areas into trailers.
• Operate and be accountable for the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.
• Unload inbound shipments safely and move product to storage locations.
• Ensure inbound and outbound shipments are accurate and free of damage, reporting any quality variances.
• Keep appropriate records and reports to guarantee that inventory control and security are maintained.
• Assist in physical inventories and proper stock rotation.
• Maintain all forklift inspection prior to shift with accurate documentation.
• Conduct required quality checks to assure standards are met.
• Maintain clean and organized area around equipment.
• Maintain communications within production team ensuring smooth shift transitions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve basic to moderate operating difficulties involving area equipment.
• Pick and load outbound trucks as per paperwork.
• Unload and put away inbound trucks.
• Support mechanics in appropriate maintenance activities.
• Monitor raw packaging material and supplies to ensure it is supplied efficiently to support production.
• Maintain ingredients and material on a First In First Out basis (FIFO).
• Relieve other production team members for breaks and absences as required.
• Accurately prepare and maintain all area paperwork.
• Comply with Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Forklift battery watering.

Key Accountabilities:

Safety:

• Follows all plant safety rules.
• Reports all accidents to the production supervisor.
• Serves an active role in the plant safety program by attending safety meetings, participating in monthly safety inspections, and reporting any potential safety hazards to the safety committee or Production Supervisor.

Quality:

• Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines.
• Follows SOPs to make machine adjustments.
• Follows SOPs on truck inspection for loading and unloading.
• Responsible for compliance with the HACCP & SQF program.
• Must adhere to and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Responsible for accurate documentation.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Cooperates with other shifts and the management team in housekeeping endeavors.
• Perform all warehouse sanitation processes with documentation.

Communications:

• As a member of the Materials team, ensures effective shift communication and teamwork with other operators occurs each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the support group.
• Maintain communication with shift supervisor as well as Materials Manager.

Teamwork and Training:

• Promotes and contributes to the development of teamwork among materials team members.
• Assists in coaching and training employees as requested by the management team.

Personal Development:

• Continuous improvement of knowledge of batch output and all other areas in the plant.
• Continuous improvement of knowledge of other company warehouses.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. They should have concrete knowledge of automated or computerized system operations. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Works with minimal supervision.
• Team player.
• Able to evaluate a situation and make a good decision.
• Able to keep operating logs and records.
• Able to read manuals and problem solve.
• Able to stand for long periods of time.
• Able to climb off and on forklift regularly.
• Able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and at times more.
• Package integrity.
• Troubleshooting.
• Hygiene.
• Communication.

Education/Experience:

High school diploma or GED; one or more years of related experience in a food grade facility.

Knowledge and Skills:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardizations exist. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions finished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Strong leadership and interpersonal skills critical; must have reach lift experience.

Other Qualifications:

Must be able to work flexible hours.

Travel Requirements:

Travel to other facilities and training may be required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Allentown Facility, Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States of America