Material Handler - Utility Worker - 1st shift

Washington Mills; North Grafton (MA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

World-class medical and dental plans

Employer-sponsored retirement plan

Company-paid life insurance

Paid vacation and generous holidaytime

Family-friendly personal leave

Job summary

Washington Mills in North Grafton, MA is seeking a Material Handler - Utility Worker to support production by delivering materials, removing finished goods, and maintaining clean, organized work areas. The role reports to the plant Production Foreman and operates 1st shift 5 am–3 pm, Monday–Thursday with occasional Fridays.

You will handle drums, pallets, and bags of abrasive grain, monitor lines for hazards, use basic tools, and help maintain inventory accuracy while following 5S and safety

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; certifications or higher education a plus.
• Basic computer skills and math calculations.
• Able to read production instructions and inventory information.
• English speaking/writing required (Spanish a plus).
• Capable of lifting at least 50 pounds and standing up to 10 hours.

Responsibilities

• Deliver materials to production workstations and supply areas.
• Remove finished goods and empty containers.
• Maintain organized work areas and accurate inventory records.
• Assist with replenishment and material counts.
• Operate pallet jacks and forklifts when trained.
• Follow 5S, safety, and production procedures.
• Support continuous improvement and material flow.

Skills

Lifting 50 lbs

English proficiency

Team collaboration

Basic math

Attention to detail

Willingness to learn forklift

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

RF scanners

Barcode systems

Warehouse management software

Forklift operation

Job description

Material Handler - Utility Worker

Position type: Full-Time, Hourly

Pay Range: $24.00 - $27.00 per hour based on experience

Overtime: Occasionally required on Fridays

Location: North Grafton, MA

Ask Yourself This...

Are you looking for a fast-paced environment where your daily work impacts products made around the world? Are you interested in learning manufacturing processes? Do you have a strong commitment to working safely? If you do, then join us in North Grafton, MA !

What You’ll Do

The Material Handler - Utility Worker will work with and directly report to the plant’s Production Foreman. The Material Handler - Utility Worker supports manufacturing operations by delivering materials and supplies to production workstations, removing finished goods and empty containers, maintaining organized work areas, and ensuring production operators have the resources they need. This role helps minimize production interruptions and supports a safe, clean, and efficient manufacturing environment.

This position will work with various sizes of abrasive grain and put those grains into containers for customer shipments or store in one of several warehouse locations throughout the plant. The Material Handler - Utility Worker will be responsible for working harmoniously and safely within a team environment. This position is 1st Shift: Monday - Thursday from 5 am - 3 pm with occasional hours required on Fridays.

• Fill, transport, palletize, stack, and organize drums, super sacks, and bags of abrasive grain
• Monitor production line for evidence of mechanical failure, production contamination, and other hazards
• Handle drums, super sacks, and bags of abrasive grain through various methods, including manually, with powered lift devices, and with motorized pallet jacks
• Use basic hand tools like wrenches, screw drivers, and mallets
• Deliver raw materials, components, packaging, and supplies to production lines.
• Monitor production areas and proactively replenish materials before they run out.
• Remove empty drums, pallets, sacks, and other containers from workstations.
• Transport finished products or work-in-process materials to designated areas.
• Operate material-handling equipment such as pallet jacks and forklifts when authorized.
• Maintain accurate inventory and material-location information.
• Perform material counts and communicate shortages or discrepancies to supervisors.
• Follow production schedules and material replenishment procedures.
• Maintain 5S standards and keep production areas clean and organized.
• Follow all safety, quality, and company procedures.
• Communicate material shortages, damaged components, or production issues promptly.
• Support continuous improvement activities and efficient material flow.
• Perform other production support duties as assigned.

What You’ll Need

To be successful in this position, you must:

• Possess a High School Diploma or equivalent, certifications or higher education a plus
• Have the ability to perform basic computer skills and math calculations
• Understand the process and perform simple troubleshooting when needed within job scope
• Be able to speak, read, and write English (Spanish is a plus)
• Work independently while communicating well within a team environment and adapt to changing production demands
• Previous manufacturing, warehouse, logistics, or material-handling experience preferred.
• Ability to read production instructions, labels, and basic inventory information.
• Be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and stand/walk up to 10 hours
• Be knowledgeable about fork truck operations or willingness to learn
• Previous warehouse, inventory control, or scanning experience preferred.
• Experience using RF scanners, barcode systems, or warehouse management software preferred.
• Basic computer skills, including data entry and inventory transactions.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Who We Are

Washington Mills is built on values that matter. Founded more than 150 years ago, we have earned our reputation as one of the world’s most trusted and reliable producers of abrasive, ceramic and refractory grains and powders. Serving thousands of customers and offering the broadest selection of abrasive grain and specialty electro-fused minerals in the market today, we constantly pursue growth in our products, our approach, and our people. Our founding principles of honesty, integrity and reliability still guide our business today, and we are a proud community of hands-on problem solvers, committed to shaping the materials applications of the future. With global distribution and sites located throughout North American and Europe, Washington Mills opens the door to a world of opportunity, creativity, and challenge.

Compensation

We proudly offer robust compensation and benefits packages, including:

• Competitive pay, with opportunities to advance
• World-class medical and dental plans
• Employer-sponsored retirement plan
• Company-paid life insurance
• Paid vacation and generous holiday time
• Family-friendly personal leave policies

Washington Mills is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition as defined by applicable law, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.