Materials Handler (12 Month Register)

DLA Careers; Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County); On-site; USD 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunity for public service experience

Job summary

A government agency is hiring for an entry-level position in mechanicsburg, focused on material handling. Responsibilities include receiving, storing, and shipping materials, as well as operating equipment such as forklifts. Applicants must be US citizens, able to pass a physical examination, and possess relevant identification. This full-time role offers the opportunity to engage in various shifts, emphasizing safety and compliance with federal regulations.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must have a REAL ID or equivalent.
• Pre-Employment Physical required.

Responsibilities

• Receives and processes incoming shipments.
• Counts and maintains inventory of materials.
• Operates material handling equipment to assist in storage and shipment.

Skills

Material handling

Forklift operation

Attention to detail

Documentation skills

Tools

Forklift

Material handling equipment

Job description

Seniority level

Entry level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Summary

This is an open-continuous announcement with an established initial cut-off date of Tuesday, January 13th, 2026.

Duties

• Receives, stores, and assembles for issue, shipment, and distribution, a wide variety of materials using mechanized, automated, and manual material moving equipment.
• Receives, unloads and processes incoming shipments. Checks accompanying documentation against container or packing labels. Follows established procedures in reporting over‑, short‑, misdirected, or damaged materials.
• Assembles items for shipment in the loading area according to information provided on the shipping requests and checks the condition of shipping containers prior to loading. Ensures shipments are properly loaded onto the right conveyances.
• Counts types and quantities of items during inventories, and maintains tally listings during the count. Recounts or searches other storage locations to assist in determining the basis for over‑, short‑, or misplaced items.
• Operates one or more types of material handling equipment such as standard type forklift with a lifting capacity of up to 15,000 pounds, warehouse tractor, stock selector, or general‑purpose vehicle.
• May pack and/or repack a variety of items utilizing a wide variety of standard packing materials, methods and techniques.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Tour of Duty: Set Schedule.
• Security Requirements: Non‑Sensitive.
• Appointment is subject to the completion of a favourable suitability or fitness determination; unfavourably adjudicated background checks will be grounds for removal.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non‑Exempt.
• Selective Service Requirement: Males born after 12‑31‑59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
• Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
• Bargaining Unit Status: Yes.
• Pre‑Employment Physical: Required.
• Must have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification documents to access certain federal facilities.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Material Handling Equipment (MHE) licence.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain licences and/or certifications required by the installation, federal, state, and local laws.
• This position and any future selections from this announcement may be used to fill various shifts located within DLA Distribution Susquehanna.

Qualifications

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standard for Trades and Labor Occupations. Although a specific length of time and experience is not required, you must meet any screen‑out element listed, and show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties at the level for which you are applying. Emphasis is placed on how you gained the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time, and the required ability or potential to perform the job. Applicants who do not meet the screen‑out element (SOE) will be eliminated from further competition. The SOE and minimum qualifications for this position is:

• I perform the common tasks of the job to be filled but under close supervision, such as receiving general guidance on assignments, such as where and how identified items are to be received, stored, and maintained.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programmes (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organisations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Physical Effort

The operator performs work on dirt, wooden, asphalt, and concrete floors and is required to walk, stand, stoop, bend and work in tiring and uncomfortable positions. Must be able to lift and carry supplies and material that weigh up to 40 pounds. Heavier items are moved with weight handling equipment or with assistance from other workers. Required to open and close boxes, cartons, bags, and other containers to inspect and count contents. Moderate physical effort is required in operating forklift truck and rising, lowering, and tilting loads be moved.

Working Conditions

Material handling work is done inside and outside (wood frame, Quonset, and concrete warehouses). This incumbent may work inside in areas that are hot, cold, damp, rainy weather, drafty, or poorly lighted and may be dirty, dusty, and greasy. Incumbent may work in bad weather in outside areas such as open docks and storage yards. The material handler is frequently exposed to the possibility of cuts, scrapes, bruises, and broken bones; falls from ladders; or injury from forklift trucks overturning or other equipment. Work may require wearing protective clothing such as hard‑hats, steel‑toed shoes, rubber gloves, masks, and rubber aprons.

Additional Information

For Important General Applicant Information and Definitions go to: Gen App Info Def.

Reemployed Annuitants: This position does not meet criteria for appointment of Reemployed Annuitants. The DoD criteria for hiring Reemployed Annuitants can be found at: Reemployed Annuitants.

Information for Veterans is available at: Veterans Programs. As of 23 December 2016, Military retirees seeking to enter federal service in the Department of Defense now require a waiver if they would be appointed within 180 days following their official date of retirement.

Drug‑Free Workplace Policy

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is committed to maintaining a safe, drug‑free workplace. All DLA employees are required to refrain from illegal drug use on and off duty. DLA conducts pre‑employment, reasonable suspicion, post‑accident, and random drug testing. Applicants tentatively selected for employment in testing designated positions will undergo a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Refusal to undergo testing or testing positive for illegal drugs will result in withdrawal of the tentative job offer and a six‑month denial of employment with DLA from the date of the drug test. Employees in drug testing designated positions are subject to random drug testing. The DLA drug testing panel tests for the following substances: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, heroin, phencyclidine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, fentanyl, norfentanyl, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and opioids. ADRISOVARY: Use of cannabidiol (CBD) products may result in a positive drug test for marijuana. DLA employees are subject to Federal law and under Federal law, Marijuana is a Schedule I drug and is illegal.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.