Scale Operator

Sims Limited; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Sims Limited is seeking a Scale Operator at our recycling facility to manage truck and non-ferrous scales, verify materials and weights, and handle cash transactions with accuracy. The role emphasizes customer service and detailed record-keeping.

You will operate scales, process payments, issue receipts, and maintain daily reports while working with yard staff to ensure safe, efficient operations. This is an on-site position requiring attention to safety and accuracy.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; higher degree preferred.
• Ability to work in both office and outdoor environments.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to identify different grades and types of recyclable materials, including scrap metals.
• Basic computer proficiency, including data entry and inventory systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Operate truck scales and non-ferrous scales safely and efficiently.
• Accurately inspect, classify, and purchase recyclable materials with correct weights and grades.
• Enter transactions into the inventory management system and determine material upgrades.
• Verify scale tickets for accuracy, including customer information, material type, weight, and pricing.
• Process cash, credit card, and other payments; maintain cash records.
• Issue receipts and maintain documentation for all transactions.
• Prepare daily transaction reports and related records.
• Assist with sorting, grading, and processing recyclable materials as needed.
• Communicate effectively with yard personnel to support operations.
• Maintain inventory and transaction records; provide courteous service.

Skills

Customer service

Scale operation

Cash handling

Data entry

Verbal communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Inventory management system

Job description

Sims Metal (Sims) is a global leader in metal recycling. With facilities across the globe, Sims plays an intrinsic role in the circular economy by making resources available for future use. As a responsible corporate citizen, we continuously seek new ways to broaden our participation in the environmental sector, ensuring that our future is as bright, safe, and secure as at any time in our long history.

Job Summary

The Scale Operator is responsible for operating and monitoring truck and non-ferrous scales in a recycling facility. This customer-facing position ensures all scale transactions are completed accurately and efficiently while providing excellent customer service. The Scale Operator verifies material descriptions, weights, grades, and documentation for inbound and outbound loads, processes cash transactions, and maintains accurate records in compliance with company procedures.

Major Job Responsibilities/Duties

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Operate truck scales and non-ferrous scales in a safe and efficient manner.
• Accurately inspect, classify, and purchase recyclable materials, ensuring correct weights, material descriptions, and grades for all inbound and outbound loads.
• Determine material upgrades and enter transactions into the inventory management system.
• Verify all scale tickets for accuracy, including customer information, material type, weight, and pricing.
• Process cash, credit card, and other payment transactions while maintaining accurate cash records and balances.
• Issue receipts and maintain documentation for all transactions.
• Prepare and maintain daily transaction reports and related records.
• Assist with the sorting, grading, and processing of recyclable materials as needed.
• Communicate effectively with yard personnel using radios, telephones, or other communication devices to support efficient operations.
• Maintain accurate inventory and transaction records.
• Provide courteous and professional customer service to customers, drivers, vendors, and visitors.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the scale house, work areas, and surrounding yard.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business or a related field preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• Ability to work in both office and outdoor environments.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to learn and identify different grades and types of recyclable materials, including scrap metals.
• Basic computer proficiency, including data entry and inventory systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.

Job Related Experience

• One to three years of cash handling, customer service, retail, scale operation, or related experience preferred.
• Experience in recycling, scrap metal, transportation, warehousing, or industrial operations is a plus.

Other Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of scrap metal and recyclable material grading.
• Excellent telephone and customer service skills.
• Strong mathematical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in basic computer applications and data entry.
• Ability to interact professionally with customers, drivers, vendors, and employees at all levels.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining accuracy and productivity.

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 position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, use hands to handle objects, and communicate effectively. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, and hear. The employee may occasionally be required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

A career with Sims provides you with the opportunity to work with an organization whose goal is to be the world’s safest and most responsible recycling company. Our people achieve this by creating a zero-harm workplace, being exemplary members of the communities in which we operate, and being responsible stewards of the environment. We also offer competitive pay and a range of attractive benefits.

Sims is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of all of our employees and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can contribute, advance on merit, and realize their full potential. Sims does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, housing status, source of income, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to any employment decision, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.qualified applicants with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation may request such without fear of reprisal or discrimination.

To achieve our purpose to create a world without waste to preserve our planet, we are guided by our Principles of Purpose: Be Safe + Well, Band Together, Be Accountable + Transparent, Consistently Innovate, Inspire with Purpose, Celebrate + Have Fun.