Soil Room Forklift Operator

Metrolina Greenhouses; Huntersville (NC); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 2,755,000; Full time

Job summary

Metrolina Greenhouses is seeking a hands-on Soil Production Associate to support soil loads for production. The role requires operating forklifts, cranes, and control panels, with responsibilities including labeling samples and monitoring production processes.

Outdoors work in varying weather, with a focus on safety, inventory control, and timely completion of tasks. Evening and weekend shifts may be required during peak seasons.

Qualifications

• Forklift experience in manufacturing or production required.
• Familiarity with heavy equipment and material-handling tools preferred.
• Basic computer skills and touchscreen device use.

Responsibilities

• Assist Crew Leader with preparing soil loads per schedules and specs.
• Operate cranes and equipment to fill fertilizer hoppers.
• Label soil samples for lab testing and QC.
• Learn and operate production control panels and enter recipes.
• Inspect machinery and systems for safety and maintenance.
• Maintain clean, safe work area and follow safety guidelines.
• Report issues to Crew Leader and management.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Forklift operation

Heavy equipment familiarity

MS Office

Touchscreen devices

Inventory control

Inventory counting

Manual material handling

Tools

PLC touchscreen systems

HMI interfaces

Job description

Position Summary

A successful candidate will be able to learn quickly, obtain knowledge to create soil loads, and understand the processes in place when creating soil for production.

Position Summary

A successful candidate will be able to learn quickly, obtain knowledge to create soil loads, and understand the processes in place when creating soil for production.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Crew Leader with preparing and completing soil loads according to production schedules, specifications, and operational requirements.
• Operate cranes and material-handling equipment to safely fill fertilizer hoppers and support soil production operations.
• Collect and properly label soil samples for laboratory testing and quality control analysis.
• Learn and operate automated control panels and production systems, including entering soil recipes and monitoring production processes.
• Perform routine equipment inspections on machinery and systems associated with soil production to identify operational or maintenance concerns.
• Clean and maintain shavers, hoppers, and other soil-processing equipment on a regular basis to support safe and efficient production.
• Follow established workplace safety procedures, equipment operating guidelines, and production standards.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area in accordance with company procedures.
• Communicate equipment issues, production concerns, or safety hazards to the Crew Leader or management.
• Perform additional production, material handling, and operational duties as assigned by management.

Minimum Qualifications

• Previous forklift operating experience in a manufacturing, production, warehouse, agricultural, or similar work environment.
• Familiarity with or previous experience operating heavy equipment, industrial machinery, or material-handling equipment.
• Basic Microsoft computer skills, including the ability to navigate common computer applications and enter information accurately.
• Comfortable using touchscreen technology and electronic devices, including iPads/tablets, two-way radios, automated control panels, and other production equipment interfaces.
• Previous inventory control or cycle counting experience preferred, including tracking chemicals, fertilizers, soil components, raw materials, or other production supplies.
• Ability to accurately count, document, and monitor inventory levels and communicate material shortages or discrepancies.
• Ability to manually handle 50-pound bags of fertilizer, lime, and other soil-production materials when required.
• Ability to work safely around forklifts, heavy equipment, chemicals, fertilizers, and production machinery while following established safety procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience operating heavy equipment, industrial machinery, or material-handling equipment in a manufacturing, production, agricultural, or warehouse environment.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and other computer-based production or inventory systems.
• Previous experience operating PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) touchscreen systems, HMI interfaces, or automated equipment control panels.
• Familiarity with using touchscreen controls to monitor equipment, enter production settings or recipes, and support automated production processes.
• Experience working in a manufacturing, production, agricultural, soil processing, fertilizer, or material-handling environment preferred.

Job Setting & Physical Demands

• This position is primarily outdoors but may be required to work between locations. Fluency to read, write, and understand the English language is required. Must be able to work in all outdoor elements, including dust and allergens. Position requires long-term ability for standing, sitting, squatting, kneeling, bending, reaching, and twisting on a regular basis to fulfill essential duties. Candidate must have the ability to or learn how to operate all machinery necessary within the department and across the facility.
• Candidate must be able to work evenings and weekends as business needs arise and during peak seasons.

Disclaimer

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions (as covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act) expected of people assigned to this position. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. All employees may be required to perform activities outside of their normal job responsibilities from time to time as needed. EOE - All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.