TSVAL - Warehouse Baler Associate

Jimmy Jazz; Spokane Valley (WA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

7 holidays

Job summary

Union Gospel Mission is seeking a Warehouse Baler Associate to safely operate baling equipment, organize and transport bales of donated goods, and support recycling and waste-reduction efforts across stores. This role emphasizes safety, efficiency, and a mission-driven workplace.

The position entails assisting donors, receiving donations, and providing friendly customer service while upholding the organization's faith-based values and ministry goals.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Retail knowledge and sales experience preferred, though training provided.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate baling equipment and compress materials into bales.
• Assist donors, unload items, and separate donations for processing.
• Greet customers, answer questions, and explain donation policies.

Skills

Fast-paced work

Stand long periods

Organized

Empathetic listening

Multi-tasking

Locations flexibility

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Pricing guns

Steamers

Z-racks

Clothing racks

Forklift

Baler

Carts

Job description

• Base Pay $18.00 - $19.38 / Hour
• Industry Thrift, Nonprofit, Ministry
• Employee Type Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

Are you looking for meaningful work where your hands‑on effort helps transform donated goods into resources that change lives? As a Warehouse Baler Associate with UGM Thrift Stores, you will join a mission‑driven team that values hard work, teamwork, and service. In this role, your attention to safety, organization, and efficiency will directly support our stores, reduce waste, and help provide hope and care to those in need throughout our community.

UGM considers every position one of ministry and a vital and valued part of our team. Therefore, it is essential that all employees of UGM have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and subscribe to our Statement of Faith and Core Values. Additionally, employees must be willing to lead and/or participate in Bible study, prayer, devotions and sharing the Gospel.

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

UGM Thrift Stores specialize in reselling, reusing, and recycling slightly used donated clothing and household items for the purpose of raising money and awareness for Union Gospel Mission. As a Warehouse Baler Associate, you will safely operate and maintain baling equipment to compact surplus clothing, textiles, and cardboard into tight bales. You will organize materials, manage machine controls, and transport finished bales to maximize storage space. This role is vital to streamlining warehouse production and supporting our store's recycling and waste reduction efforts.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Result Area #1: Production

• Sort the items by quality, gender and season to determine for sale, storage and/or baling.
• Help unload trucks and prepare warehouse storage area.
• Assist in keeping the warehouse area organized.
  Price items according to guidelines and meet all expectations and standards.
• Assist with load outs when needed.
• Operate the thrift store baler as assigned, following all safety procedures and training requirements.
• Prepare, compress, tie, label, and move bales of salvage clothing, textiles, cardboard, or other approved materials to the designated storage or pickup area.
• Assist with moving furniture to the floor to sell, when needed.
• Prepare clothing, linens, and accessories for tagging, pricing and merchandising.
• Prepare hard goods i.e. books, houseware, shoes, furniture etc., for merchandising.

Key Result Area #2: Receiving

• Assist donors, make immediate assessments of donations and unload acceptable items.
• Follow all donation guidelines; graciously turn down unacceptable items.
• Transfer the Cause while working at the receiving dock.
• Distribute newsletters or other advertisements along with prepared receipts to donors.
• Separate donated items into designated categories and move to the designated area for processing.

Key Result Area #3: Customer Service

• Greeting every customer with a smile and promptly offer help with their needs, being kind, advising them of donations policies and what are acceptable donations.
• Answer phone calls politely and cheerfully and respond to the needs of the caller.
• Be gracious and courteous to donors and customers, expressing thanks for supporting our ministry - transferring the cause.
• Maintain professional appearance with special attention to good grooming habits.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
  Ability to walk and stand for long periods during an 8-hour shift.
• Prove to be teachable and organized with the ability to manage multiple projects/tasks at once; able to listen and follow instructions.
• Ability to listen empathically, respond appropriately in emotional situations, and resolve difficult employee and customer related issues in an understanding way with the goal of maintaining relationships.
• Available to work in all store locations.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL FACTORS:

Occasionally = 1%-33%; Frequently = 34%-66%; Continuously = 67%-100%

• Work is primarily indoors. It requires climbing stairs, sitting, standing, bending, and reaching - continuously.
• Requires a sustained level of high energy, stamina, and the ability to move about to the store on a regular and ongoing basis - continuously.
• Requires the ability to hear, see, and speak clearly - continuously.
• Requires safe operation of the thrift store baler, including keeping hands and loose clothing clear of moving parts, using required safety guards, following lockout/tagout procedures when applicable, and reporting any equipment concerns immediately - occasionally.

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS USED:

Variety of tools used in the pricing and production process, i.e., pricing guns, steamers, z-racks, clothing racks and displays, forklift, baler, carts, etc.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Some retail industry knowledge and Sales experience preferred, though will train.

Requirements

Union Gospel Mission is a privately funded 501(c)3 non-profit, evangelical Christian ministry. Our designated purpose is religious, and we are a Christ-centered ministry which is dedicated to sharing the Gospel and helping the homeless and impoverished. We consider every position to be essential in the fulfillment of our ministry and Statement of Purpose. As such, each employee must have a relationship with Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. All employees must:

• Be able and willing to share the Gospel and participate in all of the ministry activities of Union Gospel Mission.
• Subscribe to Union Gospel Mission Statement of Faith and UGM Distinctives upon hire and continuously while employed.
• Adhere to Union Gospel Mission Employee Handbook.

#UGMUKG

Summary

We offer a comprehensive and mission-aligned benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our benefits include competitive health coverage, generous paid time off, retirement contributions after one-year of service, and opportunities for professional development - all within a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.

Highlights:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (options for employees, their spouse and children)
• Generous PTO (20 days annually with carryover) and 7 additional paid holidays (carryover limits may apply)
• Retirement plan with employer matching contribution starting at year one and building on years 3, 5 and 7 matching employee contribution up to 5% at year 7)