Warehouse Associate

Northern Illinois Food Bank; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Competitive hourly pay

Job summary

Northern Illinois Food Bank is seeking a Warehouse Associate at the Lake Forest North Suburban Center to support food access through efficient warehouse and distribution ops. You will work with staff and volunteers to ensure safe, accurate movement of food and a clean, organized facility.

The role covers shipping/receiving, inventory checks, and distribution support, with a focus on teamwork, accuracy, and strong attention to safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in a warehouse and retail environment is preferred.
• WMS experience is required.
• Forklift certified and able to operate powered industrial lift trucks.
• Demonstrates strong attention to detail and inventory procedures.
• Ability to build positive relationships with volunteers, staff and management.

Responsibilities

• Handling shipping and receiving and data entry into the warehouse management system.
• Prep and setup tasks, review stocking needs, and stage pallets for volunteers.
• Support indoor/outdoor distributions with setup, restocking, and traffic control.
• Maintain inventory control with routine cycle counts and year-end inventories.
• Monitor food quality and maintain cleanliness of the facility.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Inventory awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

WMS experience

Forklift certification

Powered industrial lift trucks certification

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: North Suburban Center - Lake Forest, IL 60045
Salary Range: $18.68 - $19.84 Hourly
Job Category: Warehouse

Who We Are:

Are you ready to join a team where your talent creates lasting change? At Northern Illinois Food Bank, every day is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Neighbors, so that everyone in Northern Illinois has the food they need to thrive! Together we are a dedicated and innovative team committed to ending hunger in Northern Illinois. We embrace diverse perspectives, collaboration, and continuous learning, we celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and foster a culture of growth, optimism, and teamwork.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Northern Illinois Food Bank will embrace opportunities to stand in solidarity with our community, and center the voices of those most impacted by systematic injustices. We affirm our commitment to anti-racism, to gender equity, to allyship, and to fairness as we work towards a hunger-free future and to create a better and more just world.

The Opportunity:

Northern Illinois Food Bank seeks an extraordinarily motivated candidate to join our team as a Warehouse Associate, supporting the organization's efforts to provide food access to neighbors through efficient warehouse and distribution operations at our North Suburban Center in Lake Forest. This role performs a variety of warehouse, inventory, shipping and receiving, custodial, and distribution responsibilities while working collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and agency partners to ensure the safe, accurate, and efficient movement of food throughout the organization in support of our mission.

ThisFull-Timepositionis based out of ourNorth Suburban Center (Lake Forest)location.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Shipping and receiving of inbound/outbound freight, as well as data entry into the warehouse management system.
• Performing prep and set up tasks and reviewing stocking needs for Agency Shopping Area. Retrieving and staging pallets ahead of each volunteer shift and assisting with volunteers.
• Supporting both indoor and outdoor distributions with setup, restocking, and traffic control.
• Maintaining accurate inventory control. Performing routine cycle counts, month-end, and year-end inventories.
• Monitoring food quality through routine inspections.
• Maintaining cleanliness of the facility, including warehouse, restrooms, offices, etc.
• Perform other related duties and/or responsibilities as assigned or required.

Why Join Us:

• Make a Difference: Every role at Northern Illinois Food Bank directly impacts the lives of those we serve.
• Flexible Work Environment: We value work-life balance and support flexible work models.
• Comprehensive Benefits: The starting pay range for this position is $18.68/hr- $19.84/hr, based on skills and experience.
• Growth Opportunities: Invest in your career with professional development, career mapping, and leadership training.
• Inclusive Culture: Join a diverse, collaborative team that values equity and belonging.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Our goal is to attract, develop, retain, and promote a talented diverse workforce where all employees feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a culture that values differences, ideas, and experiences. We intentionally seek out diverse perspectives and skills on our teams, knowing that it makes us stronger as an organization and better equipped to serve our neighbors in need. We encourage individuals from historically under-represented communities and individuals with lived experience of hunger to apply.

QualificationsWho You Are:

You’re driven, compassionate, and excited to bring your unique skills to a purpose-driven organization. You have a strong commitment to our mission and:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships with volunteers, staff, and management
• Ability to be certified on powered industrial lift trucks.
• Experience in a warehouse and retail environment.
• Forklift certified.
• WMS experience.
• Understanding of inventory and related audit processes.
• Strong attention to detail.