Warehouse Associate

Operation Food Search, Inc.; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Operation Food Search is seeking a Warehouse Associate in St. Louis to manage the movement and organization of food products. This role involves receiving, packing, and tracking orders while ensuring compliance with safety protocols. Ideal candidates have a high school diploma and some experience in a warehouse environment, contributing to the mission of reducing food insecurity in the community.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Vacation and sick time, paid holidays

Employee assistance program

Potential for student loan forgiveness

Qualifications

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• At least 1 year of experience working in a warehouse environment.
• Experience handling perishable food products preferred.

Responsibilities

• Receive daily agency orders and pack items for distribution.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the warehouse.
• Assist with inventory audits and logging discrepancies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Physical stamina

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Founded in 1981, Operation Food Search is a hunger relief organization that provides food, nutrition education and innovative programs in order to reduce food insecurity and increase equitable access to food. We serve 200,000 people every month through a network of 330 partners in 27 counties in Missouri and Illinois. We use a combination of immediate food assistance and supportive services, while also working on long-term solutions and systemic changes to help solve the problem of hunger.

Our Mission is to heal hunger with innovative and collaborative solutions that provide food today and help create a hunger-free tomorrow.

Our Vision is a region where everyone has equitable access to the food they need to lead healthy lives.

Our Goals are to :

• Meet the immediate need for food for children, individuals and families by providing high-quality nutrition through our distribution network.
• Empower long-term skills through nutrition education and by teaching how to shop and prepare healthy food on a budget.
• Champion change through advocacy, innovative programs and by addressing systemic inequities.

For more information about OFS, please visit our website at www.operationfoodsearch.org.

Position Summary :

The Warehouse Associate plays a critical role in OFS's supply-chain operations by facilitating the movement, storage, and organization of food and non-food products. Under the direction of the Warehouse Manager and in coordination with our Agency team, this position ensures that agency orders are accurately assembled, grant-funded shipments are processed, and general warehouse inventory remains orderly. The Warehouse Associate must be able to work independently following standard operating procedures, as well as collaboratively with teammates to meet daily distribution targets.

Essential Functions :

Receive daily agency orders and work closely with the Agency Department to pick, pack, and stage items for designated distribution rooms.

• Load outbound orders onto trucks or pallet jacks, ensuring accuracy and completeness before departure.
• Assist in checking orders against packing lists and confirm that all items have been accounted for.
• Receiving & Inventory Movement

Unload incoming shipments at the direction of the Inventory Specialist (IS), verifying quantities and condition of product against packing slips.

• Transport product from the receiving dock to designated storage areas in the general warehouse, cooler, or freezer.
• Break down pallets, repack items into storage totes, and update inventory location information as directed.
• Warehouse Organization & Maintenance

Maintain a clean, safe, and organized general warehouse environment, including racking systems, aisles, and staging areas.

• Regularly inspect cooler and freezer spaces to ensure products are arranged by date (FIFO) and easily accessible.
• Rotate perishable items based on "first-in, first-out" guidelines and communicate with IS regarding any product approaching expiration.
• Grant-Funded Order Handling

Work with the Agency Department to identify and pull items designated for grant-funded programs.

• Package and label grant-funded orders according to specified guidelines, ensuring compliance with grant reporting requirements.
• Stage completed grant orders in the distribution area for pick-up or delivery.
• Equipment Operation & Safety Compliance

Operate material-handling equipment safely (e.g., pallet jacks, hand trucks, forklifts if certified).

• Adhere strictly to OFS's warehouse safety protocols, including proper lifting techniques, use of PPE, and spill-cleanup procedures.
• Report any safety hazards, equipment malfunctions, or maintenance needs immediately to the IS.
• Inventory Control & Reporting

Assist with periodic cycle counts and full inventory audits under the supervision of the IS.

• Document discrepancies or damaged product in daily logs and escalate issues to management.
• Participate in monthly inventory reconciliation meetings, providing insights into product flow and stock levels.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support

Coordinate with Volunteer Services to support volunteer helpers during peak receiving or distribution events.

• Assist in training temporary staff or volunteers on basic warehouse procedures (e.g., order picking, labeling, pallet building).
• Support other departments (e.g., Procurement, Program Services) on an as-needed basis for large-scale distributions, special events, or emergency response operations.
• Work with the Volunteer and Food Drive Manager to manage distribution-area volunteer schedules.

Requirements :

Education and / or Experience :

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• At least 1 year of experience working in a warehouse environment with a focus on safety (nonprofit or food-bank setting a plus).
• Previous experience handling perishable food products and cold-storage operations is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Comfortable operating pallet jacks and hand trucks.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 lbs. frequently, and up to 75 lbs. occasionally. Comfortable standing, bending, and walking for extended periods.
• Strong attention to detail when sorting, labeling, and storing goods. Capacity to follow FIFO rotation and maintain neat storage zones.
• Clear verbal communication to coordinate with supervisors, team members, and occasional volunteers. Basic written skills for logging product-movement details.
• Works well in a fast-paced, target-driven environment. Able to pivot between tasks (e.g., from organizing the freezer to staging agency orders) based on operational needs.
• Knowledge of safe lifting techniques and warehouse safety best practices. Willingness to undergo periodic safety training.
• Familiarity with warehouse management systems or willingness to learn; comfort using handheld scanners and updating digital inventory records.
• Ability to be on one's feet for 4 plus hours a day.

Special Requirements :

• Flexibility in working hours for occasional special events after-hours or weekend activities.
• Willingness to volunteer for other OFS duties that don't fall under regular job duties.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands :

• Food storage warehouse with mobile equipment in operation.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time, both indoors and outdoors.
• Frequent exposure to 32 °ree;F–40 °ree;F cooler and 0 °ree;F–10 °ree;F freezer spaces when unloading perishable donations.
• Occasional outdoor work during pickups / deliveries in varying weather conditions (rain, snow, heat).
• Regular lifting, bending, and carrying of boxes / trays weighing up to 50lbs.
• Required to wear closed-toe, non-slip safety shoes, high-visibility vest, and gloves. Additional PPE (e.g., ear protection) provided as needed.
• Standing, walking, and operating pallet jacks for unloading / loading tasks.

Benefits – FT Positions

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• HRA and FSA
• Vacation and sick time, paid holidays
• Short and long-term disability income
• Company paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary employee paid term life and AD&D insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Wellness support
• Potential for student loan forgiveness, if qualified

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

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Warehouse Associate • Saint Louis, MO, US