Warehouse Associate I

Hummingbird Wholesale; Eugene (OR); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Hummingbird Wholesale seeks a Warehouse Associate to join their team in Eugene, Oregon. This full-time position involves crucial tasks such as order fulfillment, inventory management, and maintaining safety protocols in a supportive work environment that values employee engagement and sustainability. Candidates should possess a high school diploma and be ready to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Benefits

Health insurance with HSA option

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

401(k) with profit sharing

Self-care funds

Employee discounts on company products

Qualifications

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 60 lbs repeatedly.
• Valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record required.
• OSHA Fork Lift Certification must be obtained.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safe and efficient handling of products.
• Participate in department meetings and training.
• Accurately pick, check, and pack orders for shipping.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Job title: Warehouse Associate I
Department: Warehouse
Reports to: Warehouse Manager
Status: Full Time, 40-45 hours per week, Hourly

Competitive Wage, Great Benefits!
Open until filled

About us:
Hummingbird Wholesale is a family and employee-owned & operated company distributing organic food throughout the Pacific Northwest and into northern California. We are a team of highly engaged and extraordinarily productive people who are inspired to work hard, have fun, and give our very best at all times. We are motivated by our mission, vision, and values. We work effectively & efficiently, and enjoy connecting with each other through our daily work.

Our Mission, Core Values, and Culture:
We endeavor to serve people and the planet by providing the highest quality, most nutritious foods, grown as locally and sustainably as possible to nourish the body, mind, and soul. We practice principles of ecological & social justice in our business operation, and strive for minimum packaging and waste. We value long-term relationships with farmers, vendors, coworkers, and customers.

Do you want to work at an Employee-Owned Company who is rated one of the100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon?

In January 2023, Hummingbird owners Charlie and Julie Tilt made a bold move by transitioning their ownership of the company to an Employee-Owned Purpose Trust, securing and guiding the mission and values of the business into perpetuity. The Purpose Trust was established to serve as a co-creator of life-enhancing, inclusive, and healthy food systems for our regional and global community. We invite you to join us as we work together to transform the world toward a sustainable food production system that supports the health of the people who depend on it, as well as the earth’s precious ecosystems.

Can work be fun?
We think so! Creating a positive, safe, and healthy work environment is central to our mission and values. From our weekly, all-company huddles where we share what's going on in each department and our quarterly profit sharing program, to unique benefits like our coworker annual self-care stipend, we walk our talk.

Compensation Benefits + Perks:
We offer competitive wages and generous benefits and perks, including health insurance with an HSA option, paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid volunteer time, 401(k), profit sharing, self-care funds, wholesale pricing on Hummingbird products and with a curated list of local vendors, and more!

Job Summary:

The Warehouse Associate plays a vital role in the Hummingbird Warehouse Team, ensuring the safe, efficient, and accurate handling of product to maintain timely availability to customers. Under the guidance of the Warehouse Manager and Warehouse Lead, this position is focused on order fulfillment, warehouse organization, inventory management, and the seamless execution of shipping and receiving. The Warehouse Associate upholds key department values, including physical and food safety, product quality and availability, operational efficiency and continuous development of people and processes. They contribute to the company’s mission by thriving in a dynamic environment that demands both physical and mental agility. The Warehouse Associate excels in managing varied tasks, adapting to frequent changes, and bringing focus and energy to their work in a fast-paced, team-oriented setting.

Essential Functions:

• Use all company systems in compliance with established policies and procedures including workplace safety and food safety policies and procedures.
• Participate and contribute to strong safety culture by working safe and supporting safety with Coworkers.
• Help generate healthy company profits consistent with our mission and principles.
• Uphold the highest standard of food safety by following all policies and procedures in the Food Safety Plan applicable to the job title.
• Communicate in-person, via phone, and over email in a friendly and professional manner.
• Participate in department meetings and trainings as needed and/or scheduled.
• Complete company-sponsored training in Lean and Kaizen culture, use Lean and Kaizen principles in collaboration with Coworkers to reduce waste, improve customer outcomes, and support company goals and objectives.
• Comply with all applicable company, governmental, and regulatory agency policies and guidelines.
• Give great customer service, understanding that every relationship counts. Build mutually rewarding, long term relationships with Coworkers, customers, vendors, and community.
• Help drive our sustainability practices through participation in and help improving company sustainability initiatives and programs. Complete company-sponsored training and participate in Hummingbird’s waste-stream reduction program, minimizing waste and properly sorting waste-stream items into designated receptacles.
• Arrive to work each day ready to participate in helping others do their best. Be committed to having fun.
• Be enthusiastic and active in growing and improving personally and professionally.
• Exhibit respectful behavior.
• Have excellent attendance and punctuality.

Essential Functions per Warehouse Associate I:

• Safety
  • Consistently demonstrate safe and ergonomic work habits.
  • Safely operates all warehouse equipment, pallet jacks and carts – electric and manual as trained.
  • Maintain a sanitary and aesthetic workspace within the Warehouse area using daily, weekly and monthly cleaning checklists.
• Communications & Emotional Resilience
  • Maintain clear, professional and accurate communications, supporting a team-based approach.
  • Listens actively; asks clarifying questions and summarizes or paraphrases what others have said to verify understanding.
  • Communicates with internal teams regarding inbound/outbound SOs, POs, & TOs regarding outgoing orders, including late additions/orders, reprint requests, out of stocks, and quality issues as assigned.
    • Maintains performance and self-control under pressure or adversity. Self-regulates emotions and reactions which enables the display of a calm demeanor, regardless of the working environment or situation.
• Tasks
  • Independently, accurately and efficiently completes work in assigned areas as trained, using all applicable department procedures and food safety standards.
  • Update and maintain information in Company systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency of operations and data management.
  • Accurately and efficiently picks, checks, packs, and prepares orders for shipping.
  • Ensure package integrity, product safety, and the accurate verification of labels, quantities, and product appearance, while precisely fulfilling all special instructions for specific customers.
  • Checks in and signs for freight including basic inspection for pests and damage. Performs internal freight receiving that maintains food safety, including completion of special instructions and quality sampling. Communicates with QC and FC & Sourcing as necessary.
  • Stores, rotates and restocks inventory accordingly.
  • Performs duties associated with quality control and pest control in the warehouse.
  • Provide accurate product counts for cycle counts and inventory.
• Teamwork
  • Collaborate with Coworkers to solve problems, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
  • Organize and maintain warehouse space for safe and efficient workflow, including signage.
  • Works with authorized staff to process returns and resolve inventory discrepancies.
  • Supports the training and onboarding of other team members as assigned or needed.
  • Share in the responsibility to ensure building checklist is completed for Warehouse.
  • Competent and productive, functions independently and as part of a team.
  • Participates willingly and effectively on team assignments and projects.
• LEAN
  • Basic understanding of Continuous Improvement Philosophy and LEAN Tools.
  • Monitor time throughout the day and week to ensure completion of assigned tasks.
  • Proactively communicate within the department about the need for training or support to complete tasks and resolve workflow challenges.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

Additional Functions for Warehouse Associates:

• Contribute to the pursuit of Hummingbird Wholesale’s sustainability objectives.
• Participate in continuous improvement.
• Deliver orders locally via truck as assigned.
• Complete special projects and other duties as needed.

Job Requirements and Qualifications:

Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required.

Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

OSHA Fork Lift Certification (must be obtained through Hummingbird Wholesale’s in-house training).

Valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record required.

Skill Requirements:

• Operation of forklift (including barrel grabber).
• Ability to maintain focus in a fast-paced environment.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Good time management skills.
• Legible handwriting.
• Detail-oriented, well-organized.
• Good interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work well individually and with others.
• Basic computer skills.

Experience:

• Warehouse experience:
  • Associate I - experience preferred; will train
• Customer service experience preferred.
• Natural Foods experience, whether personal or professional, with the natural foods industry, is a plus.

Physical, Mental, and Visual Requirements:

• Must be able to work in, on, around, over, and under fixed equipment and machinery; to work from lifts and ladders to manipulate product. Must be able to lift and carry 60 lbs. repeatedly. The ability to stand, squat, crouch, kneel, lift, or carry for prolonged periods is required.
• In support of some essential job functions, the position requires the Warehouse Associate to work in commercial food production and warehouse environments. While in these environments, the coworker must be able to safely comply with all company and regulatory rules and guidelines.
• The position requires frequent and repeated exposure to major food allergens, including but not limited
  to, wheat, tree nuts, dairy, and soybeans. • Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this Warehouse Associate position.

Conclusion:

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Warehouse Associate’s position, but is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.