Warehouse Associate III

Philabundance; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Philabundance is seeking a Warehouse Associate III to operate in an open warehouse and cooler/freezer, handling perishable and non-perishable foods, and supporting shipping, receiving, and inventory control. The role emphasizes learning large equipment operation, accuracy, safety, and teamwork, with a staggered shift schedule and some overtime; location flexibility across Philabundance warehouses.

Applicants should have at least 3 years of heavy equipment experience; ServSafe and forklift

Qualifications

• High School Diploma preferred but not required; advanced degree optional.
• ServSafe Certification preferred; obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Forklift Certification preferred; obtained within 30 days of hire.
• Minimum of 3 years of heavy equipment experience in grocery/food industry.
• Experience in teamwork, deadlines, detail, and safety.
• Inventory, warehouse databases, and equipment handling experience.

Responsibilities

• Load and unload trucks promptly and safely.
• Operate forklifts and pallet jacks and other warehouse machines.
• Log shipping/receiving data into CERES and related databases.
• Support receiving/shipping and inventory control functions.
• Provide good customer service to vendors, volunteers, and visitors.
• Maintain safety, quality, and efficiency in warehouse operations.

Skills

Strong customer service

Teamwork

Basic math

Ability to learn new technical skills

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

ServSafe Certification

Forklift Certification

Tools

Forklift

Pallet jack

CERES database

Warehouse machines

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Warehouse Associate III will work in an open warehouse environment and in a cooler/freezer to help move perishable and non-perishable food products through Philabundance’s system. This position will be a general labor opportunity within the warehouse with the focus on learning, expanding and developing skills for using large equipment, supporting inventory management, supporting shipping and receiving processes and developing attention to detail for quality, warehouse responsible habits of handling perishables and knowing the appropriate metrics and goals to meet deliverables for the team.

The Warehouse team operates on a staggered shift schedule, with overtime/evening/weekends as needed. Shifts may adjust as is needed for the successful execution of food delivery. The Warehouse team needs to maintain flexibility in our working locations. Associates will be assigned in advance for the location with priority needs.

The Warehouse Associate III role will efficiently and accurately complete shipping and warehousing of all products from scheduling of dock time, supporting inventory and quality inspections, logging in of information into our databases through storage to distribution. This role also requires the ability to effectively communicate warehousing needs as well as respond to the support needs of the warehousing team at all Philabundance warehouse locations. The Warehouse Associate will work closely with the Warehouse leadership to support the receiving/shipping needs.

The Warehouse Associate III is also accountable for working as a collaborative team member. The tenured Associate will provide helpful and mentoring guidance to other staff members. This role will be responsible for proactively anticipating schedule needs, agency partner preferences, warehousing methods of storage, capacity, and food bank product/inventory flow. The Warehouse Associate III will take initiate and provide suggestions, input, and concerns regarding on time delivery, operations and equipment.

Accountability: reliable, honest, and transparent; regularly makes commitments and takes ownership of responsibilities.

Effective Communication : conveys information clearly, with respect and integrity, using a professional manner and the appropriate means and channels for audience and subject matter.

Agility: maintains efficiency in a changing work environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.

Quality: Work is organized, accurate and neat. The employee displays a commitment to excellence, checks work and learns from mistakes and seeks feedback to improve quality as needed.

Engagement: contributes to the success of the organization by embracing teamwork, taking initiative on tasks and problem-resolution, and seeking out learning opportunities.

Primary Responsibilities:

Proactively prepare to load and unload trucks on a timely and effective basis.

Positively influence the warehouse team with positive performance and attitude.

Load and unload trucks, moving food to designated places aligned and ensure aligned with inventory.

Operate forklifts and pallet jacks and other warehouse machines and manual tools.

Physical tasks such as moving food, equipment, and boxes.

Provide good customer service; communicate with customers/volunteers in a courteous manner and respect agency personnel and clientele.

Resolve basic challenges with timing, food quality, space, and timing. Raise equipment changes or concerns to Supervisor for potential maintenance issues.

Supports, and may take a lead position, the shipping and receiving function as needed for location and volume.

Complete related tracking accurately, database and manually.

Must always wear uniform and safety gear as assigned.

Responsible for supporting and aligning with Philabundance Cultural pillars. Ensuring communications, actions and interactions reflect a focus on People, Professionalism, Partnerships, and Progress.

Additional Duties:

Provide safety and process guidance to Associates to ensure processes are followed, shipping and receiving needs are prepared and effective.

Provide informal leadership to the team when the Supervisor or Manager are not present.

Works closely with Inventory Control and Quality Control team.

Accurately tracks inventory, database system, real time. Accurately record shipping and receiving data in CERES database.

Note: This role requires the successful completion of a drug test and background check.

Light travel is required for this role. If using company vehicles, employees must have a clean driving record and valid driver’s license.

Qualifications

Educational Achievement:

High School Diploma or GED preferred but not required. An advanced degree in Engineering, Business, or Property Management is preferred but not required.

ServSafe Certification preferred. Certification must be obtained within 30 days of hire; training is provided by Philabundance.

Forklift Certification preferred. Certification must be obtained within 30 days of hire; training is provided by Philabundance.

Work Experience:

Minimum of 3 years of heavy equipment experience, ideally in a grocery, food focused industry.

Previous work in a team environment with deadlines, detail, safety, and large equipment.

Previous experience with organization, shared goals, and defined instructions.

Warehouse experience using forklift, pallet jack and other equipment used to move products.

Previous experience working within a defined operating system, follow directions, consistent placement, and tracking.

Preferred:

Previous automated inventory experience, able to manage database data entry.

Experience moving food, frozen, fresh or shelf stored, with interaction to public.

Inventory, Shipping/Receiving experience, familiarity with warehouse and inventory databases.

Required Skills and Abilities:

Ability to read, write and complete basic math to support inventory, space calculations and tracking as is needed.

Must be able to tolerate some extreme temperatures when moving food and products through inventory and shipping process.

Strong customer service, ability to work with vendors, volunteers, and visitors to the warehouse.

Ability to use email, input data into databases, and can learn new technical skills and apply to work habits.

Ability to successfully operate large equipment safely, work around mechanical machines and people.

Ability to learn and work well within a defined operating system, follow directions, consistent placement, and tracking.

Ability to learn and grow with the position and business needs.

Proficient with database input, inventory and other tracking needs.

Ability to handle multiple assignments simultaneously.

Ability to follow instructions, retain information and apply information, with minimal supervision.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred:

Previous experience owning and influencing a complex process to a positive defined outcome.

Previous experience using databases, basic computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom. Must be willing to learn.

Previous experience with food security and safety, follow steps of Food Defense Initiatives, training provided.

Essential Job Functions:

A valid driver’s license with a clean driving record is required to be eligible to drive Philabundance vehicles.

Bend, stop, crouch, climb, stand, sit, walk, and turn/pivot throughout an 8-hour shift, 5 days a week.

Move/lower, push/pull and carry objects/parcels no greater than 50 pounds; when moving/lowering, pushing/pulling and carrying objects/parcels greater than 50 pounds use 2 people or mechanical.

Move packages to heights above shoulder and lower to foot level.

Ability to work inside a freezer with a temperature in the range of -10 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit as well as in a humid warehouse.

Ability to operate pallet jack, both manual and power, and ride jack to load/unload trucks.

Reach, grasp, and maintain control of items and materials used to perform activities associated with delivering and picking up packages.

Perform additional tasks using simple hand grasp, fine hand manipulation, and reach associated with assigned tasks such as keying.

Maintain a work pace aligned by meeting or exceeding piece per minute/production standards.

Work in an environment that will contain variable temperatures and humidity, outside weather conditions, exposure to noise, dust/dirt, confined work areas.

Must meet all of the applicable requirements as specified by OSHA.

See, hear, and speak with sufficient capability to perform assigned tasks and maintain proper safety conditions.

Maintain an acceptable work pace and align with required personal and team deadlines. Must meet goals.

Demonstrate cognitive ability to: provide direction as well as follow directions and routines, work independently with appropriate judgment, read words and numbers, concentrate, memorize, recall, identify logical connections and determine sequence of response, process proactively and identify near and long-term future needs as well as evaluate problems and escalation/inform management as is necessary.