Warehouse Associate - Receiving Dept.

Shepherd Electric Company, LLC.; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Shepherd Electric Supply in Sterling, VA seeks a Warehouse Associate – Receiving to verify shipments, unload inbound freight, and ensure accurate inventory entry. You will confirm items against packing slips and POs, coordinate with purchasing on discrepancies, and put away stock to maintain fast, reliable orders.

This role emphasizes safety, accuracy, and teamwork, with responsibility for easing downstream fulfillment and maintaining inventory integrity across the branch.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Prior receiving, warehouse, or fulfillment experience preferred; motivated entry-level candidates will be considered.
• Forklift or pallet jack certification required or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Familiarity with warehouse management systems and standard computer tools (Excel, email) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Inbound receipt & verification.
• Unload inbound freight safely and inspect every shipment for damage, shortage, or error at the point of delivery.
• Verify received product against the packing slip and purchase order — right item, right quantity, right condition — before it enters inventory.
• Record receiving transactions accurately and promptly in the warehouse management system.
• Coordinate with purchasing on receiving discrepancies so they are resolved, not just noted.
• Put received product away accurately to the correct bin locations so it is pickable the same shift it arrives.
• Operate pallet jacks, hand trucks, and receiving equipment safely and in compliance with Shepherd standards.
• Keep the receiving dock organized, labeled, and clear of hazards; maintain safety compliance.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Warehouse management systems

Excel

Email

Job description

About Shepherd Electric Supply

Since 1892, Shepherd Electric Supply has been the first call when complex, time‑critical electrical challenges need to be solved, and reliability truly matters. We move materials accurately and on time, so contractors stay on schedule, projects stay on track, and customers never have to wonder if we will come through. Our success comes from people who take pride in doing things the right way — safely, accurately, and with care for teammates and customers alike. If you want to do work that matters at a company that notices, this is the place.

Why This Role Matters

Everything Shepherd ships out starts with what comes in. The Warehouse Associate – Receiving Department is the first checkpoint for every product that enters the branch — and the first line of defense for inventory accuracy across the entire operation. This is not just unloading trucks. You are the person who confirms that what a vendor shipped is what Shepherd actually ordered, in the right quantity and the right condition, before it enters inventory. When receiving is done right, the shipping team pulls orders that are actually there, the counter has stock it can trust, and fill rates hold. When it is not, the error hides in a bin until a customer's order comes up short. This role is for someone who checks the details when the freight is stacking up, who catches the discrepancy before it becomes an inventory ghost, and who understands that accurate receiving is where every Shepherd promise begins.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises: Accuracy starts at the receiving dock. Every promise Shepherd makes downstream depends on what you verify coming in. Right product, right count, right condition — checked against the packing slip and PO before it ever reaches a bin. If it’s wrong when it arrives and you catch it, a customer never feels it. We Stay Hungry: You notice the vendor who ships short every time, the freight that always arrives damaged, the put‑away sequence that could be faster. You surface the pattern, not just the one‑off — and you look for a smarter, cleaner way to receive. We Grow Together: Receiving does not work alone. You coordinate with purchasing on discrepancies, with the warehouse floor on put‑away, and with shipping on priority freight. When your communication is clean, the whole branch runs on inventory it can trust. We Own It: You do not let a discrepancy walk into inventory. If freight is short, damaged, or wrong, you document it and resolve it before it’s received. If something looks off, you stop and ask. Ownership in receiving means the error is caught here — not discovered three orders later. We Go Above & Beyond: You get today’s freight received and put away today, so it’s pickable when the floor needs it. You flag recurring vendor problems before they cost a fill rate. You see what’s coming off the truck and you get ahead of it.

Key Outcomes – Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

• Inbound Receipt & Verification
• Unload inbound freight safely and inspect every shipment for damage, shortage, or error at the point of delivery
• Verify received product against the packing slip and purchase order — right item, right quantity, right condition — before it enters inventory
• Record receiving transactions accurately and promptly in the warehouse management system
• Coordinate with purchasing on receiving discrepancies so they are resolved, not just noted
• Prioritize time‑critical and backordered inbound freight so waiting orders keep moving
• Discrepancy & OS&D Handling
• Document all overages, shortages, and damages (OS&D) clearly and immediately — with the detail purchasing needs to act
• Resolve inbound discrepancies before the product is received into inventory, not after it has been put away
• Treat every receiving discrepancy as a signal, not an inconvenience — flag recurring vendor or carrier problems to the Warehouse Manager for root cause review
• Set aside and clearly tag freight that cannot be verified, rather than guessing it into inventory
• Put‑Away & Inventory Integrity
• Put received product away accurately to the correct bin locations so it is pickable the same shift it arrives
• Confirm bin locations are current and report location discrepancies before they cause pick errors downstream
• Handle inbound returns (RMAs) and vendor credits per Shepherd standards, keeping the receiving area clear of unresolved product
• Protect the accuracy of the count — receiving is where inventory integrity starts
• Equipment, Safety & Facility
• Operate pallet jacks, hand trucks, and receiving equipment safely and in compliance with Shepherd standards
• Conduct pre‑shift equipment checks and report maintenance needs before they become failures
• Keep the receiving dock and staging area organized, labeled, and clear of hazards — aisles open, freight not left blocking the floor
• Maintain safety compliance at your workstation and alert leadership to unsafe conditions immediately
• Continuous Improvement
• Surface workflow friction, recurring receiving errors, or put‑away inefficiencies to the Warehouse Manager
• Cross‑train on shipping and warehouse floor functions to build team flexibility
• Support onboarding of new receiving team members by modeling accuracy standards and Shepherd values

What Success Looks Like – After 90 days, you and your Manager should both be able to point to these markers:

• Inbound freight is received accurately — verified against the packing slip and PO — every shift
• Overages, shortages, and damages are documented and resolved the same day they occur, before product enters inventory
• Received product is put away to correct bin locations and is pickable the shift it arrives
• The receiving dock is organized, hazards are addressed, and equipment is maintained every shift
• You have surfaced at least one meaningful improvement — a verification habit, a put‑away sequence, a recurring vendor catch — in your first 90 days
• Shipping and counter sales can trust that the inventory they pull from is actually there

Who Thrives Here – This role is a strong fit if:

You take ownership of accuracy without being reminded — you do not receive something into inventory you are not sure about
You pay attention when the freight is stacking up, especially on the details others rush past
You treat the receiving dock like a quality checkpoint, not just an unloading zone
You communicate clearly and directly — with your team, with purchasing, with shipping
You stay steady when deliveries pile up and priorities shift
You care about the work being right, not just done
You want to be part of a team that notices when you do the job well

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Prior receiving, warehouse, or fulfillment experience preferred; motivated entry‑level candidates will be considered
• Forklift or pallet jack certification required or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Familiarity with warehouse management systems and standard computer tools (Excel, email) preferred
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. regularly and stand for extended periods
• Ability to successfully complete pre‑employment screening requirements

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?

At Shepherd Electric Supply, excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892. As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory. We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our legacy! At Shepherd Electric Supply, our people are the cornerstone of our success. We proudly have one of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated teams in the industry, spanning across sales, project management, wire cutting, shipping, and receiving, and our skilled drivers who ensure reliable next‑day delivery. Serving customers throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, we are committed to excellence in every aspect of our business.