Warehouse Associate - Shipping Department

Shepherd Electric Company, LLC.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Shepherd Electric Supply is seeking a Warehouse Associate – Shipping Department in Richmond, VA. You will be responsible for accurate outbound orders, thorough documentation, and final checks before dispatch.

The role interfaces with sales and dispatch to ensure timely, error-free shipments. The position requires a high school diploma or equivalent, forklift/pallet jack certification or ability to obtain within 30 days, and familiarity with Excel and email.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Forklift or pallet jack certification is required or obtainable within 30 days.
• Experience in shipping, warehouse, or fulfillment is preferred; entry-level considered.

Responsibilities

• Ensure outbound orders are accurate and properly fulfilled.
• Verify shipping documentation for each shipment.
• Perform final checks on staged orders before dispatch.
• Ensure will-call orders are staged and ready for customers.
• Coordinate with counter sales and dispatch on priority shipments.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift certification

Pallet jack operation

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

Every order that leaves the branch passes through the shipping department. That means every contractor waiting on wire, every job site running against a deadline, and every customer who counts on Shepherd depends on this role being done right. The Warehouse Associate – Shipping Department is not just a packing station. You are the last set of eyes before an order goes out the door. When shipping is accurate - right product, right quantity, right documentation - customers stay on schedule and Shepherd’s reputation holds. When it is not, the entire chain breaks. This role is for someone who pays attention when the pace is high, who catches the mistake before it leaves the building, and who understands that their work is the final stamp of quality on everything Shepherd promises to deliver.

Work Shift and Hours

Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 7:00pm

Compensation Details

The expected pay rate for this position is starting between $20.00 - $25.00 per hour depending on experience.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises: Every outbound order you touch is a promise Shepherd made to a customer. Right product, right count, right label - every time. If something is off before it leaves the dock, you catch it. If it goes out wrong, someone’s job site feels it. We Stay Hungry: You notice what slows the shipping floor down and you say something. You look for a smarter staging sequence, a faster verification habit, a better way to document exceptions. You do not just run the process - you improve it. We Grow Together: Shipping does not work in isolation. You coordinate with the warehouse team, counter sales, and dispatch every day. When communication is clean - on priority orders, on exceptions, on timing - the whole branch executes better. We Own It: You do not pass the problem forward. If an order is short, you resolve it before it stages. If documentation is missing, you track it down. If something looks wrong, you stop and ask. Ownership in shipping means the customer never finds out about the mistake. We Go Above & Beyond: You make sure will-call orders are staged before customers arrive. You flag time-critical shipments before dispatch asks. You see what is coming and you get ahead of it. That is what above-and-beyond looks like on a shipping dock.

Key Outcomes

• Outbound Order Accuracy & Fulfillment Pull, verify, and stage outbound orders accurately - right product, right quantity, right destination, every time
• Confirm shipping documentation is complete and accurate on every outbound shipment before it leaves the dock
• Conduct a final physical check on staged orders to catch discrepancies before they become customer problems
• Ensure will-call orders are staged, labeled, and ready before the customer arrives
• Coordinate with counter sales and dispatch on priority-flagged or time-critical orders

Shipping Documentation & Compliance

• Generate and verify bills of lading, packing slips, and delivery confirmations for all outbound shipments
• Document all shipping exceptions - shortages, substitutions, split shipments - clearly and promptly
• Maintain accurate records of outbound activity in the warehouse management system
• Flag documentation errors or system discrepancies to the Warehouse Manager before they leave the building

Inventory Integrity at the Dock

• Pull orders accurately from bin locations and confirm picks against order documents
• Return mispicks, over-pulls, and damaged product to proper locations immediately
• Report recurring pick errors or bin location discrepancies to the Warehouse Manager for root cause review
• Treat every inventory discrepancy at the dock as a signal, not an inconvenience

Equipment, Safety & Facility

• Operate pallet jacks, hand trucks, and shipping equipment safely in compliance with Shepherd standards
• Conduct pre-shift equipment checks and report maintenance needs before they become failures
• Keep the shipping area organized, labeled, and clear of hazards - aisles open, staging zones clean
• Maintain safety compliance at your workstation and alert leadership to unsafe conditions immediately
• Continuous Improvement
• Surface workflow friction, recurring errors, or staging inefficiencies to the Warehouse Manager
• Cross-train on receiving and warehouse floor functions to build team flexibility
• Support onboarding of new shipping team members by modeling accuracy standards and Shepherd values

What Success Looks Like

• Outbound orders leave the dock accurately - right product, right quantity, complete documentation - every shift
• Will-call orders are staged and ready before customers arrive, without being asked
• Shipping exceptions are documented and communicated the same day they occur
• The shipping area is organized, hazards are addressed, and equipment is maintained every shift
• You have surfaced at least one meaningful improvement - a staging tweak, a documentation habit, a catch - in your first 90 days
• The Warehouse Manager trusts that every order that left the dock today left correctly

Who Thrives Here

• You take ownership of accuracy without being reminded - you do not hand off a problem you can solve
• You pay attention when the pace is high, especially on details others rush past
• You treat the shipping dock like a quality checkpoint, not just a staging area
• You communicate clearly and directly - with your team, with dispatch, with counter sales
• You stay steady when priorities shift and volume spikes
• 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 shipping, 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.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals occupying this position of employment. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skill required of all individuals assigned to this job title. Management reserves the right to modify all or part of this job description at its discretion in order to meet location requirements, staffing levels, and/or any other needs of the business. All of the essential functions of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or equivalent state law, may not have been described. All requests for reasonable accommodation(s) will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.