Warehouse Material Handler

SunOpta; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative and sustainable manufacturer is seeking a Material Handler I to join their dynamic team. In this role, you will operate various equipment, including forklifts and pallet jacks, to ensure efficient product handling and shipment. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong problem-solving skills and a commitment to safety and quality. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a brighter, healthier future of food within a collaborative environment. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting and are eager to make an impact, this role is perfect for you.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Paid Family leave

Paid maternity leave

401(k) with Match

Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital indemnity

Paid Holidays

Tuition assistance

Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Qualifications

• 1+ years experience in a food-grade facility preferred.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and operate forklifts.

Responsibilities

• Operate forklifts to move and stack products efficiently.
• Ensure accurate documentation of shipments and inventory.
• Maintain safety and quality standards during operations.

Skills

Forklift Operation

Inventory Management

Problem Solving

Communication

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift

Pallet Jack

Floor Scrubber

Shrink Wrap Machine

Job description

Posted Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM

SunOpta Overview:

SunOpta (Nasdaq:STKL) (TSX:SOY) is an innovative and sustainable manufacturer fueling the future of food. With roots tracing back over 50 years, SunOpta drives growth for today’s leading brands by serving as a trusted innovation partner and value-added manufacturer, crafting organic, plant-based beverages, fruit snacks, nutritional beverages, broths, and tea products sold through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels. Alongside the company’s commitment to top brands, retailers, and coffee shops, SunOpta also proudly produces its own brands, including SOWN, Dream, and West Life. For more information, visit SunOpta and LinkedIn.

SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Job Summary:

Material Handler I is responsible for operating all energized and non-energized Forklift and Palletizing equipment including Forklifts, Pallet Jacks, Floor Scrubber, and shrink wrap machines. Ensure efficient operation of equipment as well as maintaining all paperwork accurately. Follow written and verbal instructions to ensure quality and efficiency standards are being met. Assume responsibility for safety, quality, and effective communication relevant to shift and plant performance.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Responsible for operating a forklift to move, locate, relocate, stack and count product.
• Pull and prepare product for shipment, ensuring that the exact number and type of product is loaded and shipped per load sheets in an efficient manner that meets customer service standards.
• Efficiently move product from staging and/or storage areas into trailers.
• Operate and be accountable for the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle.
• Unload inbound shipments safely and move product to storage locations.
• Ensure inbound and outbound shipments are accurate and free of damage, reporting any quality variances.
• Keep appropriate records and reports to guarantee that inventory control and security are maintained.
• Assist in physical inventories and proper stock rotation.
• Maintain all forklift inspection prior to shift with accurate documentation.
• Conduct required quality checks to assure standards are met.
• Maintain clean and organized area around equipment.
• Maintains communications within production team ensuring smooth shift transitions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve basic to moderate operating difficulties involving area equipment.
• Pick and load outbound trucks as per paperwork.
• Unload and put away inbound trucks.
• Support mechanics in appropriate maintenance activities.
• Monitor raw packaging material and supplies to ensure it is supplied efficiently to support production.
• Maintain ingredients and material on a First In First Out basis (FIFO).
• Relieve other production team members for breaks and absences as required.
• Accurately prepares and maintains all area paperwork.
• Complies with Good Manufacturing Practices.

Key Accountabilities:

Safety

• Follows all plant safety rules.
• Reports all accidents to the production supervisor.
• Serves an active role in the plant safety program by attending safety meetings, participating in monthly safety inspections, and reporting any potential safety hazards to the safety committee or Production Supervisor.

Quality

• Adheres to all Quality Assurance System guidelines.
• Follows SOPs to make machine adjustments.
• Follows SOPs on truck inspection for loading and unloading.
• Responsible for compliance with the HACCP & SQF program.
• Must adhere to and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Responsible for accurate documentation.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area.
• Cooperates with other shifts and the management team in housekeeping endeavors.
• Perform all warehouse sanitation processes with documentation.

Communications

• As a member of the Materials team, ensures effective shift communication and teamwork with other operators occurs each scheduled shift.
• Maintains effective communication with members of the support group.
• Maintain communication with shift supervisor as well as Materials Manager.

Teamwork and Training

• Promotes and contributes to the development of teamwork among materials team members.
• Assist in coaching and training employees as requested by the management team.

Personal Development

• Continuous improvement of knowledge of batch output and all other areas in the plant.
• Continuous improvement of knowledge of other company warehouses.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. They should have concrete knowledge of automated or computerized system operations. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Works with minimal amount of supervision.
• Team player.
• Able to evaluate a situation and make a good decision.
• Able to keep operating logs and records.
• Able to read manuals and problem solve.
• Able to stand for long periods of time.
• Able to climb off and on forklift on a regular basis.
• Able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and at times more.
• Package integrity.
• Troubleshooting.
• Hygiene.
• Communication.

Education/Experience:

High school diploma, or GED; one or more years related experience in a food grade facility.

Knowledge and Skills:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardizations exist. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions finished in written, oral diagram or schedule form.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Strong leadership and interpersonal skills critical.

Other Qualifications:

Must be able to work flexible hours.

Travel Requirements:

Travel to other facilities and training may be required.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; and extreme heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Please note this job description is not meant to be all-inclusive nor is it designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice and may be modified to reasonably accommodate an individual with a disability or for other reasons.

Featured benefits:

• Medical insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Paid Family leave.
• Paid maternity leave.
• 401(k) with Match.
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital indemnity.
• Paid Holidays.
• Tuition assistance.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED