Forklift Operator - 1st Shift

About Us

At Russell Stover, we love chocolate and take pride in our work. Every day, we embody our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. As part of our team, you’ll join the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. With over 100 years of craftsmanship, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s use the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, available in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts.

About the Role

As a Forklift Operator, you will play a key role in ensuring the efficient movement of materials and finished products throughout our facility. Your responsibilities will include transporting materials to work areas, moving finished goods to storage, and returning unused materials to their designated locations. You will also perform tasks such as placing pallet tops, banding and shrink-wrapping skids, moving trash bales, and loading trash trailers. Using scanning equipment, you’ll track inventory movement and ensure proper placement in storage while maintaining accurate counts and entering data into the system.

Responsibilities

• Operate machinery safely and proficiently according to standards, guidelines, and instructions.
• Unload and load trailers.
• Use handheld scanners to receive orders and put away products into storage locations.
• Verify and maintain inventory accuracy.
• Perform routine inventory counts to ensure proper stock levels.
• Issue products to production lines and consolidate product as needed.
• Keep the work area clean and organized to meet audit readiness.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and address any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor.
• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.
• Maintain the printer for the shrink wrapper, manage ribbons and labels, and assist with loading and unloading trucks.
• Support plant management with additional tasks as needed.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently (accommodations available).
• Ability to operate and maintain a forklift.
• Strong numerical skills with the ability to perform basic math calculations accurately.
• Able to perform quality control checks.
• Ability to work overtime.
• Must pass forklift certification training (within the first week).
• Ottawa certification may be required.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 or more years of experience operating a forklift.
• Experience operating a handheld scanner.
• A passion for learning.

Work Environment

• Safety First: Your well-being is our priority. You’ll receive protective gear, GMP training on day one, and daily safety tips.
• Surroundings: Work alongside cutting-edge equipment, including automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and chocolate candy banks/steels.
• Active & Engaging Work: Stay on the move with tasks that may involve standing for extended periods, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable Climate: Most roles are in a climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: Enjoy the sweet aroma of chocolate throughout your shift.
• Dress Code: Follow a simple yet important dress code to ensure safety and hygiene, adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Allergens: Exposure to ingredients that may include common food allergens such as nuts and milk.