Lead Forklift Driver

About the Role

The Lead Forklift Driver serves as a lead worker by providing solutions to workflow issues, meeting customer needs, and achieving established standards. This role sets the pace for production, movement, and/or warehousing of product, working cooperatively with supervisors and other associates to complete tasks.

Responsibilities

• Sets pace of production and movement of product, assists teammates, and adjusts workflow to ensure standards and goals are met.
• Communicates with management when support is necessary.
• Consistently meets or exceeds established goals and standards.
• Performs training for employees to ensure good practices are understood and applied.
• Works with supervisor and/or other leads to maintain a steady workflow.
• Identifies and addresses safety concerns.
• Follows defined processes for protection and usage of high-value company assets (e.g., transportation fleet, forklifts, balers).
• Maintains inventory control processes (First In First Out).
• Contributes to continuous improvement by suggesting enhancements in material flow, job tasks, and equipment maintenance.
• Ensures bale and load weights meet customer expectations.
• Secures freight inside trailers using appropriate tools and supplies.
• Meets assigned productivity goals by utilizing best practices.
• Completes logs and reports as directed.
• Maintains organization and supply of operating materials.
• Operates equipment in accordance with safety guidelines, including the use of protective equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Willingness to work a varied schedule and flexible hours.
• Reliable transportation to travel between Goodwill locations during shifts.
• Experience working with machinery preferred but not required.
• Experience baling preferred but not required.
• Forklift certification may be requested or required.
• Prior work experience must include roles with forklift usage up to 50% of the day.

Core Competencies

• Meets quality guidelines.
• Prioritizes multiple work assignments and competing priorities.
• Communicates supply needs to management.
• Communicates professionally and pleasantly with customers, donors, employees, and visitors.
• Provides high levels of customer service by meeting Retail standards and Goodwill’s Values.
• Follows established security procedures.
• Maintains confidentiality of business results.
• Maintains accurate production records.
• Basic reading, writing, and math skills.

Physical/Sensory Demands

• Able to stand or be stationary for eight or more hours.
• Able to lift 75 pounds and push/pull cages weighing 600 pounds.
• Good hand/eye coordination and small finger dexterity for some functions.
• Able to grasp material for baling on a continuous basis.
• Able to observe and remove materials to meet production and quality standards.
• Able to hear and respond to warning signals and/or alarms.
• Able to work in environments with varying temperatures, dust, unwashed clothing, and loud noise.

Pay

When determining placement within the salary range for this position, Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago considers education, experience, internal equity, market demands, and other qualifying criteria. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the range.

Benefits

In addition to compensation, this role may be eligible for a competitive benefit program that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability.
• Life insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Paid time off (PTO).

The specifics of each benefit package may vary depending on factors such as full- or part-time status, contracted, temporary, or other job categories.