Rail Operator

About the role

GAF is constructing a new shingle manufacturing facility in Newton, KS and is building the initial plant leadership team. This greenfield startup offers the opportunity to travel to other locations, engage with peers, support hiring of plant staff, and participate in the design and construction of the facility. Expect rewarding and challenging work with an amazing team during the construction and commissioning phases, transitioning into a steady role over time.

Responsibilities

• Champion a safe and clean work environment, embedding safety as the highest priority within our culture.
• Participate in safety, continuous improvement, and 5S initiatives.
• Maintain compliance with safety policies and procedures; conduct inspections of plant areas and/or equipment, resolving deficiencies or communicating them appropriately.
• Safely operate industrial equipment to move raw materials and/or finished goods to appropriate plant locations.
• Safely unload raw materials and load finished goods from/to commercial trucks and/or rail cars.
• Lead complex loading and unloading sequences for commercial trucks and railcars, ensuring maximum efficiency and 100% compliance with weight distribution and load security standards.
• Serve as a designated trainer for Level I and II Associates, specifically regarding the safe operation of specialized industrial equipment like trackmobiles and high-capacity forklifts.
• Independently diagnose and resolve critical operational bottlenecks, equipment malfunctions, or dock congestion that threaten facility throughput.
• Lead regular cycle count initiatives and conduct deep-dive investigations into inventory variances, SKU discrepancies, or lot number errors before they impact production.
• Perform comprehensive root cause analysis for any safety or loading incidents, recommending process improvements to plant leadership to prevent recurrence.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in Warehouse Management Systems (WMS/Koerber) and SAP to audit material movement and ensure absolute real-time data accuracy.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
• 3+ years in a safety-sensitive position within an industrial, distribution, or manufacturing environment.

Skills

General Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A demonstrated commitment to safety.
• Expert interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Situational awareness in plants with moving machinery, overhead hazards, and pedestrian walkways.
• Advanced communication skills required when working with employees at all levels of the organization, third-party logistics providers, rail carriers, and truck drivers.
• Ability to pivot quickly to supply chain disruptions.
• Ability to work under limited supervision, make independent judgments, and decisions as necessary.
• Ability to identify problems and resolve conflicts within a collaborative, team-driven environment.
• Strong mathematical skills required for counting during receiving and verifying pallet/load quantities against Bills of Lading.
• Ability to maintain productivity during an 8 to 12-hour shift that may involve bending, lifting, and mounting/dismounting equipment.
• Excellent organization skills.

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Advanced proficiency in G Suite.
• Advanced knowledge of OSHA and FRA regulations, specifically LTV (Lock, Tag, Verify), wheel chock use, Rail flag identification, industrial equipment safety, HazMat transportation regulations.
• Advanced knowledge of inventory control including cycle counts, FIFO standards, and inbound/outbound paperwork.
• Advanced knowledge of equipment weight shift points when transitioning from ramps/docks to trailers.
• Advanced knowledge of forklift and other industrial equipment weight limits for safe transportation of product and/or materials.
• Expert skills in warehouse management platforms like SAP to track materials and costs.
• Advanced knowledge of safely loading trucks via loading ramps, use of spotters, and management of weight shift points when the equipment transitions from the ramp to the trailer deck.
• Expert ability to perform root cause analysis for safety and loading incidents.

Qualifications Preferred

• 3+ years of forklift experience within an industrial, distribution, or manufacturing environment.
• Experience with specialized logistics systems (Koerber), Google Suite, and ERP systems.

Physical Demands

• Stationary Position: Frequently
• Move/Traverse: Frequently
• Stationary Position/Seated: Frequently
• Transport/Lifting: Frequently (up to 50 lbs.)
• Transport/Carrying: Frequently
• Exerting Force/Pushing: Frequently
• Exerting Force/Pulling: Frequently
• Ascend/Descend: Frequently
• Balancing: Frequently
• Position Self/Stooping: Frequently
• Position Self/Kneeling: Frequently
• Position Self/Crouching: Frequently
• Position Self/Crawling: Frequently
• Reaching: Constantly
• Handling: Constantly
• Grasping: Frequently
• Feeling: Occasionally
• Communicate/Talking: Frequently
• Communicate/Hearing: Frequently
• Repetitive Motions: Frequently
• Coordination: Frequently
• Climbing: Frequently

Working Conditions

• Extreme cold: Frequently
• Extreme heat: Frequently
• Humid: Frequently
• Wet: Frequently
• Noise: Frequently
• Hazards: Frequently
• Temperature Change: Frequently
• Vibration: Frequently

Travel Requirements

May require occasional travel in connection to job duties such as conferences, site visits, professional development, or learning opportunities, with advance notice provided.

Pay

Base Hourly Rate: $32.00. Individual compensation offers will be determined based on factors including geographic location, relevant candidate experience, skills, education, and qualifications.

Benefits

• A wide range of health insurance options including medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Family-building benefits supporting fertility and parenthood journeys.
• Robust 401K plan with employer match contributions for pre-tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Wellness program, free financial coaching, referral program, and product rebates for an employee’s primary residence.
• Professional growth and development through internal training programs, courses, and a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• Opportunities to connect with colleagues through Employee Resource Groups focusing on education and allyship.