Shipping & Receiving Associate

About the role

The Shipping & Receiving Associate is responsible for daily shipping and receiving operations to support business needs. This role ensures shipments and receiving are processed accurately and in a timely fashion, supports cross-training within the department, maintains compliance with safety and regulatory standards, and identifies opportunities for continuous improvement in efficiency and performance. Effective communication and collaboration skills are essential for maintaining strong internal partnerships and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Optimize shipping/receiving workflow daily in alignment with incoming and outgoing demand.
• Schedule and coordinate pickup and delivery of products and materials.
• Forecast peak shipment periods and prepare to meet deadlines.
• Communicate with other departments, such as Sales, Purchasing, Production, and Accounting.
• Provide shipping instructions, routing information, and coordinate pickup schedules.
• Participate in warehouse safety and security programs, compliance, and training activities.
• Perform warehouse activities including shipping, receiving, storage, and material movement.
• Oversee inbound and outbound order processing to ensure accuracy and on-time performance.
• Get cross-trained in material handling as needed for operational coverage.
• Conduct cycle counts as needed.
• Ensure clear communication with leadership and cross-functional departments.
• Ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support business needs.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) and 2–3 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Forklift Certification (preferred).
• Certified Logistics Associate/Warehouse Distribution certification from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) (preferred).
• OSHA, Quality training/certification (preferred).

Skills

• Ability to coordinate and execute a variety of shipping and receiving activities.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent planning, organizational, process improvement, and time management abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and applicable warehouse/supply chain software.
• Proficiency in supply chain management software like M1, Oracle, or SAP solutions.
• Proficiency in ERP/SCM software and tools.
• Demonstrated organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage and enforce quality standards.
• Strong safety awareness and ability to enforce safe work practices.
• Shipping & Receiving knowledge and accuracy discipline.
• Ability to read and comprehend technical documents such as work instructions, technical instructions, computer data, and procedure manuals.
• Basic written language skills, including the ability to document and communicate effectively via email.
• Good verbal language skills, including the ability to speak clearly and effectively to individuals or groups.
• Active listening skills: giving full attention to what others are saying, taking time to understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting.
• Aptitude to demonstrate harmonious interpersonal interactions with others of different backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a contributing member of a close-knit team.
• Accountability: taking ownership of one’s work, including responsibility for complete and accurate work.
• Resilience: staying composed and focused under pressure and dealing with unexpected challenges.
• Safety awareness: prioritizing safety by following safety protocols and recognizing potential hazards.
• Aptitude to perform basic mathematical operations using units of time, pressure, temperature, weight, volume, and distance.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.
• Ability to deal with practical problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Self-starter, able to work independently and under pressure.
• Comfortable interacting with all employee levels in the company, including leadership.
• Able to work cross-functionally within departments to accomplish objectives.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, use hands, and reach with hands and arms to place/replace products.
• Required to walk, stoop, or crouch.
• Must regularly lift and/or move tooling and components weighing up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include vision for quality checks and depth perception.
• May be required to stand and walk for extended periods while overseeing warehouse operations and conducting inspections.
• May need to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds, such as inventory, equipment, or supplies.
• May need to bend, stoop, or crouch to inspect inventory, access materials, or perform other tasks.
• May need to reach and stretch to access items on high shelves or move items around the warehouse.
• Physical agility may be required to navigate through the warehouse, including moving around obstacles and climbing ladders or stairs.
• Manual dexterity may be needed to handle, grasp, or manipulate items, equipment, or tools.
• Physical endurance may be required to maintain a high level of activity throughout the day, including during busy periods or when conducting inventory checks.

Work Environment

• Regularly exposed to slow-moving mechanical parts.
• Occasionally exposed to airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud.
• No travel required.