Traffic Assistant (Plastics Manufacturing)

About Schaefer Plastics

Schaefer Plastics manufactures industry-leading waste and packaging solutions while promoting sustainable practices. Founded in 1937, it is a family-owned company dedicated to providing exceptional customer care through high-quality, innovative products.

Why This Role Matters

The Traffic Assistant supports the Materials and Logistics team by ensuring shipments are prepared accurately, completing necessary paperwork, and communicating with internal departments and customers.

Position Summary

The Traffic Assistant is responsible for supporting the timely and cost-effective transportation of products by preparing shipping documentation, coordinating parcel shipments, maintaining logs, assisting with intercompany transfer paperwork, and communicating with internal teams and customers as needed. This role also provides backup support to the Traffic Coordinator and assists with general office duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare shipping documentation, including bills of lading, packing lists, and special shipping instructions.
• Process domestic and international parcel shipments through DHL, FedEx, UPS, and other carriers as needed.
• Maintain small parts logs, BOL logs, invoice logs, quote logs, and other shipping-related records.
• Complete intercompany transfer paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.
• Communicate upcoming shipment information to appropriate internal departments.
• Cook with customers as needed for customer-arranged or collect shipments.
• Provide backup support to the Traffic Coordinator, including dock appointment coordination and daily shipping remarks or database updates.
• Answer phones and assist with general office responsibilities.
• Support department workflow by completing administrative tasks accurately and on time.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Traffic Coordinator or Management.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Prior experience in shipping, logistics, traffic, transportation, customer service, or administrative support is preferred.
• Experience preparing shipping documents, bills of lading, packing slips, or carrier paperwork is preferred.
• Basic computer and data entry skills are required.
• Ability to communicate professionally with internal teams, customers, and carriers is essential.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records are required.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage competing deadlines is necessary.
• Dependable, organized, and able to work independently with direction are key qualities.
• Knowledge of reading and understanding simple instructions, correspondence, memos, and shipping documentation is required.
• Ability to write clear, professional correspondence is necessary.
• Ability to effectively communicate information in one-on-one and small group settings is required.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals is necessary.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out written and verbal instructions is required.
• Ability to resolve routine problems involving standardized situations is necessary.
• Professional demeanor with strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills is essential.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and represent the company professionally is required.

Core Competencies

• Adaptability
• Attendance and punctuality
• Customer service
• Dependability
• Ethics and integrity
• Initiative
• Interpersonal communication
• Judgment
• Organization and planning
• Problem solving
• Professionalism
• Safety awareness
• Teamwork
• Written communication

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based and requires frequent sitting, computer use, talking, hearing, reading documents, and viewing data on computer screens. The role may also require occasional standing, walking, reaching, bending, kneeling, or crouching. The employee may occasionally lift up to 10, 25, or 50 pounds. The work environment is generally quiet to moderate, with occasional exposure to louder manufacturing or warehouse areas. Employees must follow all safety procedures when entering operational areas.

Applicant Privacy Notice

Schaefer Plastics North America, LLC will use the information you provide as part of the application process to evaluate your qualifications, communicate with you about the position, and manage the recruiting and hiring process. Applicant information will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and retention requirements and shared only with individuals involved in the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Schaefer Plastics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and make employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.