Yard Lead (Manufacturing)

Position Overview

At Schaefer Plastics, we are seeking a dependable and organized Yard Lead to oversee the daily activities of our outdoor yard and material staging areas. This is a hands-on role responsible for maintaining safe and efficient material flow, organizing inventory, coordinating staging needs, and supporting production and shipping operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily yard activities and ensure materials are stored safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Cook up the movement and staging of materials to support production, warehouse, and shipping needs.
• Receive and verify incoming and outgoing materials, including quantities, condition, and proper placement.
• Maintain an organized staging area to ensure materials can be located and accessed quickly.
• Work closely with Production, Warehouse, and Logistics teams to prioritize material requirements.
• Maintain a clean, orderly, and hazard-free yard, including walkways, driveways, and storage areas.
• Provide day-to-day direction and support to yard and forklift personnel, as applicable.
• Perform routine inventory counts and assist with researching and resolving discrepancies.
• Safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment as needed.
• Absorb and prepare materials for shipment.
• Communicate effectively with drivers, vendors, and internal departments to keep yard operations running smoothly.
• Identify opportunities to improve material flow, yard organization, space utilization, and overall efficiency.
• Ensure all activities are performed in accordance with company safety policies and applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED is required.
• Two or more years of experience in warehouse, logistics, material handling, or yard operations is required.
• Previous lead or leadership experience is preferred.
• Forklift certification is preferred but required to obtain.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities are essential.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills are crucial.
• Basic computer skills; experience using inventory or ERP systems is a plus.
• The ability to work independently and take ownership of assigned responsibilities is important.
• A strong commitment to workplace safety, quality, and continuous improvement is expected.

Work Environment & Schedule

• This is a full-time position primarily working in an outdoor yard environment.
• Regular exposure to varying weather conditions and temperatures is required.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and material handling are necessary.
• The ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds as needed is required.
• Comfortable operating material handling equipment and working around truck and forklift traffic is essential.
• Occasional overtime and weekend work may be required based on production and business needs.