2nd Shift Forklift

Urban Farmer LLC•Manteno, IL

9h•Onsite

About The Position

The Forklift Driver plays a critical role in supporting Urban Farmer’s warehouse and production operations by safely and efficiently moving raw materials, finished goods, and packaging supplies throughout the facility. This position ensures accurate material flow, supports production and shipping schedules, and maintains compliance with all safety, food safety, and quality standards. In addition to operating forklifts and powered industrial equipment, the Forklift Driver assists with general warehouse duties, inventory control, and documentation to ensure smooth daily operations in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Ability to read, understand, and follow written and verbal work instructions, safety procedures, and operational policies.
Demonstrated ability to work at a steady pace within a high-volume shipping and warehouse environment.
Working knowledge of warehouse, shipping, and receiving procedures, including proper material handling and documentation practices.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately verify product information, complete required paperwork, and maintain inventory accuracy.
Effective communication skills to collaborate with forklift operators, warehouse staff, production teams, and leadership.
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Must successfully complete and maintain Urban Farmer forklift certification and any required safety training.
Ability to safely operate forklifts and other powered industrial equipment with strong hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Must be able to perform all essential job duties and responsibilities satisfactorily, with consistent reliability and accountability.

Responsibilities

Safely operate forklifts and other powered industrial equipment to move raw ingredients, packaging materials, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods throughout Urban Farmer’s production, warehouse, cooler, and freezer environments.
Support continuous manufacturing operations by staging, delivering, and removing materials in alignment with daily production schedules, ensuring lines remain supplied and operational without interruption.
Load and unload inbound ingredients, packaging, and outbound finished goods while verifying product identity, quantities, lot codes, expiration dates, and documentation to maintain full traceability and compliance.
Handle food products and materials in accordance with Urban Farmer’s food safety, GMP, SQF, HACCP, and FSMA standards, ensuring all materials remain protected from damage, contamination, or temperature abuse.
Transport temperature-sensitive products promptly to designated refrigerated or frozen storage areas to maintain cold-chain integrity and product quality.
Inspect pallets, packaging, labels, and stretch-wrap prior to movement to ensure accuracy, stability, and compliance with quality and shipping requirements.
Accurately document all inventory movements using required paperwork and/or warehouse management systems to ensure real-time inventory accuracy and audit readiness.
Follow FIFO/FEFO practices and ensure proper segregation of materials by status, including approved, on-hold, rejected, allergen-controlled, rework, and returns, as directed by Quality and Operations.
Assist with cycle counts, physical inventories, and reconciliation of inventory discrepancies by researching transactions and communicating findings to leadership.
Maintain organized staging lanes, aisles, racking locations, docks, and freezer spaces to support safe traffic flow, efficiency, and sanitation standards.
Perform required pre-shift and post-shift forklift inspections, including checks of brakes, forks, hydraulics, batteries/propane, tires, and safety features.
Immediately report equipment damage, mechanical issues, near-misses, or unsafe conditions and remove equipment from service when necessary.
Coordinate with Maintenance and warehouse leadership to support preventative maintenance, battery changes, and repairs to minimize downtime.
Complete all shift documentation accurately and on time, including safety checklists, equipment logs, inventory forms, and shipping paperwork.
Adhere strictly to OSHA regulations, plant safety rules, dock safety procedures, pedestrian safety guidelines, and PPE requirements at all times.
Maintain a clean, organized, and food-safe work area by following sanitation procedures, removing debris, and properly disposing of waste and damaged materials.
Communicate effectively with Production, Warehouse Leadership, Quality, Shipping, and Maintenance teams regarding material availability, shortages, quality concerns, or operational issues.
Actively participate in food safety training, safety meetings, audits, inspections, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Promptly report any food safety, quality, or compliance concerns to supervisors and Quality representatives on shift.
Perform additional warehouse and operational support tasks as assigned to meet business needs and support Urban Farmer’s production goals.