3rd Shift Forklift Lead

Urban Farmer LLC•Manteno, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Forklift Lead is responsible for leading daily forklift and material-handling operations to ensure safe, efficient movement of product, equipment, and materials throughout the facility. This role supports warehouse execution by overseeing forklift operators, reinforcing safety and performance standards, and ensuring accurate material flow in alignment with production, inventory, and shipping needs. The Forklift Lead serves as a floor-level leader, acting as a key communication link between shifts and departments while maintaining compliance with OSHA, GMP, Food Safety, and company policies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Minimum 2–3 years of forklift operation experience in a warehouse or manufacturing setting.
Working knowledge of warehouse operations, material flow, and shipping/receiving processes.
Familiarity with OSHA, GMP, and Food Safety standards.
Proven ability to operate forklifts and material-handling equipment safely and in compliance with company policies.
Strong communication skills with the ability to relay information clearly across shifts and departments.
Ability to follow standard work, prioritize tasks, and support team productivity.
High attention to detail with strong hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a lead, trainer, or senior operator role preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead daily forklift operations to support production, warehousing, inventory movement, and shipping activities.
Ensure safe, accurate, and timely transport of materials, finished goods, equipment, and supplies throughout the facility.
Monitor forklift usage to prevent product damage, spoilage, or safety incidents.
Verify materials are moved, staged, and stored according to FIFO, lot control, and food safety requirements.
Support yard and dock coordination related to dry warehouse materials as needed.
Maintain organization and cleanliness of dry warehouse locations to support efficient picking and staging.
Provide day-to-day direction and support to forklift operators and material handlers.
Assist with training, onboarding, and coaching of new and existing forklift operators.
Observe forklift operations to ensure adherence to safety procedures, performance standards, and standard work.
Reinforce accountability for safe operation, productivity, and quality expectations.
Ensure forklifts are operated safely and inspected regularly in accordance with OSHA and company requirements.
Lead or support safety huddles and reinforce safe work behaviors.
Ensure all safety rules, GMPs, Food Safety, and plant safety policies are followed at all times.
Report and escalate safety concerns, equipment issues, or incidents immediately.
Communicate critical information between departments and across shifts, including changes to production schedules, equipment status, or material priorities.
Coordinate closely with Warehouse Management, Inventory, Production, and Shipping teams to support operational needs.
Support smooth shift-to-shift transitions through clear handoff communication.
Complete and maintain required documentation including pallet tickets, scanning records, location sheets, and production or movement logs.
Ensure all material movements are properly scanned and recorded in the ERP/WMS system.
Support audits, traceability exercises, and inventory accuracy efforts as needed.
Identify opportunities to improve forklift safety, efficiency, and material flow.
Support continuous improvement initiatives related to warehouse operations and material handling.
Perform other duties as assigned by Warehouse Management.