Forklift Operator (1st Shift) pay start at $23.45 hr. - St. Charles, IL

Graham Packaging Company • West Chicago, IL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Graham Packaging Company is hiring a Forklift Operator based in West Chicago (St. Charles), Illinois. The opening is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a starting wage of $23.45 per hour. Forklift Operators handle products and operate lift trucks to stack, transport, and store work-in-process and finished goods. They supply production lines with materials and move completed goods to the warehouse, maintaining accurate records of materials used and products stored. They may also relieve production-line teammates during breaks and lunch periods.

The role involves following safety, health, quality, GMP, and company procedures; inspecting and maintaining lift trucks and batteries; coordinating material flow with production and warehouse teams; handling scrap and packaging supplies; checking finished pallets for quality; and completing required reports and documentation. Limited travel may be required.

Graham describes itself as a people-, planet-, and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. Its Blue Culture emphasizes safety, continuous improvement, individual growth, accountability, cooperation, collaboration, integrity, respect, learning, and a diverse and connected workforce.

Requirements

• At least 1 year of forklift experience is preferred.
• Maintain regular, predictable, and punctual attendance.
• Computer usage and typing skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including effective communication with internal and external customers.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
• Ability to work independently and complete assignments within given instructions, routines, and accepted practices.
• Ability to communicate facts and information clearly.
• Ability to collaborate, contribute proactively to group objectives, and volunteer to help others.

Nice To Haves

• At least 1 year of forklift experience.

Responsibilities

• Follow established safety, health, quality, GMP, company, forklift, and maintenance procedures.
• Inspect the lift truck and battery, report malfunctions or damage, change batteries and add water when needed, record battery changes, and complete the lift truck status report.
• Review the daily production schedule with the Shift Supervisor and supply production lines with needed materials, notifying the supervisor when supplies are running low.
• Move finished goods from production lines to assigned warehouse locations and provide warehouse personnel with accurate information about materials unloaded, used, or produced.
• Remove, store, and unitize production scrap; notify warehouse personnel when a full load is available; remove excess corrugated and transport full cardboard bales to assigned warehouse locations.
• Maintain accurate records of materials used and produced and submit required paperwork and reports.
• Move held finished goods and other materials to assigned locations; store finished goods neatly and at proper heights; verify product code tags are present.
• Participate in physical inventory taking.
• Supply production lines with knockdown cases, dividers, and pallets; transport full pallets to the warehouse and return unused cases and dividers to their proper locations.
• Assist with stock-handler duties or trailer loading during limited production, as needed.
• Bring glue cases and color concentrate to production lines, replace cold glue totes, move excess cases and slip sheets, load storage racks with gaylords, set up rework and held product for Quality Control, relieve stock handlers, and load or unload corrugated trailers.
• Identify acceptable and defective corrugated material and isolate defective material.
• Follow procedures for damaged finished goods and raw materials and report issues on the line driver report.
• Communicate shift and machine totals, changes, problems, damaged materials or skids, and low inventories to supervisors and other lift truck operators.
• Relieve downstream teammates for breaks and lunches.
• Move finished-product pallets to stretch-wrap machines, then to staging or specified warehouse locations; complete the finished goods report or worksheet.
• Maintain supplies of corrugated and other packaging materials at each machine.
• Visually inspect completed product pallets for quality and conformity with packaging instructions.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement projects and related activities as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical insurance, available starting on day one.
• Dental insurance, available starting on day one.
• Vision insurance, available starting on day one.
• 401(k) Employee Saving Plan with company match; enrollment available starting on day one.
• Basic life insurance.
• Employee Wellness Program.
• Paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed