Retail Donor Specialist - Materials Handler Associate

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee•Bellevue, TN

20h

About The Position

The Retail Donor Specialist - Materials Handler Associate supports Goodwill’s donated goods operations by delivering a positive donor experience while safely receiving, handling, and moving donated merchandise through backroom operations, including the Donation Express Center (DEC). The role includes donor engagement, material handling, trailer loading, and maintaining efficient workflow to support production and store replenishment. Under store leadership, the associate balances donor service, safety, productivity, and accuracy in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. The position operates in alignment with Goodwill’s mission of Changing Lives through Education, Training, and Employment and its values of Teamwork, Respect, Uprightness, and Empowerment. The associate greets donors, provides donation receipts and information, assists with unloading and directions, and manages donor flow. They load, unload, stage, and move donated goods; operate forklifts and pallet jacks when trained and authorized; and keep backroom, staging, equipment, and trailer areas clean, organized, and ready for work. The role requires following safety policies, lifting practices, and operational procedures, and reporting hazards or equipment concerns to leadership. A flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, is required based on business needs.

Requirements

Ability to balance positive donor interactions with operational and backroom responsibilities.
Ability to consistently follow operational standards, workflows, and safety procedures.
Ability to work safely and accurately in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and move donated goods as required.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience in retail, donation intake, production, warehouse, or customer-facing roles.
Experience in fast-paced, high-volume, quota or production, or warehouse environments with service, productivity, accuracy, and quality expectations.
Experience supporting donors or customers in a community-facing role while performing donation processing, material handling, or backroom operations.
Prior nonprofit or mission-based retail experience.
Bilingual language skills.

Responsibilities

Deliver the GREAT donor experience by greeting donors, providing donation receipts, offering excellent service, assisting as needed, and thanking donors.
Receive donated goods according to donation acceptance, safety, and operational guidelines.
Provide basic information about donation procedures and Goodwill’s mission impact.
Assist donors with unloading, directions, and questions while maintaining a safe and positive donation experience.
Manage donor flow to maintain a safe, efficient, and customer-friendly environment, including during peak periods.
Handle and move donated merchandise safely and accurately through donation areas and backroom operations.
Maintain material flow to support processing, production, and store replenishment.
Load, unload, and stage donated goods, including trailers and trucks, according to safety and operational standards.
Operate forklifts and pallet jacks when trained and authorized.
Keep backroom, staging, equipment, and trailer areas organized, clean, and ready for daily workflow.
Perform routine housekeeping and keep work areas free of hazards.
Follow safety policies, procedures, lifting practices, housekeeping standards, and operational procedures.
Monitor surroundings and promptly report safety hazards, equipment concerns, or operational issues to leadership.
Support a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs.
Perform other duties as assigned to support donor experience, backroom operations, and store performance.