Warehouse Associate

Position Title: Warehouse Associate- Shipping & Receiving

Reports To: Team Leader-Warehouse

FLSA Status: Hourly/ Non-Exempt

Job Grade: 2

Pay Range: $22.35-$31.94 per hour

Date Revised: April 2025

Position Overview:

The Warehouse Associate is responsible for the safe, accurate, and efficient handling of finished goods and raw materials in support of daily warehouse operations. Key duties include loading and unloading trailers, transferring finished products, performing inventory activities, and ensuring compliance with FIFO practices and customer specifications. This role also involves operating forklifts and other material handling equipment while maintaining strict adherence to food safety and workplace safety protocols in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Safely load and unload trailers with finished goods and materials per internal and customer requirements.
• Perform put-away of palletized finished products from palletizers to designated storage areas.
• Follow First-In, First-Out (FIFO) inventory rotation to maintain product freshness and traceability.
• Operate material handling equipment (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks) efficiently and safely.
• Accurately use warehouse management software, scanners, and other inventory tools.
• Receive raw materials, chemicals, and packaging supplies according to company procedures.
• Load dunnage trailers and perform case picking as needed for outbound shipments.
• Conduct routine cycle counts and assist with inventory accuracy initiatives.
• Load refrigerated trailers following customer specifications and temperature controls.
• Complete pre- and post-load trailer inspections to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Safely operate stretch-wrapping and palletizing machinery.
• Maintain clean, organized, and audit-ready warehouse and cooler areas.
• Perform product rework or repackaging tasks to meet specific customer requirements.
• Support internal and external audits and inspections.
• Communicate effectively with internal departments, carriers, and vendors.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), GMPs, and food safety guidelines.
• Wear and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while handling chemicals and materials.
• Accurately complete all documentation related to shipping, receiving, and inventory transactions.
• Collaborate professionally with coworkers and other departments.
• Support cross-training initiatives and assist other departments when needed.
• Comply with all local, state, and federal dairy food regulations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management.

Physical & Environmental Demands:

• Ability to work in a manufacturing environment with varying conditions: hot, cold, wet, humid, and noisy.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb stairs, and navigate around production equipment.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs independently, and up to 100 lbs with assistance.
• Exposure to and handling cleaning chemicals in accordance with safety procedures.
• You must wear PPE, including gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, and other equipment as needed.
• Shift flexibility required, including day, swing, and night shifts, with potential for weekend and holiday work.
• Ability to adjust work schedule to support plant operations, audits, downtime coverage, and production needs.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 3 years of forklift operation experience in a warehouse or manufacturing setting with proficiency in variety of forklifts (sit-down and stand-up)
• Prior experience in a shipping/receiving role; food industry experience preferred.
• Basic math and computer skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication abilities.
• Reliable transportation and ability to consistently report for scheduled shifts.
• Excellent attendance record and proven work history.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) as necessary to safely perform job duties.
• Ability to stand, sit, and carry out tasks throughout a full shift, with appropriate meal breaks.
• Physically capable of standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, twisting, lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, and crouching as needed.
• Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations.
• Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately.
• Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time, hourly position. Must have open availability; Eventual move to shifts to match production; Initially work Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm – then schedule will be set as 12hr Day (6am-6pm) or 12hr Night (6pm-6am) schedule with rotating weekends.

Compensation:

At Cayuga Milk Ingredients, we value a fair and comprehensive approach to compensation. Our wage range for this role is determined by various factors, including skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and organizational needs. It is not typical for an employee to start at or near the top of the range for the position. Compensation decisions are made based on individual job circumstances considering skill level, previous experience, and education requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Cayuga Milk Ingredients is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall,