WRP; Wholesale Recovery Program) Warehouse Worker

Food Forward seeks a detail-oriented warehouse worker to join our wholesale recovery team. The WRP Warehouse Worker will report to the WRP Warehouse Supervisor and must have some produce handling and warehousing experience. The ideal candidate must be able to work in the early hours and with flexible schedules. They will work closely and effectively with team members and can communicate clearly, respectfully and concisely in a fast-paced, high-pressure work environment.

The Warehouse Worker will primarily load/unload, sort, and assist Food Forward in distributing millions of pounds of fresh produce. The Warehouse Worker will rely heavily on material handling equipment (MHE), including a forklift, Rider pallet jack, and Electric pallet jack, to complete their tasks. The individual's success will help Food Forward continue providing the community with fresh, healthy produce.

Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Fruits and vegetables are collected from backyard fruit trees, farmers markets, growers, and wholesalers and then provided free of charge to people experiencing food insecurity through more than 250 hunger relief partner organizations that serve communities across the region.

• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Working together, we inspire and are inspired by the people in the communities we serve.
• EQUITY AND INCLUSION We cultivate a diverse workforce that nurtures equity and inclusion.
• FOOD JUSTICE We share the abundance of fresh produce and prevent food waste because everyone deserves access to fresh and nutritious food.
• INTEGRITY We are honest, accountable, and authentic in our words and actions.
• JOYFULNESS We embrace a creative, spirited, and fulfilling environment

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Hours:
  
  Full-time, non-exempt (starting hours as early as 4:00 am)
• Sort, count, inspect, load, and unload incoming and outgoing inventory using the appropriate MHE
• Enter and reconcile order information in Fusion ware (produce management database)
• Assist in implementing warehouse safety and security protocols to comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Conduct physical produce counts, reconcile, and enter them into our database.
• Maintain a welcoming environment for all Food Forward stakeholders, training and supervising warehouse volunteers in coordination with Food Forward’s Outreach Department.
• Ensure all safety procedures are being followed by all persons entering the facility. This includes Food Forward staff, guests, receiving agencies, and volunteers.
• Ad Hoc duties as needed that are related to warehouse operations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• 2 - 5 years of produce warehousing, shipping, and receiving experience, and inventory control and management
• 2 – 5 years of produce handling experience (ability to decipher quality & perishability)
• 2 – 5 years of experience with MHE.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English is required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Physical ability to frequently lift and carry materials weighing 25 – 70 pounds
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, bend, lift, twist, kneel, crouch, crawl, pull, push, carry, grasp, reach, and stoop as needed
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors.
• Ability to work in a refrigerated environment. (temperatures as low as 32°F)
• Ability to operate MHE (Certification preferred or provided upon hire)

Food Forward is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with protected class backgrounds. We value the individuals we hire and look forward to creating a positive work environment for all identities.