Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Order Picker

🎯 Role Definition

The Order Picker is a frontline warehouse professional responsible for accurately selecting, staging, and preparing customer orders for shipment. This role focuses on maintaining high order accuracy, efficient throughput, and compliance with safety and quality procedures in a dynamic fulfillment environment. The ideal Order Picker combines physical endurance with attention to detail, basic computer competency (WMS/RF handhelds), and a continuous improvement mindset.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate / General Warehouse Worker
Retail Stock Clerk or Backroom Associate
Material Handler or Seasonal Warehouse Support

Advancement To:

Lead Order Picker / Team Lead (Picking)
Shipping & Receiving Supervisor
Inventory Control Specialist
Warehouse Supervisor / Operations Lead

Lateral Moves:

Forklift Operator / Reach Truck Operator
Quality Control Inspector (Warehouse QC)
Packing Specialist / Kitting Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Accurately pick customer orders from racking and shelving using RF handheld scanners or pick-to-light systems, consistently meeting or exceeding daily productivity and accuracy targets while minimizing errors and mis-picks.
Verify picked items against pick lists or electronic work orders, checking SKUs, lot numbers, and expiration dates where applicable to ensure order integrity and compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
Pack, label, and prepare orders for shipment according to company packing standards, selecting appropriate packaging materials, filling voids properly, and applying shipping labels and documentation to prevent damage in transit.
Stage completed orders to designated shipping areas, coordinating with shipping staff to maintain a smooth flow of outbound shipments and ensuring orders are loaded in the correct sequence for delivery routing.
Operate warehouse equipment safely and efficiently—including pallet jacks, hand trucks, cherry pickers, or order picker lifts—following OSHA and company safety protocols and maintaining required certifications.
Receive and process inbound inventory during restock or replenishment cycles, verifying quantities and conditions of incoming products and updating the Warehouse Management System (WMS) when receiving is required.
Conduct regular cycle counts and assist with full physical inventory activities to maintain inventory accuracy, promptly investigating and reporting discrepancies to inventory control or supervision.
Perform quality inspections on items and packaging, identifying damaged, expired, or defective products and following procedures for segregation, reporting, and disposition to protect customers and maintain brand standards.
Maintain productivity and quality metrics by following established standard operating procedures (SOPs), meeting pick rates, accuracy, and throughput goals while documenting and escalating process issues or bottlenecks.
Follow FIFO/LIFO, temperature-sensitive handling, and other inventory rotation methods where required, ensuring that perishable or dated goods are picked and shipped in compliance with food safety or product guidelines.
Use handheld RF scanners, tablets, and warehouse software to receive pick assignments, confirm picks, log exceptions, and update order status in real time so that downstream teams have accurate fulfillment visibility.
Communicate effectively with supervisors, shipping/receiving, and other warehouse teams to prioritize rush orders, resolve discrepancies, and support cross-functional activities during peak periods or operational disruptions.
Adhere to safety protocols including PPE requirements, safe lifting techniques, lockout/tagout procedures for equipment maintenance, and immediate reporting of hazards or incidents to reduce workplace injuries and downtime.
Assist with packing optimization initiatives such as right-sizing boxes, reducing packing materials waste, and ensuring correct carrier service selection to balance cost and protection during shipment.
Support returns processing by inspecting returned items, documenting conditions, and routing products to designated quarantine, restock or disposition areas as per returns policies.
Participate in daily huddles, shift briefings, and continuous improvement meetings, contributing ideas to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and improve team performance in the picking and packing workflow.
Train and mentor newly hired order pickers on picking procedures, equipment operation, safety practices, and quality expectations to accelerate onboarding and maintain consistent performance across shifts.
Maintain clean, organized, and safe picking zones by removing debris, recycling packaging materials, and ensuring aisles and staging areas are free from obstructions that could impede workflow or cause accidents.
Record and escalate inventory anomalies such as mislabeled products, incorrect counts, or damaged pallets, working with inventory control and supervisors to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
Flexibly support multiple warehouse functions during peak seasons or staffing fluctuations, including packing, loading/unloading trailers, and basic shipping document preparation to ensure on-time delivery commitments are met.
Meet physical demands of the job including frequent walking, bending, reaching, and repetitive lifting of up to company-specified weight limits; demonstrate stamina to work full shifts in ambient or temperature-controlled environments (e.g., refrigerated or freezer sections as required).

Secondary Functions

Assist the warehouse team with ad-hoc cycle counts, data entry for inventory adjustments, and reconciliation of pick/pack reports to improve inventory accuracy.
Help implement continuous improvement initiatives by providing feedback on pick paths, slotting, and packing methods that reduce travel time and increase throughput.
Support cross-training efforts across warehouse functions to create a flexible workforce able to respond to seasonal demand and operational peaks.
Complete basic maintenance checks on picking equipment and report maintenance needs to supervision to avoid downtime and maintain safety compliance.
Participate in quality assurance spot checks and help generate documentation for returned goods, damaged items, and shipping discrepancies for root-cause analysis.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient operation of RF handheld scanners, barcode readers, and familiarity with common Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as SAP EWM, Manhattan, Oracle WMS, JDA/Blue Yonder, or equivalent.
Experienced with material handling equipment: electric pallet jacks, hand trucks, roll cages, and, where certified, reach trucks or order picker lifts.
Strong knowledge of pick/pack/ship processes, including pack station procedures, correct labeling, cartonization, and carrier manifesting basics.
Demonstrated inventory control skills including cycle counting, reconciliation, and basic inventory adjustment procedures.
Ability to read and interpret pick tickets, packing lists, SKU labels, and simple shipping documentation.
Familiarity with FIFO/LIFO and date-sensitive product handling and the ability to apply rotation methods consistently.
Basic computer literacy: ability to use warehouse tablets, scanners, and enter data accurately into WMS or handheld devices.
Experience following standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and quality control checklists.
Competence in basic math for counting, measuring, and verifying quantities and weights.
Certified forklift or powered industrial truck (PIT) operator preferred where applicable.

Soft Skills

High attention to detail and commitment to order accuracy to minimize customer claims and returns.
Strong time-management skills and ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Effective verbal communication to coordinate with team members, supervisors, and shipping partners.
Physical stamina and resilience to handle repetitive movements, standing, and lifting for the duration of shifts.
Team-oriented attitude with willingness to cross-train and support colleagues during peak demand.
Reliability and punctuality to maintain shift coverage and meet business operational needs.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to escalate and document issues clearly.
Adaptability and flexibility to work variable shifts, overtime, and weekends during busy seasons.
Accountability and ownership for completed work and adherence to company quality standards.
Continuous improvement orientation: open to feedback and proactive in suggesting process improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED preferred; equivalent work experience in warehouse or distribution environments accepted.

Preferred Education:

Vocational training or certifications in logistics, material handling, or supply chain fundamentals.
Certifications for powered industrial trucks (forklift) or safety courses (OSHA/machine-specific) are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management / Logistics
Industrial Technology / Operations Management
Business Administration (entry-level operational roles)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 3 years for entry-level Order Picker roles; 1–5 years preferred for higher-volume or specialized environments.

Preferred:

At least 1 year of warehouse picking/packing or material handling experience.
Prior experience using RF scanners and a Warehouse Management System (WMS).
Experience in temperature-controlled environments (refrigerated/freezer) or with specialty goods (pharmaceuticals, perishables) when applicable.