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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Employee

💰 $28,000 - $42,000

OperationsLogisticsWarehouseFulfillment

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Employee is a hands-on logistics professional responsible for the accurate, safe, and timely movement of goods through the fulfillment lifecycle. This role combines physical material handling with quality checks, precise documentation, and collaboration across shipping, receiving, and inventory teams. The ideal candidate follows established safety protocols (OSHA guidelines), operates material handling equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks, RF scanners), and contributes to continuous improvement of warehouse throughput and accuracy.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Seasonal Warehouse Associate / Holiday Temp
  • Retail Stock Clerk or Backroom Associate
  • Manufacturing or Production Floor Associate

Advancement To:

  • Lead Warehouse Associate / Team Lead
  • Inventory Control Specialist or Cycle Count Coordinator
  • Shipping & Receiving Supervisor
  • Warehouse Supervisor / Operations Supervisor
  • Logistics Coordinator or Warehouse Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Forklift Operator / Reach Truck Operator
  • Shipping Coordinator or Receiving Coordinator
  • Quality Control / Returns Processing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Receive inbound shipments, inspect goods against packing lists and purchase orders, verify quantities and quality, and log discrepancies in the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to ensure accurate inventory records.
  • Operate powered industrial trucks (counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, pallet jacks) safely and efficiently to load and unload trailers, stage pallets, and transport materials to the correct storage areas in accordance with OSHA standards.
  • Pick and pack customer orders accurately using RF scanning devices and pick-by-light systems, verifying SKU, lot and serial numbers where applicable to maintain order accuracy and reduce returns.
  • Perform shipping operations including staging pallets, palletizing, shrink-wrapping, labeling, and preparing bills of lading, shipping manifests, and carrier documentation for scheduled pickups.
  • Execute cycle counts and periodic physical inventories, document adjustments, investigate discrepancies, and work with inventory control to reconcile variances and improve inventory accuracy.
  • Stage and load outbound freight to carriers, verify carrier paperwork, and ensure that shipments meet carrier requirements and company standards for weight distribution and securement.
  • Maintain accurate transaction records in the WMS, ERP or inventory software (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle WMS), including receipts, putaways, picks, transfers and adjustments to support real-time inventory visibility.
  • Inspect and maintain packaging materials and packing stations, recommend improvements to packaging processes, and implement appropriate packing methods to protect product and reduce transit damage.
  • Follow established safety protocols and participate in daily safety briefings, lockout/tagout where necessary, and report any unsafe conditions or incidents immediately to supervisors.
  • Sort, label, and segregate returns / RMA merchandise, perform basic QC checks, process returns into the returns management system, and prepare items for resale, refurbishment or disposal.
  • Load and unload trailers using hand trucks, pallet jacks and forklifts, ensuring proper weight distribution, securing loads with straps or banding, and documenting incoming and outgoing shipment conditions.
  • Assist with inbound vendor unloads and coordinate with procurement and receiving to resolve shipment discrepancies, shortages, or overages and to expedite critical items to production or shipping.
  • Participate in daily production and shipping targets, prioritize assignments to meet tight deadlines, and communicate status updates to team leads and supervisors to maintain throughput.
  • Perform quality inspections on picked or received goods, checking for damage, expiration dates, and adherence to product specifications, and escalate non-conforming items to quality control or management.
  • Conduct routine equipment checks, basic maintenance and cleaning of forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyors and packing equipment, and submit repair requests for faulty equipment to minimize downtime.
  • Execute warehouse slotting and re-slot activities, reorganize inventory locations for optimal pick efficiency, and assist in implementing lean-storage strategies to improve space utilization.
  • Support cross-docking operations by receiving scheduled shipments and immediately staging items for outbound delivery when required to reduce handling and speed up transit times.
  • Maintain clean, organized aisles, racks and workstations; remove packaging waste, recyclables and debris to comply with housekeeping and safety standards and to facilitate safe material flow.
  • Train and mentor new warehouse hires on picking, packing, shipping procedures, equipment operation and company safety policies to build an efficient and compliant team.
  • Escalate supply chain issues, damaged shipments, inventory discrepancies and performance blockers to supervisors and collaborate on corrective actions to reduce recurrence and improve operational KPIs.
  • Prepare reports and daily logs documenting shipments processed, inventory movements, equipment status and safety incidents to support continuous improvement and performance tracking.
  • Support special projects such as inventory system migrations, WMS rollouts, layout reconfigurations and seasonal surges, providing hands-on operational knowledge to ensure successful implementation.

Secondary Functions

  • Cross-train across receiving, picking, packing and staging to provide operational flexibility during peak periods and planned absences.
  • Assist in root-cause analysis for recurring order errors, returns or damages and participate in corrective action plans to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.
  • Contribute ideas to Lean/Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing touch points, shortening cycle times and improving throughput.
  • Help prepare and maintain SOPs (standard operating procedures) and work instructions for warehouse processes and equipment operation.
  • Support inventory analysts and planners by pulling ad-hoc reports, helping with sample counts and providing on-the-ground context for inventory variances.
  • Participate in safety and emergency response drills, help maintain first aid and safety equipment, and act as a safety advocate for peers on the floor.
  • Assist with vendor and carrier check-in processes and ensure external parties comply with on-site safety and access procedures.
  • Provide basic troubleshooting for pick/pack station hardware (scales, labelers, scanners) and escalate technical issues to IT or maintenance teams.
  • Aid in managing hazardous materials per company policy and regulatory requirements, including proper labeling, segregation and disposal procedures.
  • Support customer service teams by providing shipment status, proof of delivery and inventory availability information upon request.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Certified forklift operation (counterbalance, reach truck, and/or narrow aisle) with documented training and safety compliance.
  • Proficient with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and inventory software such as NetSuite, Oracle WMS, SAP EWM, Manhattan, or Fishbowl.
  • Comfortable using RF barcode scanners, mobile data terminals, and pick-by-voice or pick-by-light systems for accurate order fulfillment.
  • Strong shipping and receiving knowledge including bill of lading preparation, palletizing, shrink-wrapping, labeling, and carrier compliance procedures.
  • Experience with order picking methods (batch picking, zone picking, wave picking) and packing techniques to optimize accuracy and fulfillment speed.
  • Knowledge of cycle counting procedures, inventory reconciliation and root-cause analysis for stock discrepancies.
  • Basic mechanical aptitude for performing routine equipment inspections, minor maintenance and maintenance request documentation.
  • Familiarity with OSHA regulations, safe material handling practices, lockout/tagout, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
  • Ability to read and interpret packing lists, purchase orders, SKU labels, and shipping documentation.
  • Proficient in basic arithmetic and measurement skills for load planning, pallet stacking and packaging dimensioning.
  • Experience handling returns (RMA) processing, dispositioning merchandise and documenting condition and reasons for return.
  • Comfortable working with conveyor systems, scales, hand trucks and manual pallet jacks in fast-paced environments.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in picking, counting and documentation.
  • Excellent time management and the ability to prioritize tasks in dynamic, deadline-driven operations.
  • Clear verbal and written communication skills for coordinating with supervisors, carriers and team members.
  • Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate across receiving, shipping, inventory control and quality teams.
  • Dependability and punctuality, with a strong work ethic and willingness to work variable shifts or overtime during peak seasons.
  • Physical stamina and endurance to perform repetitive lifting, bending and standing for extended periods.
  • Problem-solving orientation, able to identify issues on the floor and propose or implement immediate corrective actions.
  • Adaptability and flexibility to deal with changing priorities, process improvements and new technologies.
  • Initiative to proactively maintain work areas, identify safety hazards and support continuous improvement efforts.
  • Customer-focused mindset, recognizing the impact of accuracy and timeliness on downstream customers and partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (GED) is typically required.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or technical certificate in logistics, supply chain, industrial technology, or related field is a plus.
  • Certifications: OSHA 10/30, forklift certification, hazardous materials handling, or supply chain certifications (e.g., APICS/ASCM fundamentals).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Industrial Technology
  • Warehouse Operations
  • Business Administration (operations focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years in warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing operations (entry-level to experienced associate).

Preferred:

  • 1–3 years of direct experience in a busy warehouse environment with demonstrated WMS and RF scanning usage.
  • Prior forklift certification and documented hours operating powered industrial trucks.
  • Experience with shipping carriers (UPS, FedEx, LTL carriers) and familiarity with carrier documentation and scheduling.
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