Warehouse Associate

SEEKING TOP TALENT TO CHANGE THE FOOD INDUSTRY

At Karlsburger, we pour our hearts into giving flavor its soul. We are a savory ingredient specialist that is shaking up the food supply chain, by providing rich foundational flavors. Our customers range from wonderful local restaurants to innovative global manufacturers, to brave hunger relief organizations on the frontline of the battle to end childhood hunger.

As a family-owned company, Karlsburger is looking for employees that want to join our family-first culture. As part of the Karlsburger family, you will be offered the resources you need to be successful in an environment that recognizes and rewards growth, innovation, and integrity. We take great pride in walking alongside each of our employees as they design an exciting future within our enduring legacy of excellence.

Karlsburger Foods is seeking a full time WAREHOUSE ASSOCIATE. This role will work at our Corporate Headquarters located in Monticello, MN, and report directly to the Pre-Production Supervisor. Hours would be 8AM - 4PM Monday through Friday.

Position Summary:
The Warehouse & Operations Associate is a cross-functional role responsible for receiving, storing, pulling, staging, and delivering raw materials and packaging for production use, as well as handling finished goods and returns. This role supports the smooth flow of inventory from dock to production and shipping, ensuring accuracy, food safety, and compliance with GMP, allergen, and traceability requirements. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Receiving and Shipping 
• Receive raw materials, ingredients, and packaging per PO and company specifications. 
• Verify lot numbers, expiration dates, packaging integrity, and temperature for compliance. 
• Label and tag materials using barcode printers and scanners. 
• Load/unload inbound and outbound trucks using forklifts or pallet jacks. 
• Stage outbound shipments, wrapping pallets, and prepare BOL documentation. 
• Pre-Production Pulling and Staging
• Pull raw materials and packaging per production orders, recipes, and BOM. 
• Follow lot traceability, allergen segregation, and FEFO/FIFO protocols. 
• Print and apply updated labels or tags using WMS tools (e.g., Zebra). 
• Manage thawing/tempering logs for applicable items; record time/temp per food safety guidelines. 
• Stage pulled materials in kitted format in pre-production zones. 
• Material Delivery and Returns.
• Deliver kitted ingredients to production rooms as requested, minimizing delays and room congestion. 
• Return unused raw materials to appropriate storage locations by allergen and temperature zone. 
• Re-tag and scan returned materials, updating system inventory accurately. 
• Separate damaged, expired, or questionable items for QA review and CAPA follow-up. 
• Inventory Storage and Accuracy 
• Organize and store inventory in appropriate areas: dry, cooler, or freezer. 
• Maintain clearly labeled racks and bins with visible lot codes. 
• Conduct daily cycle counts and support variance reconciliation. 
• Use handheld scanners for all inventory moves, picks, returns, and put-away. 
• Finished Goods Handling 
• Transport finished goods from production rooms to the warehouse staging zone. 
• Wrap, label, and scan finished pallets for put-away or shipment. 
• Ensure storage zones for finished goods are clean, organized, and traceable. 
• Food Safety and Compliance 
• Follow all GMP, SQF, FSMA, and allergen control procedures. 
• Handle ingredients with awareness of Halal, Gluten-Free, Organic, and Kosher requirements. 
• Report non-compliance or deviations in receiving, temperature, or labeling to QA immediately. 
• Prevent cross-contact through proper segregation, cleaning, and label use. 
• Warehouse Housekeeping and Safety 
• Maintain clean and organized workspaces using 6S and red tag protocols. 
• Perform routine sweeping, waste removal, and zone checks. 
• Follow all OSHA and Karlsburger safety protocols; use proper PPE and report unsafe conditions. 
• Complete forklift and equipment checklists daily. 
• Collaboration and Communication 
• Coordinate daily with production supervisors, QA, and warehouse team for material readiness. 
• Use radio or system notes to communicate shortages, discrepancies, or WIP status. 
• Support shift handoffs and team meetings; participate in continuous improvement discussions. 

Other Duties and Responsibilities 

• Crosstrain on receiving, scanning, and production support duties. 
• Participate in audits and inventory projects. 
• Train new hires or float to assist in Production rooms, packaging, inventory, or pulling roles as needed. 
• Support implementation of WMS enhancements and lean/CI efforts. 

Required Qualifications 

• High School diploma or GED preferred. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience in food warehousing or manufacturing environments. 
• Familiarity with WMS/ERP systems (e.g., VAI, SAP), food safety, and lot tracking. 
• Forklift certification (or willingness to become certified). 
• Reliable attendance and strong attention to detail. 
• The ability to lift 55 lbs. and work in cold, dry, or hot environments as needed. 

Tools and Technology 

• Handheld barcode scanners (Zebra or similar) 
• Label printers and PCs for barcode/tag printing 
• ERP/WMS systems (VAI, SAP, Oracle) 
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) 
• Stretch wrapper, forklifts, manual/powered pallet jacks, and dock levers

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience in GMP, SQF, GFSI, or FSMA-compliant environments. 
• Strong understanding of allergen handling, COAs, and traceability systems. 
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish or English/Somali). 
• Familiarity with real-time inventory scanning systems and 6S practices. 

Physical Requirements 

• Stand, walk, and bend throughout shift. 
• Lift, push, pull up to 55 lbs. routinely. 
• Work in environments ranging from freezer (-10°F) to dry storage ( 80°F). 
• Wear all required PPE: gloves, hair/beard nets, safety vests, steel-toed boots.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Profit sharing
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Warehouse: 2 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Monticello, MN 55362 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $25