Forklift Operator - 12 Hour Day Shifts - Injection Manufacturing

Southeastern Container, Inc.  is one of the largest leading manufacturers of PET beverage bottles and preforms, proudly supplying the Coca-Cola bottling system throughout the East Coast and Midwest. For over 40 years, we’ve built a reputation for stability, quality, and sustained growth. We are now seeking talented individuals to join our team for the following role:

The Forklift Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of powered industrial trucks and related material-handling equipment to support manufacturing, warehousing, inventory storage, and shipping operations. This position moves finished goods, bottles, raw materials, preforms, packaging materials, and production supplies throughout the facility while maintaining compliance with safety, quality, food safety, and operational standards. The Forklift Operator supports production flow, inventory accuracy, customer shipments, and overall plant efficiency.

The following duties are representative of the position, dependent upon the designated and assigned area. Additional job-related duties may be assigned as operational needs require.

Material Handling and Production Support

• Safely operate forklifts and other authorized material-handling equipment.
• Supply pallets, top frames, tier sheets, packaging materials, and other production materials as required.
• Transport finished goods from production areas to warehouse storage locations.
• Stage materials for production and shipping activities.
• Deliver preforms, resin, packaging materials, and other supplies to designated production areas.
• Load and unload trailers in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure proper placement and storage of inventory using established warehouse and inventory-control systems.
• Build and handle dunnage and reusable packaging materials as required.

Shipping and Inventory Responsibilities

• Verify product identification, labeling, and load accuracy prior to shipment.
• Complete shipping documentation and scan inventory transactions as required.
• Assist with cycle counts and inventory-verification activities.
• Operate a yard truck and move trailers after pre-loading materials.
• Maintain product traceability and inventory accuracy.
• Identify and report damaged product, inventory discrepancies, or shipping issues.

Equipment Operation and Inspection

• Perform required pre-shift forklift inspections and document findings.
• Immediately remove unsafe equipment from service and notify leadership or maintenance.
• Monitor equipment performance and report mechanical concerns promptly.
• Operate forklifts in accordance with Company policies, plant traffic-control requirements, and applicable safety requirements.
• Refuel, recharge, or change batteries using approved procedures.
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• Grinding operators transport bins of preforms and safely operate the grinding systems.
• Flake to Pellet operators safely unload flake, load recycle materials, and unload flake material using the hoist system in the NGR room.

Safety, Compliance, and Quality

• Follow all forklift safety rules, traffic patterns, pedestrian-safety requirements, and PPE requirements.
• Maintain awareness of surrounding personnel, equipment, and production activities.
• Report unsafe conditions, near misses, injuries, property damage, or equipment concerns immediately.
• Participate in required safety meetings and training programs and maintain required operational authorization.
• Comply with all SQF, food safety, product safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

• Handle products in a manner that prevents damage or contamination.
• Verify labels, packaging, and product identification before storage or shipment.
• Follow established procedures for handling nonconforming product.
• Support continuous-improvement and operational-excellence initiatives.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 18 years of age and authorized to work in the United States
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent education or relevant work experience preferred.
• Ability to successfully complete Company-required powered industrial truck training, evaluation, and certification before independent operation, and to maintain required periodic reevaluation and operational authorization.
• Ability to safely operate powered industrial trucks and related material-handling equipment in a manufacturing and warehouse environment after training.
• Ability to perform and document pre-shift equipment inspections and recognize conditions requiring equipment to be removed from service.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow written and verbal safety instructions, traffic-control rules, work procedures, product labels, and shipping documentation.
• Basic math skills and the ability to accurately complete inventory, production, scanning, and shipping transactions.
• Ability to identify hazards, maintain pedestrian awareness, and promptly report unsafe conditions, near misses, injuries, product damage, and equipment concerns.
• Ability to work effectively with production, warehouse, shipping, quality, maintenance, and leadership personnel in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required by operational needs.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, and to use required personal protective equipment.
• Valid driver’s license only if driving a Company vehicle on public roads is an assigned job duty.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous forklift, warehouse, shipping, logistics, distribution, or manufacturing experience.
• Previous experience operating sit-down counterbalanced forklifts or other powered industrial trucks relevant to the assigned work area.
• Experience using RF scanners, barcode systems, warehouse-management systems, or electronic inventory systems.
• Experience loading and unloading trailers, staging shipments, and verifying product and load accuracy.
• Experience with cycle counts, inventory reconciliation, product traceability, or shipping documentation.
• Experience in plastics manufacturing, food-grade manufacturing, warehousing, or high-volume production environments.
• Basic computer skills, including the ability to use electronic forms and Microsoft Outlook, Word, or Excel as needed for the position.

BENEFITS INCLUDE :

• Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Paid Time Off
• 401k w/ Company Match
• Short/Long Term Disability
• Company Sponsored Life Insurance

Salary : $22