Material Handler

Job Title: Material Handler

Job Description

The Material Handler safely operates sit-down forklifts and material handling equipment to move, stage, and prepare products for shipment in a heavy industrial manufacturing and distribution environment. This role focuses on accurately handling materials, supporting production and shipping operations, and maintaining a smooth flow of product throughout the facility using RF scanning technology.

Responsibilities

• Operate a sit-down forklift for approximately 60% of the workday to move materials throughout the facility.
• Check incoming and outgoing materials for accuracy against orders and documentation.
• Band materials securely to prepare them for storage or shipment.
• Bring materials off the production line and prepare them for shipping according to established procedures.
• Remove materials from pallets and store them in designated locations within the warehouse or production area.
• Load and unload materials from 5–10 trucks per day, ensuring safe and efficient handling.
• Complete order preparations during the shift, including picking, staging, and verifying products.
• Utilize an RF scanner to track, locate, and confirm movement of materials and inventory.
• Move palletized products to appropriate storage or staging areas.
• Stage products for shipment, ensuring loads are accurate, secure, and ready for transport.
• Follow all safety guidelines and procedures while operating forklifts and handling heavy materials.
• Work collaboratively with production and distribution teams to maintain continuous material flow.
• Adapt to rotating shifts and support overtime requirements to meet operational demands.

Essential Skills

• Proven sit-down forklift operating experience in an industrial or warehouse environment.
• Hands-on material handling experience in heavy industrial manufacturing or warehouse settings.
• Experience loading and unloading trucks, including handling palletized and banded materials.
• Ability to use RF scanners to track and manage inventory and product movement.
• High school diploma or GED.
• Comfort working around large coils of wire, heavy materials, and industrial machinery.
• Strong attention to detail when checking materials for accuracy and preparing orders.
• Ability to work rotating shifts, including 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. schedules, Monday through Friday, with overtime as needed.
• Capability to perform physically demanding tasks, including lifting, moving, and banding heavy materials.
• Reliability and consistency in following safety procedures and operational guidelines.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience moving heavy materials in a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Previous use of RF scanners in a warehouse, shipping, or production setting.
• Experience in palletizing and banding materials for shipment or storage.
• Manufacturing or distribution center experience involving forklifts and large-scale material flow.
• Willingness to learn new processes and take on additional responsibilities as the facility expands.
• Interest in long-term growth and advancement opportunities within an expanding operation.

Why Work Here?

You join a growing organization that is actively expanding its facilities and investing in long-term growth, offering the chance to learn new skills and advance your career. You benefit from a strong overtime opportunity and a structured bonus program, with yearly bonuses and quarterly advancement incentives for full-time employees that can average around 20% of annual earnings paid out four times a year. You experience a culture that values engagement, with regular employee events and recognition, as well as shift differentials when hired directly. You work in an environment where expansion into a new facility reflects stability and continued demand, providing a solid foundation for professional development and future opportunities.

Work Environment

The role is based in a heavy industrial manufacturing and distribution environment that focuses on cable production and handling large coils of wire. The facility includes both production and distribution areas that interconnect, with machines, forklifts, and material handling equipment operating throughout the building. The building is older, so temperatures can be hot in the summer and cold in the winter, and employees should be comfortable working in varying climate conditions typical of industrial settings. Approximately 150 employees work on the floor, with around 15 in Shipping, which will eventually be split into a new adjacent building as operations expand. The position follows rotating shifts, including a 7:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. Monday–Friday schedule with overtime on Saturdays, and a 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Monday–Friday schedule with some Saturday overtime, with rotation to the opposite shift at a specified time. Work involves frequent forklift operation, RF scanner use, moving palletized products, and handling heavy materials in a busy, equipment-intensive environment, with appropriate industrial attire and safety gear required.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Valparaiso, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $18.50 - $20.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Valparaiso,IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 25, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.