Material Handler

Available Shifts:

• 1st Shift: Monday–Thursday, 5:00 AM–3:30 PM
• 2nd Shift: 3:30 PM–2:00 AM (Additional $2.50 per hour shift differential)
• Overtime opportunities may be available.

Job Overview

Snelling Talent Partners is seeking an experienced, dependable, and safety-conscious Material Handler / Forklift Operator for an established metal fabrication and manufacturing company in Washington, Missouri.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience operating forklifts in a manufacturing environment, handling raw materials, and delivering materials directly to production departments to ensure manufacturing operations run efficiently.

This position involves receiving incoming shipments, loading and unloading trucks, transporting raw materials and finished goods, pulling materials for production jobs, maintaining accurate inventory records, and supporting material transfers between company buildings.

Candidates with experience handling raw steel, aluminum, sheet metal, metal tubing, barstock, and other industrial manufacturing materials are strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Raw Material Handling & Production Support

• Transport raw materials, components, and finished goods throughout the manufacturing facility.
• Deliver materials directly to production departments and equipment to maintain continuous workflow.
• Pull, stage, and distribute materials according to production work orders, pick lists, and job travelers.
• Ensure the correct materials and quantities are available for scheduled production jobs.
• Coordinate material movement to prevent production delays.
• Safely handle heavy, oversized, and irregularly shaped manufacturing materials.

Forklift Operation & Equipment Safety

• Operate forklifts daily to load, unload, transport, stack, and organize materials.
• Safely maneuver forklifts through manufacturing areas, warehouse aisles, and designated staging locations.
• Perform pre-shift forklift inspections and report equipment concerns.
• Follow company safety procedures and proper material-handling practices.
• Maintain awareness of pedestrians, machinery, and surrounding equipment.

Shipping, Receiving & Inventory

• Load and unload incoming and outgoing shipments.
• Verify received materials against packing slips, purchase orders, and receiving documents.
• Identify and report damaged materials, shortages, or shipment discrepancies.
• Label, organize, and store materials in designated warehouse locations.
• Assist with inventory transactions, including receipts, material transfers, job issues, and adjustments.
• Perform material counts and assist with cycle counts and physical inventory.
• Maintain accurate records of material movement and inventory quantities.

Interdepartmental & Building Support

• Transfer materials between company buildings and production departments.
• Assist other facilities with receiving, staging, and material-handling activities as needed.
• Maintain clean, organized, and clearly labeled warehouse and staging areas.
• Work closely with production supervisors, warehouse personnel, and management to support daily manufacturing requirements.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• Previous forklift operation and material-handling experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Ability to obtain company forklift certification within the first 30 days.
• Ability to read and understand packing slips, pick lists, work orders, and basic production documentation.
• Strong counting, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple material-handling priorities.
• Basic computer skills for inventory transactions and material tracking.
• Ability to lift at least 30 pounds and perform physical warehouse duties.
• Reliable attendance and a strong commitment to workplace safety.
• Willingness to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience handling raw steel, aluminum, sheet metal, tubing, barstock, or other metal fabrication materials.
• Experience delivering raw materials directly to CNC machines, stamping presses, cutting equipment, or other production machinery.
• Experience using forklifts to move heavy or irregularly shaped industrial materials.
• Familiarity with inventory management systems, barcode scanners, and cycle counts.
• Previous experience supporting multiple manufacturing departments or company buildings.
• Experience working from production work orders, material requisitions, or job travelers.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Material Handler who understands the importance of keeping manufacturing equipment supplied with the correct raw materials.

This individual should be comfortable operating a forklift throughout the workday, moving materials between production departments, organizing inventory, and responding to changing production needs.

Experience supplying raw materials directly to manufacturing machinery is especially valuable for this position.

Snelling Talent Partners is an equal opportunity employer.

When it comes to finding an advocate for your company or your career, size matters. National employment agencies often miss the dynamics of the local market, while smaller firms may lack the resources or reach to fully support long-term hiring success.

Snelling Talent Partners combines the best of both: national reach, local market expertise, personalized service, and a relationship-driven approach focused on long-term success for both clients and candidates.