Forklift Operator - Receiving Job at Empire Candle Co., LLC in Kansas City

Overview

We are a candle company located in Kansas City, KS. Our candles are made locally. Empire Candle Co. has over 70 years of experience as a full‑service manufacturer of candles, wax melts, and home fragrance accessories.

Position Overview

Performs activities pertaining to the receiving, storing, manufacturing support, and shipping of raw materials and imported finished goods using a stand up forklift (sit‑down forklift possible as a temporary exception for operators not yet stand‑up certified). Pick work orders, select raw materials necessary to produce finished goods. Maintain inventory accuracy by item, location, lot number, and quantity using RF scanning/handheld equipment. Follow organized processes to ensure inventory accuracy at all times. Operate a powered industrial truck safely and efficiently to move materials on docks and around production personnel. Willing and able to move between buildings daily or within the same shift as workloads vary.

Position Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm

Hourly pay rate: $20.00

Essential Job Functions

• Ensure all products are received, stored, picked, and loaded onto transfer trailers safely, accurately and in a timely manner.
• Operate a forklift safely in environments with heavy foot traffic, pallet racking, and dock congestion.
• Use handheld RF scanners to perform computer transactions using barcodes and input to keep the inventory system accurate in real time.
• Maintain inventory accuracy by performing timely inquiries, stock changes, warehouse order picking, and material issuing activities.
• Complete paperwork neatly and accurately. Collaborate with leads, supervisors, and managers to identify and eliminate root causes of inventory discrepancies.
• Unload trailers and containers and store like items together.
• Pick work orders selecting glass, lids, and corrugate packing materials, ensuring accuracy by location, item, and quantity; transactions completed with RF scanner.
• Stretch wrap completed pallets by hand or with automated/semi‑automatic machinery; maintain paper records of order and pallet contents.
• Cross‑trained to perform key departmental tasks (receiving and putting away raw materials and finished goods, production material handling, raw material warehouse picking, receiving clerk, inventory cycle count administrator, reintegration warehouse coordinator, sales order picking, cross dock material handler).
• Willingness and ability to move between functions in multiple buildings as workloads vary, often without notice.
• Collaborate with team within your department and with other departments to provide excellent service to internal and external customers.
• Perform cycle counts with a high level of accuracy on raw materials, finished goods, and work in process.
• Ability to work full time and be punctual; notify supervisor/manager in advance if absence is necessary.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule with potential overtime, possibly on short notice.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Stand up forklift certification (sit‑down forklift may be used temporarily; candidate should work toward stand‑up certification).
• Ability to operate RF scanning/handheld barcode device and perform data entry.
• Ability to pass a basic math test (addition, subtraction, multiplication, number recognition).
• Knowledge of shipping practices and standards.
• Detail‑oriented and highly accurate.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to maintain focus and situational awareness.
• Low sensitivity to highly fragranced environments.
• Ability to work in a non‑climate‑controlled environment.
• Ability to stand, walk in a distribution center, lift and carry up to 35 pounds as needed; operate forklift while lifting materials.

What We Offer

• Benefits: Health, dental, vision, STD, basic and voluntary life insurance
• Savings Plan: 401k with strong employer match
• Work/Life Balance: Vacation + PTO + Floating Holiday + seven (7) Paid Holidays
• Education: Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Health & Fitness: FREE Planet Fitness Membership
• Good Smells: Largely discounted candles + FREE candle giveaways
• Diversity & Inclusion: We are candlemakers from diverse backgrounds; we celebrate all dimensions of diversity and employ nine nationalities from twenty‑two countries.

Equal Opportunity Employer Empire Candle Co., LLC provides a competitive compensation and benefits package and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. The Company reserves the right to revise the functions and duties of the job or to require that additional or different tasks be performed when circumstances change.