Forklift Operator / Warehouse Associate
Company: Mockingbird Food Group LLC
Location: 2520 Weir Street, Dallas, TX (on-site)
Reports to: Warehouse Supervisor
Openings: 2
Shift: 1st shift, or hybrid / 2nd shift (schedule flexes with the production and shipping calendar, including 6th-day peak weeks)
Position Summary
The Forklift Operator / Warehouse Associate keeps raw materials and finished goods moving accurately through a refrigerated and frozen co-packing facility. Working from supervisor assignments, this role receives and puts away raw materials, picks product for production work orders, puts away finished goods, and loads outbound orders — safely, accurately, and on schedule. This is a skilled equipment role: operators move between sit-down, reach, and turret (VNA) trucks throughout the day, including in freezer and narrow-aisle environments.
Accuracy matters as much as speed. Because Mockingbird co-packs for national brands and retailers under strict lot, allergen, and food-safety controls, every move is scanned, documented, and slotted to the right location. Wrong product, wrong lot, or a broken allergen rule is a recall risk, not just a mispick.
Key Responsibilities
Receiving & Put-Away — Raw Materials
- Receive inbound raw materials and packaging; verify quantity, lot, condition, and documentation against the receipt.
- Inspect for damage, temperature abuse, and pest/quality issues; flag discrepancies to the supervisor.
- Put away raw materials to assigned locations, following lot, allergen-segregation, and slotting rules.
Picking for Work Orders
- Pick raw materials and components for production work orders accurately and on time, by lot and location.
- Stage picked materials at the correct line/room for production.
- Confirm picks by scan; resolve shortages or location issues with the supervisor.
Finished Goods Put-Away
- Receive finished pallets off production; verify product, lot/date, and count.
- Apply/verify pallet license plates and SSCC labels; put away to assigned freezer/cooler/dry locations.
- Follow FIFO/FEFO and allergen-segregation slotting rules.
Outbound Loading
- Stage and load outbound orders according to supervisor assignments and shipping schedule.
- Verify product, lot, and count against the load/BOL; confirm by scan.
- Load and secure trailers safely; document loads accurately.
Inventory Accuracy & Documentation
- Scan and record all moves in the warehouse system; keep locations and counts accurate.
- Support cycle counts and inventory reconciliation.
- Maintain accurate lot traceability on every transaction.
Safety & Housekeeping
- Operate all equipment safely; complete daily equipment inspections and report issues.
- Follow LOTO, traffic, pedestrian, and dock-safety rules.
- Keep aisles, docks, and work areas clean and clear; follow GMPs and food-safety housekeeping standards.
Required Qualifications
- Prior experience operating multiple forklift types (required), including reach trucks and turret (VNA) trucks. Sit-down counterbalance experience also expected.
- Current or recent forklift certification (or ability to certify on Mockingbird equipment before solo operation).
- Bilingual English/Spanish (required) — able to take direction, communicate, and document in both languages.
- Prior warehouse experience with picking, put-away, receiving, and loading.
- Comfortable working in refrigerated and freezer environments and narrow-aisle racking.
- Experience using scanners / RF devices and a warehouse system to record moves and maintain accuracy.
- Strong attention to detail with lot, date, count, and location accuracy.
- Ability to flex hours to match the production and shipping schedule, including peak-week sixth days.
- Physically able to work in cold/freezer conditions; stand, climb, and operate equipment for a full shift; lift up to 50 lbs; bend and reach.
Preferred Qualifications
- Forklift experience in a food or beverage / refrigerated or frozen facility.
- Familiarity with lot traceability, FIFO/FEFO, and allergen-segregation practices.
- Experience with WMS/ERP systems, pallet license plates, and GS1-128 / SSCC barcoding.
- Experience operating in a GFSI-audited (SQF / BRC) facility.
- Cycle counting / inventory control experience.
Work Environment
Refrigerated and frozen food warehouse and production facility, including freezer and narrow-aisle racking. Exposure to cold temperatures, moisture, noise, moving equipment, and dock conditions. PPE (including cold-environment gear) required. Fast-paced, schedule-driven environment.
Mockingbird Food Group LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $16.00 - $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
