Lead Shipping Team Member / Shipping Dock Lead
Bilingual (English/Spanish) | Forklift Operator | Warehouse Team Leader
Location: Schiff Food Products Co., Inc.
994 Riverview Drive
Totowa, NJ 07512
Position Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $20.00 to $26.00 per hour, based on qualifications, experience, leadership ability, bilingual communication skills (English/Spanish), forklift experience, and food manufacturing or warehouse shipping experience.
Position Summary
Schiff Food Products Co., Inc. is seeking an experienced, motivated, and bilingual Lead Shipping Team Member / Shipping Dock Lead to oversee daily warehouse shipping operations while actively participating in loading, unloading, order verification, and shipping activities.
This is a working leadership position, not solely an administrative role. The successful candidate will supervise the shipping team, lead warehouse personnel, coordinate outbound shipments, ensure food safety and shipping accuracy, and maintain compliance with SQF, FDA, OSHA, and company requirements.
The Lead Shipping Team Member serves as the primary floor leader for shipping operations and plays a key role in reinforcing our Food Safety Culture, Quality Culture, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Culture through daily leadership, coaching, and hands-on involvement.
Required Qualifications
Language Requirements
- Must be bilingual in English and Spanish (Required).
- Must be able to effectively communicate with employees, truck drivers, customers, contractors, and management in both English and Spanish.
- Must be comfortable conducting employee training, coaching, and daily Food Safety and EHS huddles in both languages.
Warehouse & Shipping Experience
- Minimum of 3-5 years of warehouse, shipping, or distribution experience, preferably in food manufacturing.
- Previous experience supervising warehouse associates, order pickers, loaders, and forklift operators.
- Experience loading and unloading trucks and trailers.
- Experience reviewing:
- Customer orders
- Pick tickets
- Bills of Lading
- Packing lists
- Shipping schedules
- Shipping documentation
Forklift Experience
- Previous forklift operating experience is required.
- Forklift certification preferred (or ability to become certified).
- Ability to:
- Load and unload trucks and trailers.
- Stage outbound shipments.
- Transport finished goods.
- Perform daily forklift inspections.
- Operate pallet jacks and dock equipment safely.
Primary Responsibilities
Shipping Operations
- Lead daily shipping operations.
- Supervise loading and unloading of trucks and trailers.
- Verify trailer cleanliness and suitability before loading.
- Ensure correct products, lot numbers, pallet counts, and customer orders are loaded.
- Prevent shipping errors through final verification before shipment.
- Coordinate outbound shipments with warehouse personnel.
- Ensure products are handled safely to prevent contamination and damage.
Warehouse Leadership
- Lead warehouse shipping personnel throughout the shift.
- Assign daily work assignments.
- Oversee order pickers to ensure customer orders are picked accurately.
- Verify completed orders before loading.
- Monitor productivity and workflow.
- Coach employees on warehouse procedures and best practices.
- Maintain a professional, positive, and respectful work environment.
Food Safety Responsibilities
- Conduct pre-operational inspections of:
- Shipping docks
- Warehouse staging areas
- Forklifts
- Loading equipment
- Trailers
- Conduct post-operational inspections throughout the shift.
- Ensure compliance with:
- SQF Food Safety Code
- FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
- Food Defense Program
- Product Hold & Release procedures
- Traceability Program
- Allergen Control Program
- Immediately report any food safety concerns.
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
- Lead daily Food Safety and EHS huddles.
- Reinforce OSHA safety requirements.
- Promote forklift safety and dock safety.
- Ensure housekeeping standards are maintained.
- Investigate and report unsafe conditions.
- Participate in accident investigations and corrective actions.
- Ensure employees wear required PPE.
Site Security
- Check truck drivers into and out of the facility.
- Verify shipping documentation.
- Verify driver identification.
- Ensure trailers are sealed and documented when required.
- Monitor shipping dock security.
- Report suspicious activity immediately.
Shipping Documentation
- Review customer orders.
- Verify Bills of Lading.
- Verify pick tickets.
- Verify packing lists.
- Confirm shipment accuracy before trucks depart.
- Maintain accurate shipping records and traceability documentation.
Minimum Skills & Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess:
- Strong leadership abilities.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong organizational skills.
- High attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize multiple shipments.
- Ability to make decisions in a fast-paced warehouse.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Professional attitude and strong work ethic.
- Commitment to Food Safety and Employee Safety.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and climb throughout the workday.
- Ability to safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and dock equipment.
- Ability to work in warehouse environments with varying temperatures.
Work Schedule
Summer Hours
- Monday through Thursday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Winter Hours
- Monday through Thursday: 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
The successful candidate must be flexible and available to work additional hours as business needs require.
This position may require:
- Overtime during weekdays.
- Sunday work as needed to support production schedules, customer demands, inventory activities, sanitation, or special projects.
- Occasional schedule adjustments based on operational requirements.
Attendance, punctuality, and dependability are essential functions of this position.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation
$20.00 to $26.00 per hour, based on qualifications, experience, leadership ability, bilingual communication skills, forklift experience, and food manufacturing or warehouse leadership experience.
Compensation will be based on:
- Warehouse leadership experience.
- Forklift operating experience.
- Loading and unloading experience.
- Order picking supervision.
- Food manufacturing experience.
- Knowledge of SQF, FDA, GMP, and OSHA requirements.
- Overall qualifications and demonstrated leadership abilities.
Benefits
Schiff Food Products Co., Inc. offers:
- Competitive hourly pay.
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (employee contributions only; no employer matching).
- Paid holidays.
- Paid vacation in accordance with company policy.
- Ongoing Food Safety, SQF, OSHA, and leadership training.
- Opportunities for career advancement.
Why Join Schiff Food Products?
At Schiff Food Products Co., Inc., we are committed to producing safe, high-quality spices, herbs, seasonings, and specialty food ingredients while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, customer service, and employee safety.
If you are a motivated bilingual warehouse leader with forklift experience who enjoys leading teams, solving problems, and ensuring customer orders are shipped safely and accurately, we encourage you to apply today.
Schiff Food Products Co., Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment screening, reference verification, and authorization to work in the United States.
Interested in Applying?
If you are interested in this position, please submit your resume or contact Steven Sanchez, Operations Manager, at [email protected] for additional information or to schedule an interview.
Schiff Food Products Co., Inc.
994 Riverview Drive
Totowa, NJ 07512
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Pay: $20.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
