RTE Palletizer Forklift - 2nd shift

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors/marketers of pistachios in the United States. For more than two decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and provided exceptional service to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally. Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees. Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms is an employee-oriented company dedicated to training and growth of team members.

The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers and customers through operational excellence and educational development.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The RTE Palletizer is a hands-on team member responsible for stacking and sorting product boxes according to stacking patterns and order requirements. This role works closely with the RTE Forklift Operator, assisting as needed with manual stacking, wrapping, labeling, and maintaining product order by line number. The RTE Department plays a key role in the final stage of shipment, ensuring goods meet company quality and food safety standards. All processes must comply with established Food Safety Systems.

Safety Ability:

Promote a "safety first" culture by following all safety rules (including Lockout/Tag Out and Hazard Communication). Report all near misses, Injuries, and documentation of incidents to Shift Supervisor/Production Supervisor/Leads.

Quality Ability:

Perform all duties in accordance with Quality and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), as established in company policies and procedures.

Continuous Improvement: Actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives, teams, and processes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

RTE Palletizer

• Set up palletizing and shrink wrap product.
• Prepare goods for shipments and assist with pack lines.
• Remove completed or defective products, materials, by placing them on moving equipment.
• Manually palletize product.
• Read Production and delivery specification to determine sorting, stacking pattern and transfer procedures.
• Visually inspect finished cases and pallets for issues
• Stop equipment to clear jams and inform supervisor/lead of equipment malfunction.
• Maintain safety awareness when operating or working near a forklift.
• Assist in Forklift operations as needed to remove finished goods from the area or add/remove materials as needed to the palletizing/box making area.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Preferably 1 year of experience in food manufacturing environment.
• At least 1 year of experience in forklift preferred.
• Position requires standing, sitting, and walking on a regular basis for prolonged periods.
• Attention to details, assignment, and machines.
• Ability to work any day and/or shift including weekends and holidays.
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a group environment.
• Strong communication skills and follow directions.
• Near vision-ability to see details at close range.
• Ability to continuously use core strength-abdominal and lower back to support repeated physical movements.
• Multi limb coordination-the ability to coordinate two or more limbs such as two arms or legs.
• Ability to wear all PPE required.
• Ability to push/pull/lift 45 lbs.
• Bilingual preferred but not required.

JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to change in the workplace. Capable of functioning in a fast-paced entrepreneurial setting.
• Prioritization: Ability to quickly prioritize among numerous pressing tasks and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Interpersonal: Ability to effectively build working relationships and communicate effectively.
• Team Involvement: Works effectively with teams and work groups. Actively participates in problem solving and interacts with team and work groups to achieve team and organizational goals.
• Detail-oriented: Attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Critical Thinking: Use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weakness of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Resource Management (Equipment) - Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities and materials. Assist in changeovers as needed for the RTE team to set up lines/ equipment with new settings and adjustments per items as scheduled.
• Active Learning: Understanding of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

As part of the scope of this role duties may include being inside the plant manufacturing environment, which may include high levels of noise. When working outdoors conditions can include extreme cold, heat, or humidity; and sometimes can include work in dusty conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand, climb stairs, and reach with hands and arms. The employee may lift and/or move up to 45 pounds occasionally. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. The employee is required to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as designated by the company.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

EOE/M/F/D/V