Distribution Center Specialist

About Second Harvest

At Second Harvest, we believe that everyone in our community should have consistent and equitable access to enough nutritious, relevant, and culturally meaningful food to thrive. We work towards our mission of ending hunger through food acquisition & storage, FoodShare Outreach, root cause work, and collaboration with the communities we support.

Since 1986 we have supported our neighbors to achieve food security across 16 counties in southwestern Wisconsin. As community needs have shifted over time, Second Harvest has worked to be responsive by introducing new programming and adding infrastructure to meet these identified needs.

 Vision - Everyone in our Community has enough nutritious food to thrive.

 Mission - Second Harvest exists to end hunger in southwestern Wisconsin.

 Values – Integrity | Trust | Humility | Inclusion | Equity | Innovation

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• Summary: The Distribution Center Specialist will receive all incoming product and input into CERES. They will unload trucks, stock product in the appropriate temp zone locations (freezer, cooler, or dry), input product into the inventory system, and process all post receipt adjustments. They will ensure that appropriate documentation of inventory transactions is retained and that data entry is conducted in a timely and accurate manner. They will also support operations with the process of daily order picking and pulling of orders for pickup and delivery, placing product in the appropriate temp storage locations and utilize inventory control programs as specified. They will ensure all orders are picked in a timely manner with great accuracy. They will maintain accurate order paperwork (pick sheets, shipping tags, drop reports, batch printing of daily orders). The DC Specialist will assist with other distribution center activities as necessary, while maintaining a clean and orderly warehouse.

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Position Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Receiving/Inbound Loads Functions: 40%

• Receive all incoming product into the distribution center, including:
• Unloading purchased/donated truckloads and assisting with walk-in donations.
• Review and confirm the accuracy of shipping documents and notify Food Resourcing Team of any discrepancies between the PO and the received product.
• Inspect all incoming loads upon receiving:
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance Manager to determine questionable loads, if loads should not be accepted. Report proper documentation of any damage/spoiled product.
• Prioritize breaking down all loads to create unique item numbers based on carton quantity.
• Inspect and assess pallet stability & safety and take-action to secure, if necessary, prior to stocking
• Stock all received product into rack locations in the appropriate temp zones, dry, freezer, and cooler.
• Enter incoming products into the inventory system CERES in an accurate and timely manner.
• Generate pallet tags and apply identification labels to all received products.
• Consolidate all receiving paperwork (purchase order, bill of lading, any shipping documents, donor receipts)
• Restock/replenish products in pick locations from the Drop Report daily and as needed.

Order Picking & Inventory Functions: 40%

• Process daily order picking operations, including:
• Picking and pulling orders for pickup and delivery,
• Stage orders of product in appropriate temp zone storage locations (dry, freezer, and cooler)
• Utilize inventory control programs as specified.
• Ensure all orders are picked in a timely manner with great accuracy.
• Inspect and assess orders for accuracy, food safety, & pallet stability during picking and during daily duties.
• Ensure inventory accuracy and proper rotation utilizing FEFO/FIFO inventory control methods.
• Maintain accurate order paperwork (pick sheets, shipping tags, drop reports, batch printing of daily orders)
• Restock/replenish products in pick locations from the Drop Report daily and as needed.
• Assist with daily/weekly cycle counts.
• Research and assist with inventory discrepancies.
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance and the Inventory Team regarding food safety concerns and subsequent needed inventory adjustments to orders.
• Assist with year-end inventory.

Distribution Center Operations Functions: 10%

• Fill out daily equipment inspection sheets and report equipment needing repairs to the Director of Operations.
• Responsible for having the distribution center neat, orderly, and tour-ready at all times.
• Maintain safe floor conditions in all areas of the distribution center at all times.
• Work with the Quality Assurance Manager and the Distribution Center Lead to assist in the timely completion of the Master Cleaning Schedule.
• Attend staff meetings as assigned.

Volunteer Projects Support Functions: 10%

• Coordinate with the Volunteer Project Manager/Lead to accurately fulfill orders of product being reworked.
• Provide support to the Volunteer Project Team with pallet relocation as needed.
• Assist Volunteers and Community Partners with Support for picking up and loading orders
• Assist with the support of supervision of onsite volunteers assigned to the operations team
• Ability to cultivate and develop equitable and inclusive working relationships with staff, volunteers, community partners, vendors, and applicants.
• Provide outstanding customer service to any guests and volunteers in the distribution center.
• Work collaboratively with volunteers and other employees.
• Perform any other duties as needed to ensure smooth operation of the distribution center, as well as to fulfill our mission, drive our vision, and abide by our values.

Competencies

Personal Effectiveness

• Able to maintain a regular work schedule.
• Ability to stay focused on tasks; make the best use of available time and resources; balance quality of work with meeting deadlines.
• Provides customer service in a timely manner.
• Strives for process improvements and is receptive to feedback.
• Respects confidentiality, truthfulness, and transparency.
• Adheres to all workplace safety standards and practices.
• Manages own time, priorities, and resources to achieve goals.
• Maintains composure in stressful or adverse situations.

Language Ability

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business written communications.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, managers, agencies, customers and the general public.

Math Ability

• Possess the ability to calculate figures and amounts such as pounds of food
• Ability to count cases and inventory accurately.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Computer Skills:

• To perform this job successfully, the individual should have a working knowledge of:
• Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint.
• Employee must have the ability to utilize email.
• Employee will be expected to learn and effectively use internal software programs such as CERES.

Equipment

• Ability to safely operate forklift.
• Ability to safely operate pallet jack.
• Ability to safely operate other warehouse equipment as necessary.

Salary Range: $22.00 - $25.00 /hour based on experience.

Application due date: March 13, 2026.

Benefit package includes:

• Health Insurance (we pay 90% of the premium for full-time employees)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 5% match
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Time Off starting at 23 Days per year
• 15 Paid Holidays per year
• Paid Family Leave
• Employment Transition Pay

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates in a warehouse environment. This role routinely uses standard warehouse equipment such pallet jacks, hand trucks and forklift. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Employee must be able to work in cold environments, including cooler and freezer. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to working near moving mechanical parts.

In instances of a federal, state or locally declared emergency, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is typically considered an essential service and emergency responder; all of its employees may be called in to perform regular or emergent duties outside the scope of their usual responsibilities.

Physical Demands

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; crouch; crawl; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.

Qualifications

Required Education/Experience

• High School Diploma and at least 1 year of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must obtain AAA Food Handler safety accreditation within the first 90 days of employment.

Preferred Education/Experience

• Previous experience with food receiving/distribution and order picking.
• Lived experience with the impacts of systemic racism or marginalization.