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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Material Handler Lead

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

LogisticsSupply ChainWarehousingManufacturingOperations

🎯 Role Definition

The Material Handler Lead serves as a crucial link between frontline material handling staff and warehouse supervision. This individual is a hands-on leader, responsible for coordinating the daily activities of a team dedicated to the movement, storage, and control of materials and finished goods. More than just an operator, the Lead acts as a mentor, trainer, and problem-solver, ensuring that all tasks are performed safely, efficiently, and in strict accordance with inventory management procedures. They are the go-to expert for their team, driving productivity and maintaining the high standards necessary for a smooth and effective supply chain operation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Material Handler
  • Experienced Warehouse Associate
  • Certified Forklift Operator

Advancement To:

  • Warehouse Supervisor
  • Inventory Control Manager
  • Logistics Team Lead / Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Shipping and Receiving Coordinator
  • Inventory Analyst
  • Production Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide daily work direction, guidance, and on-the-job training to a team of Material Handlers to ensure operational goals for safety, quality, and productivity are met.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for team members' questions, issues, and concerns, escalating to the Warehouse Supervisor as necessary.
  • Coordinate and prioritize the movement of raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods between the warehouse, production lines, and shipping docks.
  • Safely and proficiently operate various powered industrial trucks (PIT), including stand-up forklifts, sit-down counterbalances, order pickers, and electric pallet jacks, to load, unload, and transport materials.
  • Ensure all material movements and inventory transactions are accurately recorded in the Warehouse Management System (WMS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in real-time.
  • Lead the execution of picking, packing, and staging orders for shipment, verifying accuracy against pick lists or system-generated orders.
  • Oversee the receiving process, ensuring materials are properly inspected for damage, quantities are verified against packing slips, and items are correctly labeled and put away in designated storage locations.
  • Champion and enforce all safety policies and procedures, conducting regular area inspections and promoting a culture of safety awareness among the team.
  • Monitor workflow and reallocate team resources as needed to address bottlenecks, priority orders, or changes in production schedules.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve inventory discrepancies, system errors, and process issues to maintain data integrity and operational flow.
  • Conduct regular cycle counts and assist in physical inventory audits to ensure the accuracy of on-hand inventory records.
  • Maintain a high level of organization and cleanliness within the assigned work area, adhering to 5S principles or similar lean methodologies.
  • Train new and existing employees on standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment operation, and safety protocols.
  • Communicate effectively with supervisors, planners, and production personnel to ensure a seamless flow of materials and information.
  • Perform quality checks on inbound and outbound materials, ensuring they meet company standards and specifications.
  • Manage the consolidation of materials to optimize warehouse space and improve storage efficiency.
  • Report any equipment malfunctions or safety hazards immediately to the appropriate maintenance or supervisory personnel.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing warehouse efficiency, safety, and accuracy.

Secondary Functions

  • Support supervisors with ad-hoc inventory reports, cycle count data analysis, and performance metric tracking.
  • Provide constructive feedback on warehouse processes and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and team meetings.
  • Collaborate with adjacent departments like Production, Quality, and Shipping to resolve material-related issues and ensure cross-functional alignment.
  • Participate in team huddles and planning meetings, providing updates on team progress and potential challenges.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) Operation: Certified and highly proficient in operating various types of forklifts and other material handling equipment.
  • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): Strong working knowledge of WMS and/or ERP systems (e.g., SAP EWM, Oracle SCM, NetSuite) for transaction processing.
  • RF Scanning Technology: Expertise in using handheld RF scanners for picking, put-away, and inventory adjustments.
  • Inventory Control Principles: Solid understanding of inventory management concepts, including cycle counting, FIFO/LIFO, and discrepancy resolution.
  • Computer Proficiency: Competency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word) for reporting and communication.
  • Safety Regulations: In-depth knowledge of OSHA standards and best practices for warehouse safety.

Soft Skills

  • Leadership & Mentoring: Ability to direct, guide, and motivate a team by example.
  • Communication: Clear and effective verbal and written communication skills for interacting with team members, peers, and management.
  • Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to identify issues and implement effective solutions quickly.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to tasks to ensure accuracy in inventory, order fulfillment, and system transactions.
  • Time Management & Prioritization: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to adjust to changing workloads, priorities, and operational demands.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's Degree or technical certification in a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Logistics or Supply Chain Management
  • Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of progressive experience in a warehouse, distribution, or manufacturing environment.

Preferred: At least 1-2 years of experience in a senior or informal leadership capacity (e.g., acting lead, trainer, senior associate) is highly desirable.

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