Forklift Operator - Shipping

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to be North America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate ten sawmills across Oregon, Washington, South Carolina, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and import/export division.  

Our mission is to grow, manufacture, and market renewable wood products and deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment. At Hampton Lumber, we accomplish this through our own operations as well as those of our affiliates—Trapa Forest Products, Idaho Timber, and RedBuilt. Our motto, "Find a better way every day," encapsulates our commitment to innovation and improvement across all operations.
 

We are guided by our core values: 

• Safety – Prioritize safety across all operations.
• Integrity & Authenticity – Operate honestly and ethically while preserving our distinctive family-owned brand.
• Responsible Stewardship – Endeavor to balance and maintain economic, social, and environmental values in everything we do.
• Tenacity – Embrace challenges with grit, determination, and a can-do spirit. 
• Continuous Improvement – Strive to enhance our processes, products, and people.
• Customer Satisfaction – Be nimble, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
• Community Engagement – Be a responsive, supportive, and respected member of the community.

With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times.  We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques. 

This position's primary function is to be responsible for managing inventory, rotating of inventory, loading trucks, and helping the planer outfeed as needed. This job is located in the Finished- End area and is under the supervision of the Finished-End Supervisor. Work weekends, overtime and other shifts as necessary to meet the needs of the operation.  It is every person’s job to maintain the shipping/outfeed of the Planer facility to a world class standard of cleanliness and organization. 

• Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday-Friday Day Shift (times TBD when hired)
• Wage is $27.34 - $ 31.67 + Shift Differential (if applicable). $56,867 - $65,873 annually not including overtime or production bonuses.  Ability to earn more money when you are proficient in specified tasks.

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including eight paid holidays
• Opportunity to earn bonuses
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development

General Job Description

Safely manage finished-lumber inventory, support planer outfeed, load and unload trucks, and maintain an organized shipping yard. Ensure accurate inventory and on-time customer shipments while meeting safety, quality, and production standards. Work overtime or alternate shifts as operational needs require.

Job Function

• Practice safe work habits and comply with all company safety standards
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient finished-end shipping area
• Safely operate powered industrial trucks (PIT) and related equipment
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, carriers, vendors, and sales personnel
• Work independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrate strong situational awareness and attention to detail
• Understand lumber flow, inventory requirements, and shipping schedules
• Perform equipment inspections, housekeeping, and inventory management activities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Follow all safety policies, procedures, and PIT operating requirements
• Complete daily forklift inspections
• Move, stack, store, and retrieve finished lumber products
• Load and unload trucks safely and efficiently
• Support planer outfeed operations as needed
• Verify product identification, quantities, and shipment accuracy
• Maintain inventory accuracy and organized storage locations
• Assist with inventory counts and material tracking
• Maintain shipping yard cleanliness and organization
• Perform routine forklift cleaning and housekeeping
• Report equipment, safety, inventory, or shipping concerns to supervision
• Assist maintenance personnel and other departments as needed
• Attend training and train employees as assigned
• Work overtime and alternate shifts as necessary
• Perform other duties as assigned

Experience or training required:

• Forklift/PIT Certification or ability to obtain certification
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Shipping yard or finished lumber handling experience
• Sawmill or planer mill experience
• Experience loading flatbed trucks
• Inventory control and material tracking experience
• Knowledge of lumber grades, species, and products
• Experience operating large industrial forklifts
• Ability to identify lumber attributes and barcodes
• Experience with Excel and LumberTrack

Skills & Abilities

• Strong attention to detail and safety awareness
• Ability to work professionally with carriers, vendors, and customers
• Good time management and organizational skills
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to maintain accurate inventory records
• Ability to read and interpret shipping documents and load sheets

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a loud, dusty industrial environment
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
• Frequent walking on uneven surfaces
• Occasional bending, twisting, climbing, and lifting
• Ability to safely enter and exit equipment multiple times during shift

Darrington is a small town nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Cascade Mountains with easy access to national parks, hiking, skiing, fishing, and hunting. Hampton Lumber took over ownership of the Darrington mill in 2002 and today employs 175 people in good, family-wage jobs. We’re committed to creating a safe, competitive facility and opportunities for growth for our employees. Here, you have a career, not just a job. We take pride in this community and help where we can by supporting school events, athletic and family assistance programs, scholarships, and local clubs/businesses.

Learn more at hamptonlumber.com, or follow us on Facebook: @HamptonLumber.  You can also learn about our company and our priorities by visiting our blog.

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law. 

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location that you are applying.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.