Inventory Associate (Part-Time)

Reporting to the Manager - Inventory and working as part of the Donation Centre team, the Inventory Associate is responsible for the safe and effective movement of donations within the Donations Centre. On a daily basis, the Inventory Associate works with donations by initially receiving the items, shepherding them through the sorting process by the Sort Team, storing the sorted donations until they are required, moving non-usable items to recycle & disposal, and readying donations for dispersal as usable inventory to WINS thrift stores and programs.

The Donation Centre operates seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are seeking candidates who are available to work shifts during these hours on any day of the week, including weekends.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Receiving Donations

• Promptly and positively greet donors and provide them with a safe, cheerful, and thanks-filled donation experience
• Evaluate items for donation and make decisions on whether offered donations are acceptable. Communicate to donors regarding any unacceptable items in a kind and respectful manner
• Work with the Truck Team to unload donations from trucks from retail store and donor pick-ups
• Gather information for tax receipt purposes, confirm with the donor, and provide to Manager - Inventory

Sort, Processing, Moving and Storage

• Perform an efficient and consistent initial rough sort of donations (ex: clothing, household, electrical, seasonal, etc.) and transfer incoming goods to appropriate Sort Team workstations
• Safely bale recyclables and disposal items; store recycled and disposals safely until pick-up or delivery
• Ensure flow of goods through the Sort areas by providing full rough-sort bulk bins and removing empty bulk bins from the Sort areas
• Remove sorted and graded product from the Sort areas as needed to storage, recycle or disposal
• Move and store donations/inventory throughout the Donation Centre with safe and correct usage of the forklift and pallet jack
• Ensure that donations/inventory is stored in the correct locations and properly counted and tracked

Donation/Inventory Dispersal

• Assemble WINS retail store orders based on order sheets and assist the Truck team in loading trucks for distribution
• Remove recycle and disposal items in conjunction with WINS selected contractor or, where necessary, directly to landfill

Teamwork

• Act as an ambassador for WINS both on and off the job
• Maintain excellent donor, employee, and volunteer relations through positive, kind, and professional interactions with others
• Engage and support individual and corporate group volunteers to ensure that their experience is fun and rewarding
• Maintain ongoing communication with management on any issues or concerns

Health & Safety and Industrial Hygiene

• Positively engage in and comply with all WINS health & safety practices, procedures, and policies
• Gather donations and dispose of garbage left outside the Donations Centre
• Maintain a safe working area for all employees, donors, volunteers, clients, and customers by ensuring workstations, aisles, and loading docks are clean, tidy, and clear of clutter

Other duties as assigned from time to time.

Requirements:

Education

• Grade 12 education, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Forklift operating certification is a definite asset

Experience

• Prior warehouse experience would be an asset.

Personal/ Professional Attributes

• Eligible to legally work in Canada
• An understanding of and affinity for the WINS brand, mission, and role with our clients, customers, volunteers, donors, and community
• Solid organization skills with the ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment
• Effective communication skills including proficiency in verbal and written English
• Basic numeracy is required to keep counts
• A welcoming and empathetic demeanor with an ability to build and maintain positive relationships with other employees and individual & corporate volunteers
• Excellent customer/donor service orientation
• Flexibility to comply with a work schedule with shifts throughout the week
• Able to stand for long periods of time
• Willing to work outdoors occasionally
• Able to correctly and safely lift a minimum of 50lbs/23kg individually, and 100lbs/45kg as part of a team, on a routine, consistent, and regular basis
• Work-ready with CSA approved steel-toed safety boots