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Goodwill Material Handler Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Goodwill Material Handler information

What is a Goodwill material handler?

Goodwill Material Handlers are employees responsible for receiving, sorting, and organizing donated goods at Goodwill locations. They unload donations, inspect items for quality, and prepare merchandise for the sales floor or recycling. Material Handlers play a key role in ensuring donations are processed efficiently and safely, helping to support Goodwill's mission of providing job training and employment services through store proceeds.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Goodwill material handler, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Goodwill Material Handler, you need physical stamina, attention to detail, and basic organizational skills, often with a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with warehouse equipment, inventory tracking systems, and safety procedures is typically required. Strong teamwork, reliability, and communication skills help you excel in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. These abilities ensure efficient donation processing, maintain workplace safety, and provide positive experiences for both donors and coworkers.

What are some typical challenges Goodwill material handlers face, and how can they be managed effectively?

Goodwill Material Handlers often encounter challenges such as handling heavy, bulky, or irregularly shaped donations, maintaining safety and efficiency in a fast-paced environment, and sorting large volumes of items quickly. To manage these challenges, handlers are encouraged to use proper lifting techniques, collaborate closely with team members, and stay organized to ensure smooth workflow. Open communication with supervisors and ongoing training in safety procedures also help create a supportive work environment and reduce the risk of injury.

What is the difference between Goodwill Material Handler vs Goodwill Warehouse Associate?

AspectGoodwill Material HandlerGoodwill Warehouse Associate
Primary ResponsibilitiesLoading, unloading, and moving donations and inventoryAssisting with inventory management and order fulfillment
Required SkillsPhysical stamina, basic forklift or equipment operationOrganizational skills, attention to detail
Work EnvironmentWarehouse, donation centersWarehouse, retail stores
CertificationsForklift certification often preferredNone typically required

The Goodwill Material Handler primarily focuses on physically moving donations and inventory within warehouse settings, often requiring equipment operation skills. In contrast, the Goodwill Warehouse Associate may handle inventory organization and assist with store operations. Both roles are essential in the donation and retail process, but they differ in specific duties and skill requirements.

Is a Goodwill Material Handler a hard job?

A Goodwill Material Handler job involves lifting, sorting, and moving donated items, which can be physically demanding and require stamina. The role often requires standing for long periods and operating equipment like carts or dollies, making it physically challenging but manageable with proper safety practices. The difficulty level varies based on individual fitness and experience with manual labor tasks.
What are popular job titles related to Goodwill Material Handler jobs in California? For Goodwill Material Handler jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Goodwill Material Handler job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 79% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution.

Temporary Store Processor Rep PT - Capitola

GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST

Capitola, CA โ€ข On-site

$16.90 - $18.40/hr

Part-time

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

JOB SUMMARY

Receive donations at store location in a courteous manner to encourage continued community support. Following established procedures, perform preliminary sorting before packing/staking/donations. May perform duties of Store Material Handler and/or Store Processor as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Maintain donation area inside a retail store, ensuring area is kept neat, clean and organized.

Greet donors by following defined procedures, accept or reject items for donation; explain reasons for item rejection.

Offer and/or issue donor a receipt. Record time and nature of donation on daily record. Sort and stack donations into designated containers, ensuring items are wrapped and/or packed to prevent damage or a safety hazard.

Contact transportation with donations status; request barrels, hanger racks and other supplies as needed.

Assist sales staff in preparing goods for floor display.

SECONDARY DUTIES

May perform Store Material Handler duties, including:

Offload donations from trucks and trailers and place in designated areas, and maintain records of offloaded materials.

Receive, move and place carts, containers and barrels containing donations for processing in designated areas.

May perform Store Processor duties, including:

Sort and grade textile/clothing and hard sort items by separating into predetermined classifications (e.g., men's, women's, children's and other textiles) and into quality level (e.g., retail store grade, Outlet grade, or salvage).

Clean and grade hard sort items by removing surface dirt from glassware and small wares, placing incomplete and/or broken items into containers for the Outlet or for trash.

Price items meeting quality standards by grouping items according to value.

Tag items meeting quality standards by affixing appropriate tags or labels to a group of priced items.

Place items into designated containers for transport to store sales floor.

May perform janitorial duties as needed. Perform related duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION REQUIRED: High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION REQ'D: None.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: None. Duties can be learned through on-the-job training.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED: Use of material handling equipment and use of material handling techniques preferred (this may be learned on-the-job)

Knowledge of Goodwill Central Coast's mission, general Company policies and procedures (this may be learned on-the-job).

EQUIPMENT USED: Barrels, wire cages, boxes, broom & dustpan, typical retail store equipment; typical office equipment.

SKILLS/APTITUDES/TEMPERAMENTS:

Ability to communicate in basic oral and written English. Ability to communicate in basic Spanish preferred.

Ability to understand and follow the organizational/packing/stacking procedures. Ability to coordinate eye/hand/foot movement to safely lift/stack donations. Ability to understand and accept direction and follow procedures.

Ability to perform repetitive work, adapting to fluctuating work activity with periods of idle time.

Ability to maintain self-control, deal effectively with the public and work in cooperation with co-workers.

Ability to make judgments regarding the acceptance of donations and to tactfully explain decisions or present information clearly regarding acceptability of donations, following established policies.

Ability to demonstrate satisfactory attendance as outlined in Company policy.

Ability to adhere to safe work practices as documented in Company safety policies.

Ability to report safety hazards/accidents promptly to supervisor or safety committee member.

EMOTIONAL EFFORT:

The activity level will fluctuate depending on the level of donors and donations, which may require some overtime.

JOB SETTING

Work is performed in an enclosed storeroom floor. The area is heated and ventilated. Some locations have a receiving area which is less climactically controlled and where work is occasionally performed. The working/standing surface is uniform. Dust and dirt is controlled by daily cleaning of work area and are insignificant. Noise and vibrations are insignificant; however, radios and/or televisions may be turned on.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The job has medium work demands with a certain amount of walking and standing as is necessary to carry out the job duties. There is regular lifting/carrying of items weighing up to 50 lbs. Heavier items (51 lbs. or more) will be moved by using proper material handling equipment, with help from another person or by work order request.

Normal or corrected talking, hearing, and seeing abilities are sufficient to perform required tasks.

SUPPLEMENTAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The frequencies referenced below are an average. They will change from time to time depending on the activity level at the station and types and amount of items donated.

Standing--------------------- Consistently, 71-100% of the time

Walking---------------------- Consistently, 71-100% of the time

Sitting------------------------ Rarely, 0-10% of the time

Bending---------------------- Consistently, 71-100% of the time

Twisting--------------------- None

Pushing/pulling------------- Consistently, 71-100% of the time Climbing--------------------- None

Twisting---------------------- None

Squatting/kneeling-------- Rarely, 0-10% of the time

Lifting/carrying------------- Consistently, 71-100% of the time (10 lbs. or less)

Consistently, 71-100% of the time (11-25 lbs) Consistently, 71-100% of the time (26-50 lbs.)

Longest distance carried: 40 feet Heaviest item carried: 50 lbs.

Hand/Shoulder/Foot:

Simple grasping----- Consistently, 71-100% of the time Power grasping------ Rarely, 0-10% of the time

Fine manipulation--- Rarely, 0-10% of the time

Reaching at or above shoulder level------ Rarely, 0-10% of the time Reaching at or below shoulder level------ Regularly, 31-70% of the time Operate foot controls or

repetitive foot movement-- None (other than walking)

JOB MODIFICATION: The physical aspects of the position may be able to be modified, depending on the specific modification and the duration of the modification required.