Retail Associate

$16/hr

Job Summary

The Retail Associate plays a versatile and essential role in daily store operations. Responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of the day or week and include customer service, donation intake, merchandise production, and sales floor support. This position requires flexibility, a commitment to quality service, and the ability to perform all store functions as needed.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide a warm, professional greeting to donors and customers.
• Assist donors with unloading items from vehicles, issue donation receipts, and maintain accurate donor logs.
• Deliver exceptional customer service by answering questions and helping.
• Evaluate the quality of donated merchandise and pre-sort items for salvage or sale.
• Load and unload materials from pallets, bins, or trucks.
• Open containers and sort materials into appropriate categories.
• Operate equipment safely, including pallet jacks, pallet stackers, and forklifts (if certified).
• Move merchandise throughout the store to support operational needs.
• Perform daily and nightly recovery of the sales floor and backroom areas.
• Sort, price, and tag donated hardline goods for sales floor placement, ensuring merchandise quality.
• Meet production expectations for textiles and hard goods in assigned roles.
• Accurately operate a cash register, provide excellent customer service, and promote mission-related fundraising (e.g., round-up campaigns).
• Maintain cleanliness and organization during stocking and downtime across all roles.
• Adhere to safety protocols and housekeeping standards.
• Demonstrate a professional, adaptable, and team-oriented attitude.
• Uphold and promote the mission and values of Goodwill.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support store operations.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of one year of experience in material handling or customer service preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

• Forklift operator certification required for applicable locations (must be obtained within 30 days of hire if not already certified).

Qualification Requirements

To successfully perform this role, the individual must be able to carry out each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to manage tasks with frequent interruptions and minimal supervision.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both in person and over the phone.
• Ability to follow verbal instructions accurately.
• Strong commitment to teamwork and continuous improvement.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Sedentary

Lifting up to 10 pounds maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as dockets, ledgers and files. Walking and standing are occasionally required. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons

Light

Lifting up to 20 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

Medium

Lifting up to 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

Heavy

Lifting up to 100 pounds maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 50 pounds. May be required to regularly stand for extended periods of time, walk, reach with hands/arms with full range of motion, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, push or pull. Regularly required to talk and hear. Frequently required to use hands and fingers to hold, handle and feel objects, knobs, keys and/or buttons.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel is defined as travel to all areas within Goodwill’s territory (Cecil, Harford, Baltimore, Howard, and Anne Arundel Counties, Baltimore City and the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland). In some cases, long-distance travel, including overnights may be required but is typically planned. In some cases, travel may be unplanned.

None

Up to 25% of working time

Up to 50% of working time

Up to 75% of working time

More than 75% of working time

Must have access to personal vehicle

Company vehicle to be provided for business related travel

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Limited

General office environment where the employee is infrequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles or outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually quiet.

Moderate

Employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate.

High

Employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. Employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. Employee is occasionally exposed to high precarious places, risk of electrical shock and/or vibration. The noise level is usually loud.