The Heavy Material Handler / Inventory Control Specialist is responsible for the safe, accurate, and efficient movement, storage, staging, identification, and physical control of steel plate, sheet, bar stock, remnants, work-in-process, and finished product throughout DEC Metals.

This role is specifically designed for an individual experienced in moving large, heavy, and irregularly shaped metal products, understanding that load weight, balance, rigging, lifting points, and safety must be evaluated before a move. Equally important, this person serves as DEC’s operational owner of physical inventory—knowing what is on the floor, where it is located, whether it is properly identified, what is usable, and what is becoming scarce before it affects production.

• Organize and maintain plate, sheet, bar stock, remnant, customer-owned material, and raw-material storage areas so stock is clearly identified, accessible, and protected.
• Maintain practical visibility of material type, grade, thickness, dimensions, quantity, condition, and physical location.
• Monitor stock levels continuously to proactively identify low-stock conditions, shortages, unusual consumption, duplicate stock, and upcoming replenishment needs.
• Perform routine cycle counts and physical inventory checks; compare physical stock to records and investigate or promptly report discrepancies.
• Safely move material throughout the facility operating forklifts, overhead cranes, hoists, plate-lifting devices, magnets, clamps, chains, slings, shackles, and hooks when authorized.
• Evaluate material weight, dimensions, center of gravity, lifting points, load stability, equipment capacity, and travel paths before attempting any lift or movement.
• Receive incoming steel and purchased goods, verifying deliveries against purchase orders and packing slips while immediately reporting shortages, damage, or missing certifications.
• Review production priorities and stage correct material for burn tables, CNC machines, saws, fabrication, and other work centers to eliminate equipment waiting time.
• Evaluate remnants for usability, returning usable material to controlled stock with proper identification to prevent unnecessary new purchases.
• Safely load and unload company trucks, customer vehicles, and commercial flatbed trailers using proper weight distribution, dunnage, blocking, banding, and edge protection.
• Strictly observe safety standards—never place anyone beneath a suspended load, inspect rigging prior to use, use required PPE, and exercise stop-work authority when risks arise.

• Prior experience handling heavy steel plate, sheet, structural material, large fabricated components, or heavy industrial loads.
• Demonstrated experience operating industrial forklifts; overhead crane, hoist, rigging, steel service center, or heavy-fabrication experience strongly preferred.
• Practical understanding of load weight, balance, center of gravity, load stability, rigging selection, lifting points, and equipment capacity.
• Working knowledge of inventory organization, receiving, material identification, cycle counting, location control, and material traceability.
• Ability to read material tags, job travelers, packing slips, purchase orders, shipping documents, and use a tape measure for plate dimensions.
• Strong attention to detail, spatial awareness, reliability, and willingness to stop and ask for help rather than make an unsafe lift.
• Physical capability: Stand, walk, bend, reach, climb throughout shift; lift/carry up to 50 lbs independently; safely operate industrial equipment in a shop/outdoor environment.