How to hire a returns specialist

How to hire a returns specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step returns specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a returns specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new returns specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the returns specialist you need to hire. Certain returns specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A returns specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, returns specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of returns specialist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Returns Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Returns Specialist	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.	$12-20

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Data Entry
   • Customer Service
   • RMA
   • Return Authorizations
   • RF
   • Inventory Control
   • Safety Regulations
   • Customer Orders
   • Computer System
   • Product Returns
   • Customer Support
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Merchandise Returns
   • Customer Accounts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage documents for staff collaboration and training in SharePoint.
   • Apply quality assurance/control, project management, and leadership expertise to ensure assign manufacturing technicians comply with FDA and ISO guidelines.
   • Recognize opportunities to up-sell and often take the opportunity to do so to create a better Marriott experience and event.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your returns specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A returns specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, returns specialists' average salary in mississippi is 52% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level returns specialists 40% less than senior-level returns specialists.
   • Certifications. A returns specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a returns specialist's salary.

   Average returns specialist salary

   $15.90hourly

   $33,064 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level returns specialist salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a returns specialist job description

   A returns specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a returns specialist job description:

   Returns specialist job description example

   Employee Group: Regular
   
   Shift: Day
   
   Travel: 0%
   
   Site Name: Shepherdsville Dist Center
   
   Fulfillment Specialist
   
   At Radial, our employees are the forefront of ecommerce, bringing beloved brands to consumers through our fulfillment, customer care and technology solutions. We are fueling the future of retail, which means you are, too. When you work for Radial, you join a global community of changemakers, where the work is critical, and the culture is fun. We depend on our workforce to overcome real-world challenges every day and encourage you to carve your own career path while shaping our future together.
   
   Radial, the leader in omnichannel commerce technologies and operations has an exciting opening for Fulfillment Specialist to support Radial's effort in role description in how the function or position supports Radial.
   
   Radial's omnichannel solutions use cutting-edge technology and analytics to optimize the e-commerce end to end processes reducing costs for our customer while enhancing the consumer experience.
   
   Role Summary:
   
   The Fulfillment Specialist position in a fulfillment center is a general labor position that reports to a Fulfillment Center Supervisor and/or Manager. Responsibilities include all vendor compliance duties including answering email dispositions, maintaining T-SKU logs, and working client VAS.
   
   Responsibilities:
   
   + Check and document the work of others according to established guidelines.
   
   + Maintain cycle count and quality assurance programs.
   
   + Reconcile and report any audit discrepancies.
   
   + Proactively seek out improvements in processes.
   
   + Prepare and submit reports to track daily, weekly and monthly metrics as assigned.
   
   + Understand and maintain WMS and Command Center.
   
   + Ability to understand and work with RF equipment.
   
   + Support and maintain the company quality management system and programs.
   
   + Responsible for auditing no less than the prescribed percentage of inbound and outbound shipments daily.
   
   + Work overtime as deemed necessary by management.
   
   + Assist in the daily sanitation of assigned area to insure an efficient, safe and hazard free production environment.
   
   + Assist other members of the FC team, in any way possible, as determined by FC management and supervisors.
   
   + Meet or exceed company standards on attendance, punctuality, conduct, safety and security.
   
   + Flexibility to adapt to a changing environment and changes in procedures.
   
   Qualifications:
   
   + High school diploma or equivalent; one to two years related experience and/or training in warehousing or distribution operations; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   
   + Good oral and written communication skills.
   
   + Good interpersonal interaction and social skills.
   
   + Good problem solving skills.
   
   + Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
   
   + Must adhere to facility requirements regarding the handling of specific products and the reporting of illness. This includes personal hygiene standards, such as frequent hand washing, the storage of lunches / personal items, food in the work area and the wearing of clothes that are free from soil contaminants and holes.
   
   + Ability to stand for extended periods of time
   
   + Must lift and/or move up to 35 pounds to aid operations
   
   + Good vision and hearing for verbal communication and forklift safety
   
   + Manhattan WMS experience preferred.
   
   Travel:
   
   + This position is not remote.
   
   + Travel is not required.
   
   Hours: Monday - Friday 6am-2:30pm. Must be available to work additional hours as needed.
   
   Radial is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.
   
   Radial is committed to ensuring that its online application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an application, please contact us by emailing . We will work to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online.
   
   Radial is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.
   
   Radial is committed to ensuring that its online application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals with disabilities. If you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an application, please contact us by emailing. We will work to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find returns specialists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your returns specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit returns specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting returns specialists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new returns specialist

   Once you've decided on a perfect returns specialist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new returns specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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