Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician

Northern Partners Cooperative is seeking a skilled and motivated Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician to join our team at the Ottawa, IL Facility. If you're passionate about agriculture, enjoy hands-on work, and take pride in maintaining essential equipment and providing excellent service to growers, we want to hear from you!

The Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician plays a critical role in supporting daily agronomy operations and maintaining facility equipment. This position ensures the safe and efficient functioning of plant equipment while assisting in custom application services and operational activities across the agronomy division.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Application: Operates equipment in the application of fertilizers, crop protection chemicals and NH3 as prioritized by season. Responsible for data collection at the point of application and proper transfer of that data back to the agronomy account manager. Applicator shall perform applications in a manner that will maximize customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies for the company. Responsible for proper operation and maintenance of all equipment to minimize repair costs and downtime. (35%)

2. Safety: Takes responsibility for safe operations of all equipment and monthly facility inspections, as by OSHA inspection standard. Completion of safety reports and required records. Follows all safety procedures and reports any incidences that could compromise the safety integrity of Northern Partners Cooperative. Maintains a safe working environment and promotes safety amongst customers and employees. If any unsafe working conditions arise, notifies Location Manager immediately. (20%)

3. Customer Service: Projects a positive attitude to co-workers and customers at all times. Provides outstanding and courteous customer service. Promotes the business with existing and potential customers. (10%)

4. Maintenance & Operations: Performs required preventative maintenance and have all preventive maintenance reports turned in on time. Never allows maintenance to get to a level where equipment is not usable. Assist in all operational duties at the location as prioritized by season and location manager direction. Also, delivers to customers products and services that are sold by the branch. (20%)

5. Locational Duties: Keeps the Location Manager informed of operational, customer, vendors, or employee issues that may arise. Assists in keeping all inside and outside work areas extremely neat and orderly. (10%)

 6. Other Duties: Other duties as assigned.

Experience & Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.


• Valid Driver’s License is required.


• Class A CDL with HAZMAT, tanker, and airbrake endorsements required or must be obtained once employed; NPC will assist in obtaining.·


• 1-3 years related experience and/or training preferred.


• Minimum of 20,000 acres application performed in a single year prior to being promoted to Agronomy Applicator & Maintenance Technician role.


• Approachable; puts others at ease, give full attention, shows interest, responds appropriately. Builds relationships both internally and externally through professional and highly developed verbal and written communications.


• Organized; has the capability to work on several projects while maintaining ease and a level head of thinking and rational.


• Analyzes problems and sources of conflicts, communicates with direct reports for help with resolution and problem solving.


• Ability to function independently where appropriate but to recognize when issues escalate and need to be referred to other resources.


• Ability to assess a situation and determine the best course of action (independent judgment).

Physical Demands - Considerable physical exertion

Occasionally exposed or required to:

• Extreme weather conditions (hot, cold, wet, etc.)


• Noisy conditions


• Working conditions may include dust, fumes, chemicals, and electrical hazards with appropriate safety measures


• Exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and vibration


• Lift 75 lbs. or more

Benefits:  

• 3 Health Insurance plan options with prescription benefits


• Health Savings Account (HSA)


• Health and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)


• 2 Dental Plan options (base plan at no cost if enrolled in health plan)


• Vision Plan (at no cost if enrolled in health plan)


• Company Paid Group Life & AD&D


• Supplemental Life & AD&D (employee & dependents)


• Company paid Short-Term Disability


• Supplemental Short-Term/Long Term Disability


• Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans


• Defined Benefit Co-op Retirement Pension Plan (accrual rate of 2.00% and company contribution rate is 6.57%)


• $250.00 yearly Clothing Reimbursement allowance


• Paid Time Off (PTO) – Vacation, Personal Days, and Sick time


• 9.5 paid Holidays


• Additional benefits – paid bereavement, paid jury duty, Family Medical Leave (FMLA), paid maternity/paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteer day, wellness program, profit sharing, employee assistance program, company paid learning courses, LifeMart discount program, plus so much more!

About the Company:

As a homegrown, locally owned full-service cooperative, Northern Partners Cooperative has been rooted in the community from the very beginning. Our goal is to continually work to grow customer value and cooperative strength within the community we all share. Located in Northern Illinois, we have 10 locations throughout La Salle and Bureau County offering products, services, and expertise that focus grain, agronomy, energy, and seed.  

Northern Partners Cooperative offers opportunities for passionate individuals looking to unlock a greater value for the future of agriculture and our communities. We know that a business or farming operation requires hard work and dedication and that's why we take pride in having knowledgeable, hardworking team members that are dedicated to being our most valued partner, helping us to reach new levels of success. 

Northern Partners Cooperative’s Core Values:

•               Honesty and integrity in all our relationships

•               Focus on our people and their ability to contribute to the success of NPC

•               Foster a culture where innovative solutions thrive

•               Commitment to safety, quality, and service to our employees and member owners

•               Commitment to our communities

Additional Information:

Northern Partners Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law. All information provided will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Your application must reflect that you possess the required qualifications for the position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, physical and environmental demands but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.

No agencies or 3rd party vendors.