Equipment Operator - 480

I. Position Function SUMMARY:

Under direct supervision, the Equipment Operator provides support in operating farm equipment and machinery in a safe and efficient manner for optimal crop production during field preparation, planting, cultivation, harvesting and maintenance of crop acreage for various departments, including Alfalfa Crop, Bean Crop, Conservation, Corn Crop, Farm Support Services, Scales, and Organic/Conventional Row Crop. Equipment Operators will have a primary job assignment to a department but will also be assigned as needed to work in other departments.

II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following statements are essential functions of this position and not intended to be all-inclusive; rather, they are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the incumbent, and an employee may be directed to perform other reasonably related job duties and responsibilities. NAPI reserves the right to revise or change the job duties and responsibilities as the need arises, based on business need, and this position description may be updated accordingly. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

General Duties & Responsibilities

1. Maintains and complies with total quality controls according to USDA standards relating to inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipments that ensure NAPI’s concerns on food safety.
2. Perform daily pre- and post-operation inspection of equipment and maintain daily log; notes issues and findings in unit inspection books and informs Crop Foreman.
3. Perform daily preventative maintenance such as refilling grease points and fluids of equipment and implements.
4. Operates equipment and machinery used in agricultural production, such as tractors and combines effectively, efficiently, and safely.
5. Attaches farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools.
6. Assembles, attaches, adjusts proper combination of farm implements.
7. Loads hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machine with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks.
8. Manipulates controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery.
9. Mixes specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery.
10. Adjusts, repairs, and services farm machinery and notifies supervisors when machinery malfunctions.
11. Observes and listens to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.
12. Identifies equipment problems in a timely manner to minimize down time and equipment failure.
13. Assists department work crews in the activities of planting, weeding, or harvesting activities.
14. Performs tillage, planting, cultivation and harvesting operations effectively.
15. Performs proper maintenance service, repairs, adjustments and safety inspections of equipment and implements.
16. Maintains and promotes a safe work environment in all areas of control.
17. Completes daily reports and field operation reports as requested and in a timely manner.

See DEPARTMENT JOB ASSIGNMENTS for departments with additional duties

Other

1. Works collaboratively, cooperatively, and in coordination with fellow team members and with others in the organization, treats them with respect, courtesy and consideration, and shows understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done.
2. Provides information, guidance and resources to diverse groups of customers, clients and others outside of the organization; treats them in a friendly manner with professionalism, helpfulness, respect, courtesy and consideration at all times regardless of circumstances.
3. Maintains regular, dependable attendance and punctuality, and physical presence at the assigned worksite; must interact directly with people or objects at the worksite on a regular basis. Communications technology may, for certain tasks and under certain circumstances, enable an employee to effectively perform some of the work-related duties from home on a temporary basis.
4. Complies with all applicable environmental health and safety policies, procedures and work rules, giving maximum effort to performing job functions in a manner that protects the health and safety of the incumbent, co-workers, and the general public.
5. Performs other duties as assigned and which are deemed necessary or desirable by NAPI.

DEPARTMENT JOB ASSIGNMENTS

This Job Description is intended to be somewhat general in nature with respect to the job family, and as such it does not detail all duties of a particular job assignment. Additional duties, responsibilities, and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on the Department Job Assignment.

Agronomy

1. Operates tractor with artificial tunnel building implement.
2. Strictly adheres to proper handling, maintenance, and operation procedures of the artificial tunnel building implement.
3. Maintains daily records on progress on activities as well as pertinent information for EPA Chemical application sheets.
4. Collects measurements of infested areas requiring treatment.
5. Maintains clean work site after completion of job and conduct routine visual inspections of equipment before/after each use.
6. Consistently uses proper application techniques.
7. Safely transport equipment and implement.
8. Assists other team members with treatments or extermination processes in and/or around crop field.
9. Occasionally assists other departments with field assignments such as manual weed removal, field mapping, sample collections, load alfalfa bales, and grounds-keeping and facility maintenance which includes, but not limited to: shoveling, manual weed removal, trimming hedges and tree branches, raking, mowing grass, and hauling debris.

Corn

1. Maintain inspection, hour, fuel daily logs (planting, liquid/dry fertilizer for banding applications)
2. Assis in loading seeds and fertilizer by hand and/or with forklift
3. Monitor tractor controls and monitors to ensure proper land preparations, planting and harvesting specifications are met
4. Perform preventative maintenance, greasing and fluid refilling of tractors and equipment
5. Report needed repairs, welding jobs and parts to Crop Foremen
6. Maintains a clean worksite and properly care for tractor and equipment
7. Safely transport equipment on roadways when necessary
8. Assist department with other tasks as necessary – sprinkler unplugging, field scouting, and the upkeep of fields and facilities
9. Communicates with co-workers and management in a courteous manner
10. Maintains a good driving record throughout the duration of employment

Scales

1. Operates hay squeeze equipment safely, efficiently, and effectively.
2. Performs daily safety inspections to ensure hay squeezers are in fully functional state.
3. Performs maintenance and repairs on equipment as needed in a timely manner.
4. Maintains equipment by removing trash from cab and wash down equipment daily.
5. Maintains all necessary operating paperwork. (i.e., pre/post trip inspections, logbook).
6. Communicates with co-workers, management, customers, and vendors in a courteous and effective manner.
7. Communicates any mechanical repairs to both supervisors and Farm Support Services Department by filing out the proper work orders.
8. Completes and maintains all loading documentation (i.e., Scale Tickets, Customer Tickets).
9. Observes surroundings while operating equipment for road conditions and operating issues.
10. Reports all damages/mechanical errors to appropriate parties.
11. Loads and unloads products from/to field, storage, customer’s vehicle, and vendors as directed in a courteous, safe, and timely manner.
12. Assists Laborers with loading products for customers and maintains yard by cleaning.
13. Assist Laborers with sorting through inventory and relocate if needed, base on quality (i.e., damaged/bottom bales).
14. Assists with tarping of inventory by covering and removing tarps and relocating unused tarps.
15. Maintains a good driving record throughout duration of employment.
16. Completes annual re-certification to maintain knowledge, skills and safe practices.
17. Learns to operate other farm equipment.

Alfalfa

1. Maintain inspection, hour, fuel and planting logs
2. Assist in loading seeds and fertilizers by hand and/or with forklift
3. Monitor tractor controls and monitors to ensure proper land preparation and planting specifications are met
4. Perform preventative maintenance, greasing and fluid refilling of tractor and equipment.
5. Report needed repairs, welding jobs and parts to foreman.
6. Maintains a clean worksite and properly care for tractor and equipment.
7. Safely transport equipment on roadways when necessary
8. Assist department with other tasks as necessary – sprinkler unplugging, field scouting, loading alfalfa bales and upkeep of department fields and facilities.

Custom Grazing

1. Maintain inspection, hour, fuel and planting logs.
2. Assist in loading seeds and fertilizer by hand and/or with forklift.
3. Monitor tractor controls and monitors to ensure proper land preparation and planting specifications are met.
4. Report needed repairs, welding jobs and parts to Manager.
5. Safely transport equipment on roadways when necessary.
6. Assist department with other tasks as necessary – unplugging sprinklers, scouting fields, etc.
7. Set up electrical fencing, water tanks, as necessary.
8. Transports and sets up gooseneck stock trailers and portable corral system.