Facilities Technician I/II - 1st shift

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors of pistachios in the United States. For more than two decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and exceptional service in supplying pistachio and almond products to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally. Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees. Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms possesses a strong employee-oriented environment dedicated to training and growth of team members.
The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers and customers through operational excellence and educational development.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Facilities Technician I/II will be responsible for the overall maintenance and reliability of company owned commercial and industrial buildings, plant utilities, and the plant mobile equipment fleet. Technician will be responsible for maintaining, inspecting, cleaning, and changing batteries for the mobile fleet. This position will also be required to perform basic maintenance on the commercial and industrial structures on campus as per the needs of the department. Technician will also be responsible for maintaining a clean and hazard free environment in compliance with FSMA and SQF standards. Firm understanding of commercial/industrial building maintenance practices and techniques required.
SAFETY ABILITY:
Promote a "safety first" culture by following all safety rules (including Lockout/Tag out, Confined Space, Fall Protection and Hazard Communication). Report all near misses, Injuries, and documentation of incidents to Shift Supervisor/Production Supervisor/Leads
QUALITY ABILITY:
Perform all duties in accordance with Quality and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) established company policies and procedures.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT:
Responsible for active participation in continuous improvement teams and processes.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Complete basic commercial/industrial building maintenance work as needed.

• • Painting projects - complete painting of industrial equipment and buildings as needed.
  • Plumbing work for hand wash stations, eye wash stations, drainage, gutter systems
  • Understanding of basic plant utility and distribution systems (Electrical, Compressed Air, Steam, Water)
  • Repair/Maintain underground utility piping including excavating earth if necessary.
  • Work with drywall and sheetrock repairs as well as building/office trim, windows, etc.
  • Complete daily/weekly regulatory compliance testing and documentation as assigned.
  • Complete any work needed for office staff to facilitate office relocations and redesign projects.
  • Work with management to assist on all project and scheduled work for department as needed.

Maintain all types of batteries used to power mobile electric equipment including but not limited to

• • 48V Lead-Acid Standard Batteries
  • 48V TPPL Batteries
  • 36V Gel Filled Rapid Charge Batteries
  • Small Engine Batteries
  • Any others as sourced by company.

Maintain all equipment associated with the charging, maintenance, or movement of batteries.

• • Battery Crane/Hoist
  • Battery Chargers - Standard 48V Lead-Acid and Locally installed rapid chargers.
  • Any others as sourced by company.

Maintain complete ownership and control of the battery changing area including:

• • Changing batteries for production
  • Cleaning of batteries when needed.
  • Ensure proper charging cycle for all 48V batteries (8-8-8 cycle)
  • Ensure proper watering and general battery care.
  • Always ensure safe and clean work areas
  • Complete all needed preventative maintenance items within the maintenance CMM.

JOB ATTRIBUTES:

• Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.
• Leadership: Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions
• Time Management: Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to change in the workplace. Capable of functioning in a fast-paced entrepreneurial setting.
• Resource Management (People & Equipment) - Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.
• Prioritization: Ability to quickly prioritize numerous pressing tasks and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills, as well as ability to make presentations.
• Interpersonal: Ability to effectively build working relationships
• Team Involvement: Works effectively with teams and work groups. Actively participates in problem solving and interacts with team and work groups to achieve team and organizational goals.
• Detail-oriented: Attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Continuous Improvement: Active participant in continuous improvement initiatives and goals. Seeks opportunities to improve self and processes.

• Critical Thinking: Use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weakness of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Learning: Understanding new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

POSITION REQUIREMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Understand basic working principle of batteries designed for a variety of uses.
• Experience working with storage batteries, their maintenance and repair - 2 years preferred.
• Working knowledge of safety precautions needed and PPE required for working around storage batteries.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all plant personnel.
• Fluent in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Ability to lift 100lbs occasionally while normally lifting upwards of 50lbs repeatedly.
• Working knowledge of battery construction and tear down procedures.
• Complete battery swaps and repairs as needed.
• Respond in a timely manner to production needs maintaining high sense of urgency.
• Ability to work with outside resources (vendors) as needed.
• Communicate needed upgrades or major repairs up to and including removal of capital assets from general service.
• Be able to confidently explain the current condition of assets and communicate needs to nontechnical employees.
• Participate in annual production trainings to ensure compliance with Nichols Farms standards and SOPs.
• Ability to author SOPs and documents as needed to elevate the performance of those around you.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum 2 years' direct facilities maintenance experience or equivalent.
• Experience with Full Microsoft Office Suite and computerized maintenance software.
• Exposure to regulatory (local and federal) compliance is preferred but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand for periods of time at workstation, climb stairs, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as designated by the company. The primary work environment will be in an office setting. Some work may include being inside the plant manufacturing environment which may include high levels of noise.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.
EOE/M/F/D/V