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FS PARTNERS, a division of GROWMARK, Inc., is a great company for which to work, large enough to offer solid career opportunities and great benefits, but with a friendly, personal feel. At FS PARTNERS, we specialize in agronomy, energy products and grain marketing. We are driven to deliver innovative solutions to help improve the profitability of our customers and farmer owners.
We have more than 150 employees and serve approximately 15,000 customers across southwestern and central Ontario. The people we hire are professional, courteous, knowledgeable and self-motivated, and supported by ongoing training programs such as FS University.
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT
Under the direction of the Branch Manager or Supervisor, the Operator 2 is the primary operator, driver, and applicator of specialized facility equipment. Familiar with most facets of the operation and capable of running most equipment inside and outside the plant with limited supervision.
May drive flotation/sprayers, delivery equipment, or forklifts, seasonally. Responsible for the safe operation and maintenance and/or security of equipment and machinery of moderate capital value, such as custom application equipment, an assigned motor vehicle; practicing non-aggressive defensive driving techniques in accordance with standards, regulations, and laws pertaining to transportation. Class “DZ” driver’s license required. In addition, may perform preventative maintenance duties, warehouse duties, or work in processing areas as required. Customer contact varies depending on the location.
SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHIP
May on occasion be responsible for some supervision, delegation of tasks, and training other Operators on safe handling and operation of equipment.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Operates heavy equipment (i.e. spray applicator), in a safe and effective manner in order to minimize risk, injury, property damage, or loss of life.
Mixes and applies crop inputs to fields and growing crops according to recommended rates, procedures, and following all pesticide labels. Records application data according to regulations and standards.
Drives and operates plant equipment and machinery, such as, bobcat, forklifts, and/or trucks safely which includes performing the required daily checks to minimize risks, injury, and property damage, inside and/or outside the facility as required.
Performs and records daily safety checks of assigned vehicle(s) and associated equipment by conducting pre-trip inspections such as checking fuel and oil levels, inspecting tires, lights, and brakes. Follows the preventative maintenance program and keeps truck clean to maintain professional appearance.
Loads and unloads containers, pallets, or materials and products, safely on trucks, trailers, or railcars by hand or by forklift truck.
Ensures the safe operation of equipment used in moving goods within the storage facility; also regularly cleans and maintains equipment and/or vehicles used in receiving and shipping and keeps the storage facilities clean, organized and presentable at all times in compliance with GROWMARK’s Workplace Health & Safety; maintenance of equipment and/or vehicles includes: lubricating parts, checking fluid levels, refilling equipment tanks and replacing filters in order to improve performance.
Transports custom blended fertilizers, chemicals, seed, and various equipment and ensures all associated documentation, including bills of ladings, shipping tickets are accurate and completed according to schedule.
Ensures that product in storage meets quality standards and is stored and handled in a safe and organized manner.
Receives grain and grades by sampling, testing, and weighing the product to ensure quality aligns with GROWMARK’s standards.
May be required to operate the drying equipment at the grain facility ensuring grain is dried to the proper moisture for that commodity, as well as ensures the proper storage and aeration required for all grain commodities is accurately followed.
Blends fertilizer, weighs tanks, assists in inventory pre-listing and physical counting, as required and creates blend sheet on daily production schedules for general fertilizer products, as well as pesticide combination products.
Ensures that proper vouchers are completed on all incoming goods and verifies the correctness of receipts against bills of lading or other records, checks for shortages, identifies damaged goods, etc.
Completes all assigned record-keeping duties, such as vehicle logs, records of sales, delivery information, and application records, in a timely manner.
Sets up material handling, blending, manufacturing, storage, transport and application equipment for blending and delivery of products, such as fertilizer, chemicals, and/or grain, according to recommended rates and procedures.
Performs a combination of yard work such as mowing, trimming, watering lawns; maintaining flower beds; rakes and bags leaves; cleans grounds and removes litter; shovels snow from walks and driveways and spreads salt on public passage ways to prevent ice buildup; depending on location, performs daily dips of cardlocks.
May be required to weld machinery and other equipment, as necessary.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS
Follows GROWMARK Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies and procedures. Under the Occupational Health and Safety act (OHSA) employee must: use or wear any equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the employer; report any known workplace hazard to the employer or supervisor; report any known contravention of the Act or regulations to the employer or supervisor; not use or operate any equipment or work in a way that may endanger any worker.
Performs other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience
Normally requires a high school diploma or equivalent, or a combination of experience and training to provide the required knowledge and skills to safely operate transportation equipment. Supervisory experience is preferred in order to provide back-up leadership to all production personnel.
Requires, or the ability to obtain a current Ag Exterminator License, and Nutrient Technician License. Must also possess a valid driver’s license; a driving abstract that represents a history of safe operation, as well as the ability to maintain insurability.
Functional Competencies
Demonstrates safe driving techniques, with ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely and efficiently in adverse road, weather, and traffic conditions; demonstrated time management such as determining cost efficient routes, and time efficient scheduling of deliveries.
Demonstrates ability to read maps, bills of ladings, follow specific delivery directions and instructions, follow posted safety rules and safe operating procedures to insure proper techniques are performed; write and make accurate entries in daily driving log, comprehends simple instructions, and speak English sufficiently to converse with customers and other employees.
Demonstrates basic math skills, such as the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure and understanding of basic computer skills as they relate to the position.
Proven ability to work independently, and in a team-oriented environment, and achieve results through others.
Understanding of basic computer skills as they relate to the custom application business.
Core Competencies
Demonstrated GROWMARK core competencies including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision-making, and skill development.
Other Requirements
Must be able to obtain various licenses, permits, and/or certificates as required.
Must be able to be trained in GROWMARK’s Workplace Health, Safety & Environmental policies, and procedures, including Accident Reporting, Emergency Response Plan, Fire Safety, General Safety Rules, Health & Safety Rights, Health & Safety Roles and
Responsibilities, Safe Manual Lifting, Slips Trips and Falls, and WHMIS.
May be required to be trained in the following: Agriculture Exterminator, Chemical Handling and Spills Response, Confined Space, Defensive Driving, Grain Handling, Hot Work, Lifting Devices (Forklift, Payloader, Skidsteer), Lockout/Tagout, Nutrient Technician,
Pesticide Vendor, Respirator Fit Testing, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Working at Heights/Fall Arrest.
May be required to work extended hours, particularly during peak seasons.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Mental Effort
The incumbent works independently within established policies and work procedures. Mental and visual concentration, normally moderate in intensity is required when following safety rules and safe operating procedures to insure proper techniques are performed. The Operator 2 is called upon to make decisions within their scope of practice set by the Manager. Unusual problems are referred to the Branch Manager or Supervisor.
The incumbent may encounter moderate mental stress increases when trying to pay attention to detail while driving, spraying customer’s fields, and operating various pieces of equipment in a fast paced environment.
The incumbent may encounter moderate to occasionally high mental stress increases during peak season, and when handling customer complaints, regarding skips, overlaps, tire skids, spraying through waterways, and spills during reloading.
Physical Effort
There are frequent physical demands to accomplish tasks that may be occasionally uncomfortable, such as standing or sitting for long periods of time, repetitive turning, pulling, reaching, and climbing on and off equipment and bins, crawling, bending, stooping such as when inspecting the underside of the equipment, checking tires, or (un)loading product.
Operators are often expected to load and unload freight that may occasionally require considerable physical effort; this may include manual lifting, loading and putting away bags of seed, fertilizer, and/or jugs of chemicals weighing up to 50 lbs., and on occasion up to 100 lbs. may be required. Occasional climbing of stairways or ladders up to 170 feet may be required to check inventories and/or perform maintenance and repairs of power blenders and grain bins.
Working Conditions
Environmental working conditions both indoors and outdoors vary and employee may encounter vibration, noise, odors, and exposure to varied surfaces, varied lighting, and confined and congested areas. Typical conditions are such that moderate risk of injury is possible to self or others, such as when lifting, loading and unloading freight; hand injuries are common such as incurring cuts, scrapes from sharp edges and pinch points; Gloves worn throughout most of the day may cause skin irritations.
The Operator 2 may be exposed to a moderate amount of climbing and working at heights up to 180 feet in grain elevators. This may cause some emotional and/or physical discomfort. The Operator 2 is continuously exposed to dust, agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, fumes and smells from gasoline, propane, diesel, fuel, and lubricants, which may lead to headaches, and skin irritation.
The Operator 2 can encounter all kinds of road, weather and traffic conditions and may load and unload freight in varying weather conditions at company or customer facilities.
CSA approved safety boots are mandatory safety attire which may make the wearer warmer than is comfortable at times. Other personal protective equipment maybe required to be worn such as hard hats, coveralls, safety glasses, hearing protection, dust masks, respiratory equipment and fall arrest equipment.
DISCLAIMER:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to the classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Benefits:
Competitive wages
Excellent benefit plan
Excellent work experience
Ongoing training and development
Tuition aid for further education
