Grain Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Heritage Cooperative is always looking for friendly, outgoing, customer-service driven employees. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are constantly thinking outside of the box for new ways to make working at Heritage Cooperative attractive to our current and prospective employees. If you see yourself as a future Grain Associate with Heritage Cooperative, apply TODAY at  

QUALIFICATIONS 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

High school diploma or equivalent required. 

Ability to safely operate grain handling equipment and machinery after appropriate training. 

Ability to safely operate a forklift and other material-handling equipment after completing required training and certification. 

Ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions, safety procedures, and company policies. 

Ability to accurately complete required records, reports, tickets, and documentation.

Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with customers, coworkers, supervisors, and other personnel. 

Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team. 

Ability to recognize and report equipment issues, grain quality concerns, and unsafe conditions. 

Ability to work flexible and extended hours during peak grain receiving and harvest seasons. 

Strong commitment to workplace safety, environmental responsibility, and customer service. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Previous experience in grain handling, grain elevator operations, agriculture, farming, or a cooperative environment. 

Previous experience operating grain receiving and handling equipment. 

Previous forklift or material-handling experience. 

Experience with grain drying aeration, storage, or conditioning systems. 

Experience with grain sampling, testing, grading, or quality control. 

Basic mechanical or maintenance experience. 

Experience in performing preventative maintenance on industrial or agricultural equipment. 

Familiarity with grain quality factors such as moisture, temperature, foreign material, and condition. 

Previous experience working around grain bins, conveyors, augers, dryers, legs, pits, and other grain handling equipment. 

CDL or commercial driving experience preferred, if applicable to assigned duties.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Serve as a positive representation of Heritage Cooperative’s Core Values o Provide Superior Customer Service 
• Highest Standards of Integrity and Trust 
• Continuous Improvement 
• Being a Good Partner 

Abide by all company safety policies and applicable safety regulations to ensure the safety of oneself, coworkers, customers, and the public. 

Assist with the safe and efficient receiving of grain from producers and customers. 

Operate grain receiving systems, conveyors, legs, pits, augers, dryers, scales, and other grain handling equipment as trained and authorized. 

Monitor grain receiving systems and equipment to ensure proper operation and promptly report issues or abnormalities. 

Assist with grain handling, movement, storage, and transfer between bins, facilities, trucks, railcars, barges, and other designated locations. 

Operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment to load and unload product in an accurate and safe manner. 

Load out grain and other products according to customer orders, shipping instructions, and established procedures. 

Verify product, quantity, destination, and load information to ensure customer orders are fulfilled accurately and timely. 

Assist with truck, barge, and rail loadout operations as assigned. 

Complete required scale tickets, receiving records, loadout documentation, inventory records, inspection forms, and other reports accurately. 

Assist with grain sampling, testing, grading, and quality control procedures as trained. 

Monitor grain quality and condition and report concerns such as moisture, temperature, foreign material, spoilage, or other quality issues to appropriate Grain Division personnel. 

Assist with grain conditioning, drying, aeration, and storage activities as directed. 

Assist with preventative maintenance on grain handling equipment and plant machinery to maximize efficiency and extend the life of fixed assets. 

Perform routine inspections, lubrication, cleaning, adjustments, and other basic maintenance tasks as trained and authorized. 

Identify and report equipment malfunctions, maintenance needs, safety hazards, and other operational concerns. 

Assist with equipment repairs and maintenance projects as directed. 

Maintain grain bins, receiving areas, loadout areas, pits, conveyors, work areas, and other facilities in a neat, clean, safe, and environmentally sound condition. 

Perform housekeeping activities to control grain dust and maintain safe working conditions. 

Assist with grain dust management and follow all established procedures related to combustible dust safety. 

Maintain awareness of grain bin, confined space, fall, machinery, electrical, and other operational hazards. 

Follow all lockout/tagout and equipment shutdown procedures when performing maintenance or working around machinery. 

Operate company vehicles and equipment as authorized and trained. 

Communicate professionally and courteously with producers, customers, truck drivers, coworkers, and other visitors.

Fulfill customer orders accurately and timely while maintaining a positive and service-oriented attitude. 

Assist customers with grain receiving and loadout activities and direct questions or concerns to the appropriate personnel. 

Maintain accurate inventory and product movement information. 

Assist with seasonal grain operations, including harvest receiving, grain drying, storage, and increased loadout activity. 

Participate in required safety meetings, training, and continuing education. 

Follow all company policies and procedures and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. 

Exhibit an energetic, dependable, and polite attitude throughout all encounters during the workday. 

Perform other duties as assigned. 

Abide by all safety regulations to ensure safety of oneself, coworkers and customers 

Develop new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, and referrals 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while performing grain facility operations. 

Ability to frequently climb stairs, ladders, platforms, grain bins, and other equipment access points. 

Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, and work in various positions. 

Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull equipment, tools, hoses, materials, and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds. 

Ability to operate forklifts, grain handling equipment, and other machinery. 

Ability to work at heights and safely use fall protection equipment when required. 

Ability to perform repetitive hand and arm movements while operating equipment and performing maintenance activities. 

Ability to work in confined spaces when properly trained, authorized, and equipped. 

Ability to wear required PPE, including safety footwear, eye protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, fall protection, and other equipment as required. 

Ability to work on uneven, dusty, muddy, wet, icy, or slippery surfaces. 

Ability to safely perform emergency response and evacuation procedures when required.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 

Work is performed primarily at grain elevators, grain receiving facilities, storage facilities, warehouses, and outdoor grain handling areas.

Work occurs both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, wind, and direct sunlight. 

Regular exposure to grain dust, agricultural dust, dirt, noise, odors, and other conditions associated with grain handling operations. 

May work around conveyors, augers, grain legs, dryers, fans, blowers, pits, bins, forklifts, trucks, railcars, and other heavy machinery. 

Potential exposure to combustible grain dust and other hazards associated with grain handling facilities. 

May work at elevated heights and around open pits, platforms, ladders, and other fall hazards. 

May encounter confined spaces and restricted-access areas. 

May work around moving vehicles, heavy equipment, electrical systems, and industrial machinery. 

Seasonal harvest operations may require extended hours, early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime. 

Must follow all applicable safety, environmental, PPE, confined space, fall protection, lockout/tagout, and grain dust control procedures.

WHY HERITAGE?

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance

Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

Paid Holidays, Sick, and Vacation Time

401k with Company Match after 6 months

Farm Bureau Membership

Profit Shari