Associate Utility Technician

Eagle River Seed Farm - Associate Utility Technician

Reporting to the Operations Supervisor, the Utility Technician is accountable for a wide-range of duties associated with maintaining and operating a seed farm. The range of duties fall under several functional areas of the farm including maintenance and repair of equipment and buildings, loading and driving trucks, completing and recording information in the computer system, operating conveyance and other field equipment and applying crop inputs that may include spreading, hilling, and spraying according to the agronomic crop plan.

Based on experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, team members are placed into one of three position levels: 1) Associate Utility Technician; 2) Utility Technician and 3) Master Utility Technician. In any one of these three positions technicians may work in a concentrated area of farm operations based on their experience with expectations to provide assistance in all functional areas based on the demands with each respective farm season.

Increased Equipment Life Cycle

Yield and Quality Target Achieved

Equipment maintained available and ready for use for all seasons

Reduced Downtime in Field and Shed Operations

Equipment Data Retention

Work Order Completion Rate (Meeting standard for task assigned)

Maintenance software entry complete and accurate

Rework Rate

Minimal Operational downtime

Agronomic Plan Adherence

Precision of Field Performance (technology)

Driver's License with an Acceptable Driving Record for all positions

Associate Utility Technician: limited mechanical work experience; requires supervision to complete tasks or project to gain decision-making, troubleshooting, safe use of tools and quality workmanship

Mechanical Aptitude: Understands and properly uses machines and tools; applies mechanical and physical principles; applies mechanical reasoning and tool knowledge to trouble shoot and repair equipment. Maximizes resources to troubleshoot including network and manufacturers manuals.

Safe Work Habits: Maintains clean and organized work area. References vehicle, machinery safety manuals or chemical labels prior to use and follows instructions as indicated. Follows safety rules or protocols. References Material Safety Date Sheet as appropriate. Wears PPE as required. Maintains a safe personal disposition by listening, showing patience and respecting people, tools and property. Takes ownership of a safe workplace for others.

Quantity of Work : Completes work according to established deadlines without compromising quality and safety. Manages time effectively. Follows priorities established by management. Follows up with management to stay busy doing value-added work.

Dependable Work Habits: Trusted employee: Reports to work as scheduled. Gets along with team members. Follows policies and standard operating procedures. Stays busy doing value added work. Treats others with respect.

Communication Effectiveness: Communicates problems with supervisor. Communicates status updates on projects daily or as often as needed. Maintains respectful communication with all people at work. Verbal and written work is clear.

People Development /Training: the Master Technician provides management support and back-up and acts as a subject matter expert in farm operations and maintenance to develop others. Efforts good relationships with all team members and embraces diversity among team members. Uses honesty and candor to build collaboration. Appropriately adapts training style and approach to each situation to achieve desired results or skill mastery. Works to improve training skills through seeking feedback, reading or additional training/certifications. Provides timely, accurate, information to others about the impact and outcomes of their actions through training.

Performs a wide range of duties associated with maintaining and operating a seed farm including but not limited to maintenance and repair of equipment and buildings, loading and driving trucks, completing and recording information in the computer system, operating conveyance and other field equipment and applying crop inputs that may include spreading, hilling, and spraying according to the agronomic crop plan.

Provides preventative and troubleshooting in the moment maintenance support for various types of agricultural operating equipment to include but not limited to crop handling, irrigation systems and fleet. The preventative and troubleshooting areas include but not limited to mechanics, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, engine, heating and cooling, and tires as directed by the supervisor.

Disassembles and assembles components according to manufacturer's specifications.

Uses tools within the scope of their safe intended use. Examples of equipment and tools (but not limited to) tractors, harvester, skid steer, sprayer, backhoe, bulldozer, bulk truck, forklift, chainsaw, pneumatic tools, etc Diagnoses equipment using tools such as but not limited to scanners, gauges and instruments.

Maintains accurate and timely data in emaintenance including opening, completing all fields required and properly saving and closing work orders to track work completed on each piece of equipment.

Ensures cleanliness of shop and work area to eliminate reduce any safety hazards.

Cleans and Sanitizing Agriculture equipment and fleet

Orders parts as needed with approval of the supervisor.

Operates various type of agricultural equipment such as not limited to bulk trucks, 300-600 horsepower tractors, fork-lift, conveyance equipment, and irrigation systems.

Ensures fertilizer gets delivered to the fields in a timely manner and scouts fields for plant diseases.

Assists in spraying fertilizer or pesticide solutions to maximize yield

Scoops, loads and drives seed potatoes from storage facilities

Maintains storage facilities

Supports facilities and grounds maintenance

Assists in potato grading and shipping activities when needed such as dumping, grading, piling, scooping, hauling and loading trucks

Adheres to all safety and general company policies and procedures and informs supervisors about concerns such as but not limited to faulty equipment design, and unsafe working conditions.

Maintains a strong knowledge base on the safe and efficient use of agricultural equipment, agricultural technology and agronomic application best practices.

This position is approximately 10% sedentary, involving sitting for extended periods during operation of equipment. The remaining balance of this position, approximately 90% requires actively working in/around indoor and outdoor manufacturing and agricultural environments.

This position requires the ability to: ascend/descend various types of ladders, stairs and equipment; move oneself into different positions in various environments (sometimes tight and confined); bend, stoop, squat and kneel: reach for and lift objects above the shoulder; walk distances on firm, uneven and soft terrain; lift up to 50 pounds and occasionally more with the discretion of team lift; communicate with others via voice, listening and verbal response; read and write to receive instruction, document work and heed safety warnings; repeat motions with the wrists, hands and fingers; operate machinery, power tools, vehicles and heavy equipment; visually inspect work in near/distant scenarios including need for peripheral vision and depth perception, sit for extended periods of time.

Physical activities may be performed in both indoor (office/shop/production areas) and outdoor environments (fields/storage areas) which could includelow and high temperatures; precipitation and wind; noisy environments; potential exposure to chemicals/pesticides; dusty or poorly ventilated environments; darkness/low light.