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 1 is responsible for the operation of straightforward equipment and/or machinery, as well as general labour duties. It may be used as a training position to allow incumbents the opportunity to learn about the operation. This position is responsible for the safe operation, general preventive maintenance, and minor repairs of machinery, plant equipment, and buildings as needed. Unusual problems are referred to the Branch Manager or Supervisor.
Essential Job Functions
Drives and operates straightforward plant equipment and machinery, such as bobcats, 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.
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.
Transfers goods, organizes the products received in a manner which makes them accessible and easier to retrieve and prepares goods for shipment in order to minimize waiting time for carriers.
Loads and unloads containers or materials and products on trucks, trailers, or railcars by hand or by forklift truck.
Maintains and adjusts straightforward equipment and/or vehicles as required, such as cleaning, lubricating parts, checking fluid levels, refilling equipment tanks, and replacing filters in order to improve performance.
Maintains warehouse and premises in a clean, organized and safe condition at all times. Performs daily safety and maintenance checks on equipment in use.
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 receive grain and grades by sampling, testing, and weighing the product to ensure quality aligns with GROWMARK’s standards.
May be required to blend fertilizer, weigh tanks, and assist in inventory pre-listing and physical counting. 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 general knowledge and skills required to safely operate straightforward plant equipment, and/or machinery. 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 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 ensure 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.
Core Competencies
Demonstrated GROWMARK core competencies including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision-making, and skill development.
Other Requirements
May be required to work extended hours, particularly during peak seasons.
Must have or be able to obtain various licenses, permits and certificates, as required, eg: forklift certification, TDG as well as must have and maintain a valid class G or DZ driver’s license (depending on work location), and a clean driving abstract.
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.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Mental Effort
The incumbent works within established policies and work procedures. Mental and visual concentration required is normally moderate in intensity when following safety rules and safe operating procedures to insure proper techniques are performed in the manner as which is described and/or set by the Manager. Unusual problems are referred to the Branch Manager or Supervisor.
The incumbent may encounter low to moderate mental stress increases during peak season.
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, lighting, as well as confined and congested areas. Typical conditions are such that minor 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.
This position is frequently exposed to dust, fumes and smells from gasoline, propane, diesel, fuel, and lubricants, and is moderately exposed to agricultural chemicals and fertilizers which may lead to headaches, and skin irritation.
Operator 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
- Excellent work experience
- Ongoing training and development
- Competitive wages
- Excellent benefit plan
- Tuition aid for further education
