Applicator

Southern States Cooperative.•Burkeville, VA

About The Position

The Applicator prepares and spreads custom applications of agronomy products on customers’ fields, including dry and/or liquid fertilizer, crop protectants, lime, and other treatment products. The role includes preparing applications according to customer work orders, transferring products from trailers, operating spreading and spraying equipment, ensuring complete coverage, and checking application patterns. Depending on grade level and licensing, duties may also include liquid applications, planning schedules, contacting customers, training and coaching other applicators, providing product guidance, mixing products, and recommending treatments where permitted by licensing. The Applicator drives company vehicles to customer locations, communicates with team members and managers about scheduling and operational needs, and represents Southern States Cooperative in a professional, customer-focused manner. The role also involves equipment operation, routine maintenance and repair, equipment and vehicle recordkeeping, inventory activities, housekeeping, safety compliance, and training. Work may include warehouse assistance or delivery routes as business needs require. Work is primarily outdoors and may involve exposure to weather, moving machinery and vehicles, noise, dust, fumes, hazardous chemicals, vibration, electrical current, lubricants, and wet surfaces. Schedules vary by location and production season; extended hours and alternate schedules may be required, and employees must report on time in adverse weather. The position requires continuous physical activity throughout the shift, including operating equipment, walking and standing on uneven surfaces, repetitive motions, and lifting or carrying loads up to 100 pounds.

Requirements

High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
At least two years of experience in an Applicator role applying fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products.
Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); licensing requirements may vary by location and current state and federal regulations.
For duties requiring pesticide application, pesticide certification, Registered Applicator Technician credentials, and a Commercial Applicator’s License may be required, depending on location and grade.
Safely operate a motor vehicle and comply with the SSC motor vehicle safety policy.
Satisfactorily complete a basic Agronomy Short Course within the designated period.
Satisfactorily complete one-on-one training with an experienced applicator before using equipment unsupervised.
Learn and apply knowledge of applicator equipment operation, including precision agriculture software and hardware.
Learn and apply SSC applicator procedures and applicable government regulations.
Learn how machines and processes work in order to troubleshoot and perform general maintenance and repair of applicator equipment.
Use GPS equipment.
Read and interpret operations manuals, manufacturer instructions, diagrams, and formulas.
Work independently and consistently follow safety, quality-control, and operating procedures.
Perform arithmetic calculations, including percentages, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Demonstrate attention to detail and communicate professionally with customers.
Speak, read, and write English proficiently.
Work extended hours to meet business demands and report on time in adverse weather conditions.
Meet the physical requirements of the role, including continuous activity, operating equipment, walking and standing on uneven surfaces, repetitive movements, and lifting or carrying loads up to 100 pounds.
Hear vehicle and equipment sounds, coworkers, and radio communications; speak with coworkers and customers about production and safety; and meet the position’s vision requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience maintaining applicator equipment and vehicles.
Experience operating a forklift.
Previous Southern States work experience.

Responsibilities

Prepare custom applications of dry fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products according to customer work orders.
Prepare custom applications of liquid fertilizer, crop protectants, and other treatment products according to customer work orders, as applicable to grade and licensing.
Transfer dry bulk and liquid products from trailers into spreading or spraying vehicles.
Handle, lift, and load equipment and operate equipment controls.
Operate bulk spreading vehicles, including dry row spreaders, John Deere dry bodies, spreader trucks, Terra-Gators, spray trucks, and crop sprayers, as applicable.
Apply treatment products to customers’ fields and ensure complete coverage of designated areas.
Check equipment application and spread patterns and make corrections as needed.
Assist with planning spreading schedules and contact customers by telephone to schedule applications, as applicable.
Assist with on-the-job training for Applicators and provide guidance on effective use of treatment products and equipment, as applicable.
Communicate technical information clearly and concisely.
Recommend treatment applications to customers or management team members based on on-site observations when permitted by licensing.
Mix or blend fertilizer, crop protectants, or other products according to product labeling when necessary.
Maintain regular communication with Applicator team members and the manager about scheduling, dispatching, equipment condition, materials, productivity, and other operational factors.
Drive Southern States Cooperative vehicles to customer locations and treat customer land, property, and equipment properly.
Properly operate and maintain equipment; perform routine preventive maintenance and repairs; report complex equipment issues to a supervisor.
Maintain current equipment and vehicle maintenance records and participate in equipment rodeos and GrowMaster certification activities.
Assist with physical inventory and follow inventory control initiatives; assist with shipping or receiving as business needs require.
Operate forklifts and other material-handling equipment according to facility procedures.
Keep work areas orderly; clean equipment, vehicles, and work areas and minimize and properly dispose of waste.
Attend required training, certification courses, and meetings, and develop skills in application techniques, scheduling, servicing, operations, and safety.
Work safely, use required personal protective equipment, and follow company policies, government regulations, OSHA requirements, and Environmental Health and Safety standards.
Assist in the warehouse or drive delivery routes for feed and farm supplies when business needs require.
Perform other job functions as assigned.