Grain Associate

Heritage Cooperative•West Liberty, OH

About The Position

The Grain Associate supports safe and efficient grain receiving, handling, storage, conditioning, and loadout operations at grain facilities. The role involves operating grain handling systems and material-handling equipment after appropriate training and authorization, assisting customers and producers, monitoring grain and equipment condition, completing operational records, and helping maintain facilities and machinery. The associate follows company policies and applicable regulations, including safety, environmental, grain dust control, confined-space, fall-protection, and lockout/tagout procedures. Work is performed primarily at grain elevators, receiving and storage facilities, warehouses, and outdoor grain handling areas. The position involves indoor and outdoor work in varying weather, exposure to grain dust, noise, dirt, odors, heavy machinery, vehicles, and potential fall, confined-space, electrical, and combustible-dust hazards. Seasonal harvest operations may require extended hours, early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime. The role also includes physical tasks such as standing, walking, climbing, lifting up to 50 pounds, and working at heights or in confined spaces when trained, authorized, and equipped.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to safely operate grain handling equipment and machinery after appropriate training.
Ability to safely operate a forklift and other material-handling equipment after 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 and 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.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and frequently climb stairs, ladders, platforms, grain bins, and 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 work at heights and use fall protection when required, and to work in confined spaces when properly trained, authorized, and equipped.
Ability to perform repetitive hand and arm movements and wear required personal protective equipment.
Ability to work on uneven, dusty, muddy, wet, icy, or slippery surfaces and perform emergency response and evacuation procedures when required.
Ability to work in varying indoor and outdoor weather conditions and around grain dust, noise, odors, vehicles, heavy machinery, and other grain facility hazards.

Nice To Haves

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 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, if applicable to assigned duties.

Responsibilities

Represent Heritage Cooperative’s Core Values through integrity, customer service, continuous improvement, and partnership.
Follow company safety policies, applicable regulations, and established operational procedures.
Assist with safe and efficient grain receiving from producers and customers.
Operate grain receiving systems, conveyors, legs, pits, augers, dryers, scales, forklifts, and other authorized equipment after training.
Monitor receiving systems and equipment and report issues or abnormalities.
Assist with grain handling, movement, storage, and transfer among bins, facilities, trucks, railcars, barges, and other designated locations.
Load out grain and other products according to customer orders and shipping instructions; verify product, quantity, destination, and load information.
Assist with truck, barge, and rail loadout operations as assigned.
Complete scale tickets, receiving and 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, or spoilage.
Assist with grain conditioning, drying, aeration, and storage activities.
Perform routine inspections, lubrication, cleaning, adjustments, preventative maintenance, and other basic maintenance tasks as trained and authorized.
Identify and report equipment malfunctions, maintenance needs, safety hazards, and operational concerns; assist with repairs and maintenance projects as directed.
Maintain grain bins, receiving and loadout areas, pits, conveyors, work areas, and facilities in a clean, safe, and environmentally sound condition.
Control grain dust and follow combustible-dust safety procedures.
Follow procedures for grain-bin, confined-space, fall, machinery, electrical, lockout/tagout, and equipment-shutdown hazards.
Operate company vehicles and equipment as authorized and trained.
Communicate courteously with producers, customers, truck drivers, coworkers, visitors, and other personnel; assist customers and direct questions or concerns to appropriate personnel.
Maintain accurate inventory and product-movement information and fulfill customer orders accurately and on time.
Assist with seasonal grain operations, including harvest receiving, drying, storage, and increased loadout activity.
Participate in required safety meetings, training, and continuing education.
Develop new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, and referrals.
Perform other duties as assigned.