Job Title: Custom Applicator

Hours/Week: 40 hours per week with more hours required as needed

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Reports To: Location Operations Manager

Job Objective

This position is responsible for safely and accurately delivering and distributing/applying agronomy products including agricultural fertilizers, and pesticides to fields and/or crops. The application is done in accordance with work orders. The employee is responsible for accurate mixture and application and completion of required documentation. This position is responsible for cleaning and service machinery/equipment to ensure operating efficiency. Duties will also include assisting in all aspects of elevator operations. This position may be responsible for receiving grain, maintaining grain conditions, and measuring grain inventory. Incumbents may also be responsible for loading and unloading bulk and packaged fertilizer and chemical products and measuring agronomy inventory. 

The incumbent will be expected to assist other locations and departments as assigned by management. Will communicate availability regularly and assist with projects as needed. 

Incumbent maintains efficiency in a manner that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals, and result in outstanding customer service.

This position will maintain a positive attitude that promotes teamwork within the location, as well as within the cooperative and upholds a favorable image of Five Star Cooperative at all times. Applicant may have other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

Education—High school diploma or equivalent; fluent reading, writing, and speaking the English language

Experience:

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills necessary
• Computer skills required – Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Good customer service skills and approach necessary
• Ag background a plus

License, Certificate or Registration: Class A CDL with Hazmat and tanker endorsements; valid DOT physical card, Iowa Commercial Applicators License with 1A, 1B, 1C, or ability to obtain the above

Basic Skills—Speaking, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Listening, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management

Essential Tasks

• Operate agronomy spraying/spreading application equipment
• Apply fertilizer, chemical, or pesticide products to specifications of work orders applying knowledge of weather conditions, droplet size, elevations-to-distance rations, velocity, and obstructions
• Mix fertilizer or chemicals properly to ensure quality standards and accuracy in accordance with label
• Prepare and submit required application documentation timely
• Understand basic agronomy chemistry of all products
• Works in fertilizer plant mixing, loading trucks, reading work orders and maps, etc. 
• Completes and maintains driving and delivery records
• Assists with operations, helps with distribution of seed, fertilizer, and CPP products to growers
• Works directly with customers, developing excellent customer relationships
• Communication with supervisor or location manager of inventory
• Maintenance/repair of sprayer/spreader application equipment regularly
• Maintain a certified applicator license
• Enforces and abides by all cooperative policies
• Good communication with all employees and customers
• Check with other departments to see if help is needed before going home
• Perform other duties as assigned by management - employee’s duties may change according to the changing needs of the company

Maintenance & Safety:

• Observe OSHA, state, and federal safety regulations
• Maintains company compliance, enters any compliance data and completes monthly preventative maintenance schedules. 
• Operates trucks and equipment safely
• Receives no OSHA, state, or federal citations
• Receives no valid customer complaints concerning driving
• Reports any incidents to supervisor immediately
• Maintain clean and neat facilities
• Maintains housekeeping and sanitation standards
• Upholds Five Star’s Safety regulations and procedures

Service and Skills

• Inform supervisor of any application problems/inaccuracies
• Excellent customer service required – Applicant must be neat and approachable
• Handles customer complaints smoothly
• Notifies supervisor of problems
• Solves the problem as quickly as possible, either personally or through communication with the supervisor
• Excellent telephone skills – applicant must promptly and courteously answer the phone
• Requires acute attention to detail
• Requires making decisions that affect customers, other employees, Five Star Coop’s financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization
• Commitment to excellence and high standards
• Actively work to increase personal skills and knowledge
• Attend applicable conferences, webinars, seminars, customer events, etc. as requested
• Attend product, merchandising, safety, and cooperative meetings as requested

Work Context for the Essential Functions of the Job

• Requires face-to-face, telephone, and virtual video communication with individuals, customers, or teams daily
• Opportunity to make decisions without supervision
• Requires making decisions that impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company
• Requires being exact or highly accurate
• Requires repeating the same physical activities or mental activities over and over
• Requires meeting strict deadlines daily to ensure customer service
• Requires work with others in a group or team
• Requires work with external customers or the public
• Includes responsibility for work outcomes and results
• Includes responsibility for the health and safety of others
• Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment

Other Duties:

• Must be able to meet physical requirements of the position, including prolonged periods of standing, working in confined spaces and elevated heights, bending, kneeling, climbing stairs and ladders
• Ability to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals at all organizational levels
• Good judgment with the ability to make timely and sound decisions
• Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm
• Ability to work independently and as a team player
• Must be able to climb stairs, reach above, below, and at shoulder level
• Willingness to work from multiple locations within the cooperative

Work Conditions and Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job is performed indoors or outdoors and will have exposure to external elements including: weather extremes of Northern Iowa, heights, confined spaces, and other variable and unique environments. Employees will have exposure to dust from feed, grain, or fertilizer products.

Physical Abilities

• Far Vision—The ability to see details at a distance.
• Reaction Time—The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Static Strength—The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
• Response Orientation—The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.   
• Spatial Orientation—The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
• Near Vision—The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Depth Perception—The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or further away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.  
• Extent Flexibility—The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Multi-limb Coordination—The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Manual Dexterity—The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble or move objects.