Division: Production & Supply
Function: Corn & Soybean Production
City: Lone Tree
State/Province: Iowa [IA]
Country: United States [US]
Position Title: Production Technician
Job ID: 3417
Role Purpose/Accountabilities:Role Purpose:
To produce a reliable supply of high quality seed by executing production plant tasks assigned by Plant Management. Organize, perform and lead in assigned departments to ensure all required processes, procedures and production requirements are met. Position will take on several roles based upon field production practices, plant processing requirements and distribution needs. Manage field operations, seed receiving, and conditioning equipment operations to insure that all seed is properly handled and conditioned so the highest quality seed will be packaged to meet sale demands.
Accountabilities: - Core to All Roles
Assist site maintenance manager in making repairs and improvements to plant equipment
Foster an operational culture founded on adherence to all applicable HSE and other corporate policies, procedures and guidelines
Assist in presentation of all safety training classes
Monitor costs as necessary
Supervise employees and third party personnel as required
Perform other duties as required to meet plant or site needs
Actively support an image that reflects the highest regard for cleanliness and organization
Balance KPI’s to meet the annual improvement objectives
Plant Maintenance
Monitor all plant equipment and keep in good state of repair through a preventive maintenance schedule
Ensure all equipment is properly calibrated and routinely inspected
Active participation in plant upgrade projects and risk analysis
Minimize downtime through proper Preventative Maintenance program
KPI driven on downtime and safety guarding initiatives
Conditioning and Warehousing Roles
Work in conditioning, treating, packaging, or other areas to meet facility needs
Provide leadership and overall seed quality expertise to plant activities
Responsible for maintaining, documenting, and adherences to established plant procedures
Responsible for product quality assessments and adherence to product specifications
All seed picked and transported to specified area is identified accurately and checked against production order
Fill all orders per production order instructions
Ensure all clean-downs and changeovers are done correctly to eliminate any product mixture
Develop and implement a preventive maintenance program for the plant equipment
Quality Role
Conduct Product Simulation (PS) testing
Conduct internal field audit and quality checks
Coordinate field inspection program and self certification requirements
Track and monitor potential quality lots through disposition of product
Conduct seed testing and reporting activities, to maintain company quality standards
Responsible for product quality assessments and adherence to product specifications
QBS process audits and coordination of site documentation
Shipping/Distribution
Timely and accurate data entry into SAP
Inventory management and tracking
Picking and pooling of shipments
Physical inventory and seed return operations
Forklift operation
Field Operations Roles
During growing season will be assigned production area to monitor seed quality through field inspections and record keeping
Support Agronomists in field related activities as directed
Pooling and distribution of parent seed to grower base
Planting of seed production fields and parent seed returns
Assist with field mapping and isolation documentation requirements
Accurate and timely crop scouting and data collection of emergence and vegetative growth stages, silk and pollen shed notes, stand counts, and IPM scouting thresholds
Coordination of field labor needs to ensure rouging and detasseling operations are completed to quality standards
Coordination of male row destruction and equipment operation
Accurate and timely SAP and Data collection entry during the field productions season
Ensure all clean-downs and changeovers are done correctly to eliminate any product mixture
Harvest Operations – Plant and Field Roles
Harvest area coordination includes but is not limited to scheduling of pickers, loads, transportation and dump cart operations
Husking operations includes but is not limited to the receiving of green corn, husker operation, and supervision of sorters, moisture sampling, quality checks, chopper operations, scale operations and by-product movements
Dryer operations and monitoring, data collection, equipment clean downs, sampling and expectation of long hours and shift work
Shelling operations, coordination of bulk storage and dryer capacity, moisture checks, quality sampling
Ensure all clean-downs and changeovers are done correctly to eliminate any product mixture
Minimum 2 years of seed industry experience preferred
Management experience preferred but not necessary
Experience in inventory, distribution processes and/or managing quality transactional data in SAP may be preferred in some locations
Critical technical, professional & personal capabilities:
Excellent communication skills to work well with co-workers on plant tasks and in field production management with farmer growers
Excellent organization skills to plan out work and conditioning schedules that will best utilize the plant and receiving storage capacities
Good writing and math skills
Team orientated to work with everyone at the plant to successfully complete work schedule and to accomplish safety targets. To work together on in-bound seed into receiving storage and with bagging supervisor on bin space available to condition seed into
PC and business software skills, willingness to learn SAP if necessary
Supervisory skills
Decisive
Trusted - Will need to make good sound judgment calls in regards to seed quality management that will be for the best interest of the company
Results-oriented
Innovative - To always look to implement new procedures or technologies to improve work efficiencies
Detail/Accuracy Oriented - All procedures and policies must be understood and followed. Data entry into data management systems must be accurate due to decisions being made by other departments based on the information given
Ability to adapt to changing environmental/situational needs such as rain, snow storms and very cold temperatures that can affect the scheduling and operation of the plant
Ability to make timely, effective decisions
Ability to remain flexible and responsive when faced with multiple urgent requests due to change in schedule because of weather or variety changes
Self motivated
Critical Leadership capabilities:
Focuses on customers - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers
Manages for performance - Skillfully plans, organizes and monitors performance to create value and achieve excellence in delivery.
Collaborates across boundaries - Collaborates effectively across organizational and functional boundaries, and leverages diversity.
Critical Success Factors & Key Challenges:
Development and execution of processing plans required to meet key business strategies and product availability requirements
Proactive communication both interdepartmentally and cross functionally to assure that field and processing efforts are performed in a manner consistent with accommodating business demands and requirements
A proactive response when seed is not meeting approved Product Specifications standards
Rigorous Plant and Equipment R & M scheduling and tracking
Diligent continuous improvement processing efforts with accompanying employee motivations
Timely execution and provisions of informational requirements
Adherence to Lean principles and ways of working
Strict adherence to HSE protocols and all corporate policies and processes
Additional Information:
All applicants must be eligible to work in the US.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Ability to work days, evenings and weekends
Must be able to travel by car
Ability to walk fields in all weather conditions
Ability to be on your feet for a majority of the day
Ability to lift 70 lbs.
Ability to operate standard office equipment including phone, fax, copier and computer
OTHER:
Must have a valid driver’s license
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time.
Ensure in its respective area of responsibility and in close cooperation and alignment with Legal and Taxes and other expert functions, Syngenta's full compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework as well as Syngenta's own legal and ethical, HSE, Corporate Security, Risk Management and Corporate Governance standards.
