Plant Operator

Koch Fertilizer, LLC is looking for a Plant Operator to join our team at our Beatrice, Nebraska location. We value mechanical aptitude, curiosity, learning agility, ownership, and a desire to continuously improve how work gets done. While experience in manufacturing, process operations, automation, or industrial environments is valuable, your ability and motivation to learn, contribute, and grow are most important.

About the role

As a Plant Operator, you will play a vital role in ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of our manufacturing processes. You will learn about our operations while helping improve safety, reliability, quality, and performance. We value people who are curious, take ownership, continuously learn, and seek better ways to operate.

This role operates on a 4-on/4-off, 12-hour shift schedule, alternating days and nights.

Responsibilities

• Apply Koch's Principle Based Management™ (PBM) philosophy by demonstrating integrity, accountability, respect, and sound decision-making while operating safely and responsibly.
• Build knowledge of plant processes, equipment, operating limits, control systems, and automation technology to safely operate the plant, monitor performance, recognize deviations, and support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities, challenge assumptions, solve problems, and implement solutions that improve safety, reliability, quality, and operational performance.
• Conduct daily inspections and walkdowns of critical equipment.
• Gather samples and perform product testing to ensure quality standards are met.
• Perform minor maintenance on manufacturing and support equipment.
• Document and communicate operational activities to support knowledge sharing and effective decision-making.
• Perform tasks associated with the safe, environmentally compliant, and efficient production of fertilizer products while following applicable procedures.

Requirements

• Able to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule, including weekends, holidays, overtime, and callouts.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Required to wear any or all of the following PPE: safety glasses, hearing protection, goggles, hard hats, FRC, acid suits, breathing air, gloves, safety boots, respirators, and encapsulated suits in accordance with applicable Job Safety Analyses (JSAs).
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in hot, cold, inclement weather conditions and congested work areas.
• Ability to climb stairs, ladders, vessel and column ladders, and scaffold-access ladders in excess of 160 feet.

Qualifications

What will put you ahead:

• Experience applying safe work practices such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and Job Safety Analysis (JSA).
• Mechanical aptitude demonstrated through work experience, technical training, education, projects, military service, or hands-on troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Experience in plant operations, manufacturing, chemical processing, energy generation, industrial maintenance, agriculture, or other safety-sensitive industrial environments.
• Education or training in process operations, energy generation, industrial technology, automation, instrumentation, maintenance, or a related technical field.
• Experience operating or supporting automated equipment, process-control systems, programmable logic controller (PLC) interfaces, control-room systems, or related technologies.
• Experience using data, automation, technology, or process improvements to improve safety, reliability, quality, or operational performance.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for improvement and help implement practical solutions.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Pay

Compensation is determined by available market data, considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. The range provided may be higher or lower based on these factors.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee and their families to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• Life insurance, ADD, and disability coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation/time off
• Educational assistance
• Infertility assistance (eligibility criteria apply)
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance (eligibility criteria apply)

Benefits may vary by geographic region. Specific eligibility criteria are outlined in the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy, or guideline.

Schedule

4-on/4-off, 12-hour shift schedule, alternating days and nights, including weekends, holidays, overtime, and callouts.

About Us

As a Koch Ag & Energy Solutions company, Koch Fertilizer delivers a full line of fertilizers designed to boost crop performance and help growers reach their yields. Our team also brings logistical expertise and a wide range of invaluable services, from delivered freight and logistics capabilities to online shipment tracking. At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better.