Agriculture Trainee

McCain Foods; Coaldale; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as an Agriculture Trainee, where you will embark on an exciting rotational program designed for recent graduates. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience across key areas of Agriculture, including Seed & Variety, Agronomy, Field Operations, and Integrated Supply Chain. You'll develop valuable skills while fostering relationships with growers and suppliers, ensuring food safety, and contributing to sustainability initiatives. This dynamic position not only enhances your understanding of agricultural practices but also prepares you for a successful career in the industry. Embrace the chance to make a meaningful impact in a company that values innovation and teamwork.

Benefits

Health coverage (medical, dental, vision)

Retirement savings benefits

Leave support (medical, family, bereavement)

Vacation and holidays

Company-supported volunteering time

Mental health resources

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred with 1-2 years of experience in agriculture or food manufacturing.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Foster grower relationships and monitor field conditions for quality and safety.
• Assist in agronomy research and support regional sustainability efforts.
• Participate in agricultural production meetings and drive safety initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Digital tools for analysis and planning

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Forklift operation

Tractor operation

Valid driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s degree

1-2 years working experience

Job description

Position Title: Agriculture Trainee

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Position Location: Coaldale

Requisition ID: 34200

We know the importance that food plays in people's lives -- the power it has to bring people, families, and communities together. Our purpose is to bring enjoyment to people's lives through great-tasting food in a way that reflects our values.

The Agriculture Trainee rotational program provides recent graduates in a relevant area of study the opportunity to work within various elements of Agriculture. This rotational program will involve rotations through four key strategic pillars of growth for Agriculture at McCain – Seed & Variety, Agronomy, Field Operations, and Integrated Supply Chain. Successful candidates will rotate and spend 6 months in each below rotation (timing and rotations may be subject to change due to business demands).

Accountabilities

Field Operations Responsibilities:

• Foster beneficial grower/supplier relationships that enable business development.
• Proactively inspect and monitor fields and raw product storage facilities for food safety, environmental conditions and product quality.
• Identify and communicate key improvement areas with respect to production, quality, and food safety, to grower/suppliers.
• Inspect, gather, analyze, and report potato crop data and field activities of contract grower/suppliers.
• Proactively collect and process grower/supplier field and storage records including seed source data, chemical application records, & agronomic data.
• Utilize databases as decision-making tools, recommend actions and follow through to reach or exceed goals in managing raw potatoes into the plant.
• Participate in cross-functional teams with our production partners to gain knowledge and drive continuous improvement in French Fry manufacturing.
• Drive the Safety Agenda in the work environment.

Agronomy Responsibilities:

• Develop knowledge around full cycle potato production to support regional agronomy and sustainability efforts.
• Help lead our data collection and reporting efforts around agronomic research and sustainability reporting.
• Assist with planning and execution of regional Innovation Hub research and extension efforts.
• Support research trial planting, harvest and grading work to support regional teams.
• Participate in local and national agricultural production meetings and sustainability conferences.
• Drive the Safety Agenda in the work environment.
• Learn the basics of crop production financials: income, cost of production (COP) and return on investment (ROI).
• Support NA-wide regenerative agriculture initiatives and project manage regen projects for potato and onion crops.

Ag Supply Chain Responsibilities:

• Support a project specific to Agriculture Supply Chain processes.

Seed & Variety Responsibilities:

• Support a project specific to seed & new variety research & approval process.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience preferred.
• 1 – 2 years working experience, preferably within agricultural or food manufacturing.

Skills:

• Interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to develop and nurture strong cross-functional and departmental relationships.
• Ability and willingness to utilize digital tools for analysis and planning.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to operate a forklift, tractor, and pick-up truck to perform job duties. A valid driver’s license is required.

About The Team:
Reporting to the Field Manager, the Agricultural Trainee will be responsible for broadening their understanding of McCain Agriculture and the responsibilities of a Field Representative. Within set timelines, it is expected the Trainee successfully assumes increasing levels of Field Representative responsibility including but not limited to fostering grower relations, field visits, storage inspections, and harvest yield sampling.

Travel: This role is based at the Coaldale, Alberta field office and requires local travel within the growing region. Additional travel may be necessary based on business needs. Ability to relocate post-rotational program is preferred.

Leadership Principles:
Our principles, each with related practices, guide our actions across the organization. Together, they address how McCain interacts with our customers and employees, and how we work as individuals and collectively to find success. While each role adheres to the Leadership Principles, individual roles may focus more on a specific principle or principles.

We are customer-obsessed. Customers are our starting point. By understanding their needs and leveraging data and consumer insights, we drive mutual success.

We think big and plan ahead. Through ambition, curiosity, and smart risks, we can accomplish goals, refine processes, and innovate to scale success.

We bring out the best in our people. We create safe spaces for our people so that trust and empowerment come naturally. Inclusion is about listening first, showing humility, and working together.

We act like owners. Together, we clear obstacles and do the work that makes us all successful and proud to be part of McCain.

The McCain Experience:
We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually—your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself. Join our team to see why we’re better together.

Compensation Package: $52,600.00 - $70,200.00 CAD annually
The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education/training, and other organizational needs.

Benefits: At McCain, we’re on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and wellbeing at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person’s needs are unique and ensure our benefits & wellbeing programs reflect that. Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement. Wellbeing programs include vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources. Coverages are aligned to country, provincial and state governing plans and can vary by work level, location and nature of the role. Additional benefit details available during the application process.
Your well-being matters to us, and we’re here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work — and at home.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Privacy Policy.

Job Family: Agriculture

Division: NA Ag Strategy

Department: Ag operations Coaldale

Location(s): CA - Canada : Alberta : Coaldale

Company: McCain Foods (Canada)