Agricultural Technician

NAVAJO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUST; Farmington (NM); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) seeks an Agricultural Technician to support agronomy operations in the Four Corners region near Farmington, NM. You will collect soil and tissue samples, document data, and assist crop foremen and managers with field inspections and quality controls.

Responsibilities include field scouting for moisture stress and pests, maintaining records, and collaborating across teams while upholding Navajo Preference in Employment policies.

Qualifications

• Two years directly-related work experience in soil, plant tissue, pest, and water sampling and data entry.
• Secondary education or training in Agriculture, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, or directly related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Complies with total quality controls according to USDA standards relating to inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipments that ensure NAPI's concerns on food safety.
• Collect information about soil and field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems.
• Collect soil and plant tissue samples for analysis.
• Document and maintain accurate records on soil and tissue sampling information.
• Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
• Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
• Analyze and read maps such as soil, contour, and plat maps.
• Performs field scouting daily to identify plant moisture stress, insect infestation, or plant diseases.
• Reports problems as detected to the Assistant Agronomist, Agronomist and/or the Crop Manager immediately.
• Record, maintain, and collect accurate scientific data of assigned fields at various stages of crop development and provides information to Crop Foreman and Crop Manager.
• Works collaboratively, cooperatively, and in coordination with fellow team members and with others in the organization, treats them with respect, courtesy and consideration, and shows understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done.
• Provides information, guidance and resources to diverse groups of customers, clients and others outside of the organization; treats them in a friendly manner with professionalism, helpfulness, respect, courtesy and consideration at all times regardless of circumstances.
• Maintains regular, dependable attendance and punctuality, and physical presence at the assigned worksite; must interact directly with people or objects at the worksite on a regular basis.
• Complies with all applicable environmental health and safety policies, procedures and work rules, giving maximum effort to performing job functions in a manner that protects the health and safety of the incumbent, co-workers, and the general public.
• Performs other duties as assigned and which are deemed necessary or desirable by NAPI.

Skills

Soil sampling

Plant tissue sampling

Data entry

Bilingual English/Navajo

Education

Secondary education or training in Agriculture, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, or directly related discipline

Associate’s degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry or related discipline

Job description

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry

We produce premier Navajo Pride brand agricultural products, guaranteed to be of the highest quality on the market today. We are located in the heart of the Four Corners region near Farmington, New Mexico, and are operating one of the largest tracts of contiguous farmland in the nation.

Our agribusiness features state-of-the-art farming technology including a multimillion dollar water irrigation management system. NAPI produces the finest and freshest varieties of Navajo Pride brand potatoes, corn, alfalfa, beans, and small grains, such as barley, wheat and oats. We are also expanding our Navajo Pride brand product selection at all times, so be sure and check our product availability frequently.

What makes Navajo Pride brand so unique? We are owned and operated by the Navajo people. At NAPI, we take pride in producing Navajo Pride brand premium products for retail purposes, repackaging or for direct sale to our customers.

Close Date

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Number of Openings 1

Req Number CRO-26-00004

Position Agricultural Technician

Description

I. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Assistant Agronomist, this position collects and provides technical data to Crop Foremen and Crop Managers based on field inspections to monitor crop conditions, developments, and to perform quality inspections. This position also provides administrative support to departmental projects.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

1. Complies with total quality controls according to USDA standards relating to inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipments that ensure NAPI's concerns on food safety.


2. Collect information about soil and field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems.


3. Collect soil and plant tissue samples for analysis.


4. Document and maintain accurate records on soil and tissue sampling information.


5. Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones based on soil characteristics and production potentials.


6. Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.


7. Analyze and read maps such as soil, contour, and plat maps.


8. Performs field scouting daily to identify plant moisture stress, insect infestation, or plant diseases.


9. Reports problems as detected to the Assistant Agronomist, Agronomist and/or the Crop Manager immediately.


10. Record, maintain, and collect accurate scientific data of assigned fields at various stages of crop development and provides information to Crop Foreman and Crop Manager.


11. Works collaboratively, cooperatively, and in coordination with fellow team members and with others in the organization, treats them with respect, courtesy and consideration, and shows understanding and the appropriate support of other team members to help get the job done.


12. Provides information, guidance and resources to diverse groups of customers, clients and others outside of the organization; treats them in a friendly manner with professionalism, helpfulness, respect, courtesy and consideration at all times regardless of circumstances.


13. Maintains regular, dependable attendance and punctuality, and physical presence at the assigned worksite; must interact directly with people or objects at the worksite on a regular basis. Communications technology may, for certain tasks and under certain circumstances, enable an employee to effectively perform some of the work related duties from home on a temporary basis.


14. Complies with all applicable environmental health and safety policies, procedures and work rules, giving maximum effort to performing job functions in a manner that protects the health and safety of the incumbent, co-workers, and the general public.


15. Performs other duties as assigned and which are deemed necessary or desirable by NAPI.

Position Requirements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required for the position, but is not a comprehensive list. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Secondary education or training in Agriculture, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, or directly related discipline.


• Two (2) years directly-related work experience in soil, plant tissue, pest, and water sampling, and data entry.

Preferred:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited two-year college or university in Agriculture, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, or directly related discipline.

Navajo Preference:
Navajo preference will be applied in accordance with the Navajo Preference in Employment Act (NPEA), it is Navajo Agricultural Products Industry’s ("NAPI") goal and intention to strictly adhere to the NPEA in all employment practices and hire qualified Navajo Personnel for all positions. Tribal sovereignty support and Navajo preference initiatives are mandatory.

Language Requirements

Required:
Ability to read and write English in order to understand and interpret written procedures and technical manuals. This includes the ability to give and receive instructions in written and verbal forms and to effectively present information and respond to questions from vendors, contractors, supervisors and co-workers.

Preferred:
Bi-lingual (English/Navajo)

EOE Statement NAPI is an equal employment opportunity employer. Hiring will be done in accordance with the Navajo Preference in Employment Act ("NPEA").

Hiring Manager(s) Deandra Charley