BATCH PLANT OPERATOR (SEASONAL)

Knife River Corporation; Devils Lake (ND); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Knife River Corporation is seeking a seasonal Plant Operator to safely operate concrete or asphalt plants, batch materials, and ensure quality compliance. The role involves daily inspections, material balancing, and occasional truck delivery to job sites.

You will work in a safety-conscious environment with year-round benefits for the season. The position emphasizes strict adherence to MSHA/OSHA/EPA regulations, strong communication, and ability to handle multiple priorities under pressure.

Qualifications

• High School or GED plus higher trade or technical school or equivalent in related field.
• Plant maintenance & operation experience is required.
• CDL Class B license with two years truck driving experience; preference for ready-mix truck experience.
• Ability to provide and maintain proper licensure, medical card, and acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Safely operate concrete or asphalt plant and batch materials per job specs.
• Perform daily equipment walk-around and site inspections; maintain equipment.
• Monitor material blends and adjust as needed to meet quality specs.
• Communicate with quality control personnel for adjustments.
• Manage inventory of mix materials to avoid depletion during production.
• Deliver concrete mix to job sites using truck with auxiliary mixer when needed.
• Maintain safe working environment and comply with safety regulations.

Skills

Safety awareness

Team player

Strong communication

Education

High School diploma or GED

Trade/technical school

Tools

CDL Class B license

Job description

Good Pay! Good Benefits! Good People! Knife River is a PEOPLE-first company. Our team members are key to our success, and we are committed to giving them the tools, training, and time to do their jobs productively and go home safely each day. Please consider joining our growing team today!

At Knife River, we take care of our team because we know it's our people who make us successful. We are one of the 10 largest construction materials producers/contractors in the Country. Our goal is to build strong teams that, in turn, build strong communities. We are also a publicly traded company on the NYSE with the ticker symbol KNF and part of the S&P MidCap 400 index.

ROLE OVERVIEW

This is a seasonal position. You can use your winters off to travel, hunt, fish or for other activities you enjoy while your benefits continue year-round.

This position is responsible to safely operate concrete or asphalt plant to batch materials used in construction. Moves controls on panel board or control board to heat, dry and mix ingredients such as asphalt, sand, stone and oil to produce asphalt paving materials; to weigh and mix aggregate, cement and water to produce concrete. Ensure conformance to quality specifications.

DUTIES AND/OR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Perform daily equipment walk around and site inspections to identify and correct any unsafe conditions and keep equipment properly maintained, conduct toolbox meetings daily/weekly.
2. Safely and properly operate plant.
3. Identify appropriate material to produce quality concrete material per job specifications.
4. Communicate with quality control personnel and make required adjustments to material blends.
5. Monitor inventory levels of all mix materials (aggregate, oil, cement powder, fly ash, etc.) to ensure no depletion during production demand.
6. Monitor production levels and adjust production as needed.
7. Drive truck equipped with auxiliary concrete mixer to deliver concrete mix to job sites as needed and perform all duties necessary for successful delivery to job site.
8. Communicate effectively (verbal, listening, written) and work with difficult people under high stress situations. Self‑motivated, team‑player with good interpersonal skills; ability to maintain positive customer relations and act courteous/respectful of others.
9. Monitor plant site to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow.
10. Troubleshoot and problem‑solve situations/problems (material quality, equipment operation/repair, etc.). Monitor and discuss production problems with co‑workers and managers/supervisors.
11. Proven experience handling multiple projects and priorities while maintaining tight deadlines; highly organized with attention to detail.
12. Accurately complete plant reports and other documentation as needed.
13. Ensure MSHA, OSHA, EPA, DNR, safety and environmental regulation compliance. Maintain safe working environment and foster safety culture, ensure good housekeeping skills and lockout/Tagout procedures. When needed, accompany employee to medical facility when injured and manage work‑comp claim by working closely with medical provider on treatment plan.
14. Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

1. High School or GED plus higher trade or technical school or equivalent in related field.
2. Plant maintenance & operation.
3. A CDL Class B license with two years truck driving experience. Preference given for experience driving a ready mix truck.
4. Ability to provide and maintain proper licensure, medical card and acceptable driving record.

BENEFITS

1. Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance.
2. Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts.
3. 401(k) with Company Match.
4. Profit Sharing.
5. Paid Time Off.
6. 8 Paid Holidays.
7. Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance.
8. Short‑term Disability.
9. Employee Assistance Program.
10. Years of Service Recognition.
11. Voluntary Life Insurance for Employees, Spouses, and Dependents.
12. Critical Illness Plan.
13. Accident Coverage Plan.
14. Hospital Indemnity.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal laws.

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.