Pivot Irrigation Technician - 302

NAVAJO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS INDUST; Farmington (NM); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry in New Mexico is seeking an Irrigation Technician to service and maintain center pivot irrigation systems. You will perform preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and calibration of irrigation and chemical application, while ensuring safety and quality controls.

Strong attention to details and ability to read schematics are required; Navajo Preference applies. This is a full-time, on-site role on our farm operations near Farmington.

Qualifications

• Requires Irrigation Technician Certificate or related college courses in Electronics Technology, Irrigation Technology or Mechanics.
• Preferred: Associate’s degree in Electronics Technology, Irrigation Technology, Mechanics.
• Experience: One year progressive irrigation systems or technology experience.
• Navajo Preference applies per NPEA.

Responsibilities

• Maintains quality controls per USDA standards for inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipping.
• Perform routine and preventative maintenance on center pivots including electrical and mechanical parts.
• Identify maintenance needs on center pivot systems and plan tool/equipment requirements.
• Inspect pivot structures, equipment and materials to identify defects.
• Replace gearboxes, center drives, drive lines, couplers and tires as needed.
• Start up and shut down center pivot irrigation systems as directed.
• Maintain irrigation rates and schedules; calibrate pumps for fertilizer application.
• Observe safety precautions when applying or spraying chemicals.
• Maintain records of water, fertilizer and chemical applications for crop foremen.
• Cross-train operators and maintain vehicle/parts inventory.

Skills

Irrigation systems experience

Electrical & mechanical troubleSooting

Blueprints & schematics

Bilingual English / Navajo (preferred)

Education

Irrigation Technician Certificate

Associate’s degree in Electronics Technology / Irrigation Technology / Mechanics

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.

Position Pivot Irrigation Technician

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintains and 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.
• Perform routine & preventative maintenance on center pivots including all electrical and mechanical parts as indicated by manufacturer’s specifications
• Identify and schedule when and what kind of maintenance is needed on center pivot systems.
• Identify the appropriate tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Inspect center pivot structures, equipment, and materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Replace and change out gearboxes, center drives, drive lines, couplers, and tires as needed.
• Start up and shut down center pivot irrigation systems as needed or directed.
• Repair and unplug sprinkler drops and nozzles to prevent water/land erosion.
• Dig out or tow center pivots when necessary.
• Perform preventative inspections of equipment to minimize breakdowns
• Repair broken center pivots to minimize down time.
• Maintain irrigation rates and schedules according to recommendations.
• Maintain fertilizer application and calibrate pumps according to recommended applications.
• Observe all safety precautions when applying or during aerial spraying of chemicals.
• Maintain records on water, fertilizer, and chemical applications and provide this information to the Crop Foreman and Crop Manager as requested.
• Perform simple to complex troubleshooting of control circuits and other electrical components.
• Installs mechanical & electrical wires/connections and conducts test run for proper set-up.
• Interpret schematics and electrical configurations on center pivots.
• Monitor field operations to identify problems with water, fertilizer, or chemical application.
• Learns the conditions of each field and advises on best practices to irrigate.
• Maintain tool and parts inventory on company vehicle for parts costing records
• Cross train equipment operators as needed.
• Maintain a clean company vehicle at all times while abiding by NAPI policy on Use of Equipment and Vehicles
• Work a diverse on-call schedule during the irrigation season.
• Use proper personal protective equipment at all times.

Other

• 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. 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.
• 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.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Irrigation Technician Certificate, or directly related college courses in Electronics Technology, Irrigation Technology, or Mechanics.

Preferred:

• Associate’s degree from an accredited two-year college or university in Electronics Technology, Irrigation Technology, Mechanics, or directly related discipline.
• One (1) year progressive experience in irrigation systems or technology.

Substitution:

• One (1) year of FLSA non-exempt level experience in agricultural irrigation system maintenance may be substituted for the Associate’s degree requirement.

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 NEPA 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)

This position is currently accepting applications.