Plant Operator

Koch Fertilizer; Beatrice (NE); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Koch Fertilizer, LLC in Beatrice, Nebraska, is seeking a Plant Operator to help run safe, reliable fertilizer production. You will learn our PBM-focused approach and gain hands-on experience with processes, equipment, and automation while supporting safety, quality, and performance.

We value mechanical aptitude, curiosity, ownership, and learning agility, and we encourage collaboration with cross-functional teams to identify improvements and implement practical solutions on a 4-on/4-off, 12-hour

Qualifications

• Must be willing to work a rotating 12-hour shift including weekends, holidays, overtime, and callouts.
• Physically capable to meet the requirements and lift 50 lbs.
• U.S. work authorization required.

Responsibilities

• Operate safely and responsibly, applying PBM principles.
• Learn plant processes, equipment, control systems, and automation to operate and monitor performance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify improvements and implement practical solutions.
• Conduct daily inspections and walkdowns of critical equipment.
• Gather samples and perform product testing to ensure quality.
• Perform minor maintenance on manufacturing and support equipment.
• Document operational activities to support knowledge sharing and decision-making.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Curiosity

Ownership

Learning agility

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Technical field in process ops/automation

Tools

PLC interfaces

Process-control systems

Automation software

Job description

Koch Fertilizer, LLC is looking for a Plant Operator to join our team at our Beatrice, Nebraska location.

We are looking for individuals who bring mechanical aptitude, curiosity, learning agility, ownership, and a desire to continuously improve how work gets done. Experience within manufacturing, process operations, automation, or industrial environments is valuable, but your ability and motivation to learn, contribute, and grow is most important.

Plant Operators will gain hands-on learning experience while working our 4-on/4-off, 12-hour shift schedule, alternating days and nights.

Our Team

As a Plant Operator, you will play a vital role in ensuring the safe, reliability, 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.

What You Will Do

• 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

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Able to work a rotating 12-hour shift schedule, including weekends, holidays, overtime, and callouts.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position.
• 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.

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.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Who We Are

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. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

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 - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.