Plant Operator - 460

Appone; Farmington (NM); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Navajo Agricultural Products Industry seeks a Plant Operator to maintain and operate facility equipment, oversee inbound/outbound freight, and support production quality and efficiency in a grain-processing environment.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, basic data entry, and experience with forklifts and inventory. Commitment to safety and USDA/GlobalGAP standards is essential. Navajo preference applies, with opportunities in multiple shifts.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; prior farming experience preferred.
• Must be able to operate equipment such as tractors and forklifts and handle in-bound/out-bound freight.
• Knowledge of USDA and Global Gap quality standards is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Operate vehicles and machinery for grain receiving, production, and shipping.
• Maintain daily safety checks and inspections of equipment and facilities.
• Assist with inventory, data entry, and production scheduling communications.
• Monitor grain flow and oversee tag printing and labeling processes.
• Ensure pest control and sanitation practices are followed.

Skills

Forklift operation

Inventory control

Quality assurance

Safety inspections

Data entry

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Tag printers

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 to 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 10/22/2026

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Number of Openings 3

Req Number SKI-26-00014

Position Plant Operator

Description

Position Function SUMMARY

This position was created to control and maintain facility equipment by performing preventative and routine maintenance on all equipment and machinery. The operator will handle in-bound and out-bound freights, operate equipment and machinery for the best quality and production, provide final checks on outgoing products, assist with inventory, and perform daily safety checks/inspections.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities

The following statements are essential functions of this position and not intended to be all-inclusive; rather, they are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the incumbent, and an employee may be directed to perform other reasonably related job duties and responsibilities. NAPI reserves the right to revise or change the job duties and responsibilities as the need arises, based on business need, and this position description may be updated accordingly. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

General Duties & Responsibilities

Granary/Pellet Mill

• Maintains and complies with quality assurance practice according to USDA standards relating to inspection, grading, sorting, handling, and shipments that ensure NAPI’s concerns on food safety and Global Gap requirements.
• Read source documents such as canceled checks, sales reports, or bills, and enter data in specific data fields or onto tapes or disks for subsequent entry, using keyboards or scanners.
• Compares data with source documents such as printed price tickets with entries on purchase orders to verify accuracy and notify supervisor of any discrepancies, locate and correct data entry errors.
• Records all receipts of products, packing materials, and other materials ordered and received for use.
• Verifies perpetual inventory computations by comparing them to physical counts of stock and initiate investigating discrepancies or adjusting errors.
• Operate vehicles, mechanized devices or equipment used in the agricultural production, such as tractors, forklifts, or passenger vehicles
• Monitor control display to ensure proper grain flow during receiving and loading grain.
• Prepares orders for product based on phone or mail in orders from outside customers and internal NAPI communications. Communicate these orders verbally and follow up in written format to the Manager/Supervisor so that they can prepare production scheduling.
• Sets up functions on tag printers using a computer.
• Inspect and monitor for insects, rodents around the Plant to ensure that the Pest Control Program is in full affect to prevent pest infestation.
• Indicates item size, style, color, and inspection results on tags, tickets, and labels, using rubber stamp or writing instrument.
• Load and unload hopper trailers during harvest seasons and ship-outs
• Conduct physical end-of-the-month inventory, collect grain samples for analysis for quality.
• Maintain and ensure proper daily operations by performing daily routine inspections, maintenance and repairs of the equipment(s).
• Must maintain documentation(s) of all inspections, maintenance and repairs conducted on the Plant.
• Must maintain a safe work environment by ensuring grounds/housekeeping, cleanliness of the Receiving/Boot Pits and around the facility.
• Adjust, repair, and service plant machinery and notify supervisor when machinery malfunctions.
• Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in harvesting activities.
• Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten agricultural products.
• Position boxes, bags or attach bags at discharge ends to machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers.
• Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers.
• Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information.
• Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels or pitchforks.
• Adjust controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery
• Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions.

Bean Plant

• 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.
• Records all receipts of products, packing materials, and other materials ordered and received for use.
• Verifies perpetual inventory computations by comparing them to physical counts of stock and initiate investigating discrepancies or adjusting errors.
• Completes the accounting records for specific area, after receipt of daily product receiving and packing records from the respective departments.
• Sets up functions on tag printers using a computer.
• Records number and types of articles marked and pack articles in boxes.
• Records buyer, and grade of product on tickets attached to products sold.
• Indicates item size, style, color, and inspection results on tags, tickets, and labels, using rubber stamp or writing instrument.
• Places merchandise on conveyors leading to wrapping areas.
• Maintains an organized work area to keep track of all product tagged and recorded on an hourly and daily basis, or as directed by supervisor.
• Ensures all products are tagged properly and according to orders placed.
• Sorts, grades, weigh, and inspect products; verifies and adjusts product weight or measurement to meet specifications.
• Monitors the production line, checking for problems such as pile-ups, jams, or glue that is not sticking properly.
• Attaches (pin, paste, sew, tie, staple) identification labels to finished packaged items, or cut stencils and stencil information on containers, such as lot numbers or shipping destinations.
• Packages the product in the form in which it will be sent out, for example, filling bags with potatoes from a conveyor or bin.
• Inspects and removes defective products and packaging material.
• Removes finished packaged items from machine and separate rejected items.
• Counts and records finished and rejected packaged items and all out-going orders.
• Inspects product load for accuracy and safely move it around the warehouse or facility to ensure timely and complete delivery.
• Operates forklift and transport materials between loading, processing, and storage areas.
• Manually or mechanically load or unload materials from pallets, skids, platforms, cars, lifting devices, or other transport vehicles.
• Performs routine maintenance on vehicles or auxiliary equipment, such as cleaning, lubricating, recharging batteries, fueling, or replacing liquefied‑gas tank.
• Operates or tends automatic stacking, loading, packaging, or cutting machines.
• Turn valves and open chutes to dump, spray, or release materials from dump cars or storage bins into hoppers.
• Signal workers to discharge, dump, or level materials.
• Keeps work area clean in and around machine floor.
• Shares the responsibility of making sure processing machines are up and running during production hours.
• Corrects any inventory problems as they arise.
• Stores completed documents in appropriate locations.
• Maintains logs of activities and completed work.
• Monitor and operate stitching machine to detect problems such as defective stitching, breaks in thread, or machine malfunctions.
• Position items under needles, using marks on machines, clamps, templates, or cloth as guides.
• Place spools of thread, cord, or other materials on spindles, insert bobbins, and thread ends through machine guides and components.
• Match baggage pieces in correct sequences prior to sewing them, and verify that dye lots and patterns match.
• Guide bagging/packaging parts under machine needles and presser feet to sew parts together.
• Mount attachments, such as needles, cutting blades, or pattern plates, and adjust machine guides according to specifications.

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 AUTHORITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

General

Position has low to no level of line responsibility and very limited authority to make independent decisions over an assigned department or function.

Results of Action

Decisions will have a moderate degree of impact on operations or services. Errors may result in moderate disruption of operations or services or damage to operational activities. Errors in accuracy, judgment, tact or communication could result in a loss of productivity, and a moderate loss of credibility and potential income for the organization. Failure to establish and monitor work schedules for the Department will result in an inability to meet deadlines and will delay the completion of records and other projects.

Budgetary & Financial Resources Accountability

Position has no level of accountability for budgetary or financial decisions, and decisions will have no degree of impact on resource utilization within NAPI; responsible for no level of impact on an operating budget for the Department;

Equipment/Material Management & Accountability

Position has a minimum level of responsibility for equipment, material, or supplies; proper utilization is required plus accountability for first-echelon maintenance may be required; minimal authority and accountability for purchase within strict policy guidelines may be present.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

• Incumbent has a limited level of access to sensitive and proprietary company data, including but not limited to services, legal and financial data, and an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee.
• Incumbent has no level of access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, and to personal data regarding customers/clients/members and their families, and must comply with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) to keep that data secure and private.
• Incumbent has no access to health data of employees and their families, and to health data of customers/clients/members and their families, and must comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to keep that data secure and private.

Independence of Action; Supervision Received

The Plant Operator works under general supervision of the Plant Operations Supervisor. Employee works along on routine work and checks with supervisor only when in doubt. Production generally precedes a check on the quality of work. Established methods and procedures are clearly established and general instructions provided.

Supervision Exercised

The Plant Operator has no supervisory authority, although the Plant Operator may have functional authority over specific projects or areas of responsibility as specified in this Job Description or otherwise delegated by the Plant Operations Supervisor.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

IV. 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

Required:

• High School Diploma, GED, or High School Equivalence.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in farming or agricultural business.
• College course work in computers, inventory controls, purchasing or a relative field of study.

Substitution:

• Education/training can be substituted for previous work experience.

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)

Shared Responsibilities

• Support the mission, vision, values, and goals of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry.
• Support excellence in our customer service philosophy, and deliver excellent customer service both to internal and external customers.
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures.
• Follow all safety policies, guidelines, and work rules, and participate in trainings.
• Practice good stewardship of NAPI property and follow policy.
• Act in a professional manner at all times.
• Function from INTEGRITY, HONESTY, and LOYALTY in all activities concerning NAPI.
• Follow the current NAPI Strategic Plan initiatives.
Maintain and support a team environment within the workgroup, and with other departments.
• Champion NAPI in the community.

Core Competencies

• Quality/Compliance: Achieving a standard of excellence with our work processes and outcomes, honoring NAPI policies and all regulatory requirements.
• Customer focus: Striving for high customer satisfaction, going out of our way to be helpful and pleasant, making it as easy as possible on the customer or client, rather than on self, department, or organization.
• Communication: Balancing listening and talking, speaking and writing clearly and accurately, influencing others, keeping others informed.
• Collegiality: Being helpful, respectful, approachable, and team oriented, building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Initiative: Taking ownership of our work, doing what is needed without being asked, following through
• Efficiency and Continuous Improvement: Planning ahead, managing time well, being on time, being cost conscious, thinking of better ways to do things
• Coachability: Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement
• Safety: Comply with and actively support all workplace safety policies and practices.
• Team Player: able to work collaboratively with others in the organization, and to work well with diverse groups of people and gain and maintain respect of others, both inside and outside of NAPI.
• Self-Management: Skill in managing one’s own time, being self-directed, able to work in a changing, stressful, fast-paced and varied work environment; must be detail-oriented and thorough in completing tasks, and persistent in the face of obstacles.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

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 to perform the essential functions of the position, but are not a comprehensive list:

• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective distribution of goods.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling NAPI products.
• Ability to report to work on time, as scheduled, every day.
• Ability to follow all food and safety requirements.
• Ability to train and be trained for advancement within NAPI.
• Ability to demonstrate safe work habits and promote safe working environment.
• Ability to pay attention to details and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Ability to developing one’s own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Ability to take