SOYBEAN TECHNICIAN LEAD

Position Summary:

As a Soybean Technician Lead, you are responsible for leading the shift team and overseeing the safe, efficient operation and monitoring of equipment that extracts high-quality vegetable oil from soybeans and produces high-quality bypass soybean meal. This is a higher-caliber leadership role that directs Soybean Technicians, Maintenance Technicians, ensures consistent execution of plant operations during the assigned shift, and serves as the primary point of contact for process performance. The Lead is a self-motivated, safety-minded, and reliable team leader with strong mechanical aptitude, advanced troubleshooting skills, and the ability to make sound operational decisions. Primary duties include directing the shift team, monitoring and optimizing equipment operation, conducting advanced troubleshooting, ensuring adherence to safety protocols and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), verifying product quality, coordinating loading of vegetable oil and bypass soybean meal, and maintaining accurate production records. A qualified individual must possess a strong work ethic, process control systems proficiency, strong mechanical aptitude, leadership capability, commitment to safety and team development, and the ability to effectively oversee plant operations as a collaborative team leader.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead, direct, and oversee the Soybean Technicians on the assigned shift to ensure the safe, efficient, consistent operation of the soybean crushing process to extract vegetable oil and produce bypass soybean meal.
• Monitor overall plant operations during the shift, prioritize work, assign tasks, and make real-time operational decisions to meet production, quality, and efficiency goals.
• Conduct advanced troubleshooting of process equipment and systems; coach and support technicians in resolving issues to minimize downtime and maintain process stability.
• Ensure product quality through oversight of testing on vegetable oil and bypass soybean meal and verification of compliance with standards.
• Oversee and assist with the loading of bulk truckloads and rail cars of vegetable oil and bypass soybean meal, ensuring accuracy, safety, and proper documentation.
• Maintain and enforce the designated sanitary schedule and a safe work environment to United Cooperative standards; promote and model strong safety practices.
• Maintain a professional image and provide superior customer service while coordinating with other departments as needed.
• Review and ensure the accuracy and completeness of all necessary paperwork and production records.
• Follow and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices and all company policies and procedures.
• Effectively communicate shift status, issues, and handoffs with managers, co-workers, and customers; escalate serious problems promptly.
• Train, coach, and develop Soybean Technicians to build team capability and consistency.
• Monitor Fiix CMMS program to ensure assigned tasks are completed efficiently and on time.
• Lead by example through achieving excellent performance results, compliance, attendance, time management and behavior.
• Observe and enforce all company policies and procedures.
• Perform general work around the facility and other duties as assigned, including hands-on support when required.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3 – 5 years of experience in soybean processing, refinery operations, manufacturing, or similar industry experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team, assign work, and oversee shift operations.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and advanced troubleshooting skills.
• Process control systems proficiency.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Desire to work in and contribute to a strong leadership team environment while providing leadership.
• Dependable, self-motivated, and capable of making sound decisions with limited supervision.
• Agriculture/farm background preferred.
• Prior experience with oilseed extraction, soybean meal production, or bulk loading operations preferred.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• Able to work a 12-hour shift (6am-6pm/6pm-6am), schedule is 3-2-2, so working every other weekend.
• Ability to frequently bend, squat, climb, sit, stand, walk, handle objects, reach above shoulder level, use fine finger movements and push/pull, carry/lift light to heavy loads up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to occasionally kneel.
• Must be able to work in a plant environment with varying temperatures, noise, and potential exposure to process materials while following all safety protocols.