Uniontown, WA (with routine operational duties at Leon, WA)
Job Type:
Full-time, Non-Exempt (Hourly)
Pay Range:
[$17.50 - $24.00] per hour (Dependent on Experience; overtime eligible) About Uniontown Cooperative Association Uniontown Cooperative Association is an agricultural cooperative headquartered in Uniontown, WA, proudly serving local growers across the Palouse. We handle and condition soft white wheat, hard red winter wheat, dark northern spring wheat, garbanzo beans, peas, lentils, canola, and barley across wooden cribs, concrete elevators, steel tanks, and ground piles. We are seeking a reliable, safety-conscious Grain Elevator Operator & Warehouse Specialist to join our team. Position Overview Reporting to the Grain Superintendent, you will be responsible for the daily operation, sanitation, and mechanical upkeep of grain elevators, seed plants, and feed facilities at our main Uniontown location and our Leon satellite elevator. During peak harvest, you will take an active lead role in product receiving, bin allocation, and staging, while coordinating task flow with seasonal harvest crews.
Key Responsibilities Elevator & Facility Operations:
Operate grain conveying systems, legs, distributors, cleaners, scales, and loading/unloading equipment for various grain and pulse commodities (wheat, garbanzos, lentils, peas, canola, barley).
Sanitation & Product Integrity:
Maintain clean, sanitary storage facilities to prevent grain contamination, insect infestation, and combustible dust accumulation in compliance with WISHA/OSHA and Association quality standards.
Maintenance & Repair:
Perform routine and preventive mechanical maintenance on grain handling equipment, conveyors, elevators, and rolling stock. Assist in the shop with welding, fabrication, and equipment repairs.
Harvest & Intake Leadership:
Direct harvest unloading traffic, monitor grain binning according to grade and moisture, and provide task-level oversight and training to temporary harvest intake helpers at the Leon and Uniontown facilities.
Seed & Feed Plant Support:
Assist with seed treating, cleaning, packaging, bagging, warehouse inventory management, and feed mill operations as scheduled.
Safety & Regulatory Compliance:
Follow all safety protocols, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Confined Space Entry, Fall Protection (harness/lanyards), Chemical Hazard Communication (HazCom), and Grain Dust Management programs.
Qualifications & Requirements Education:
High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
Experience:
Prior grain elevator, seed plant, or agricultural operations experience preferred. Mechanical, equipment maintenance, and basic welding/fabrication skills are highly desirable.
Driver's License:
Valid driver's license with reliable personal transportation to travel between the Uniontown and Leon locations (5 minutes apart).
Team & Customer Focus:
Excellent communication skills, a team-first mindset, and the ability to maintain positive rapport with member-growers, truck drivers, and patrons.
Self-Starter:
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, recognize operational needs, and prioritize tasks effectively.
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Climbing & Heights:
Ability to climb vertical grain elevator exterior and interior caged ladders exceeding 100 feet in height and safely utilize approved personnel lifts while wearing full personal fall arrest systems.
Lifting & Physical Handling:
Ability to regularly lift, stack, and move seed and feed bags weighing up to 50-60 lbs.
Environment:
Exposure to variable outdoor seasonal weather conditions, ambient agricultural dust, and elevated noise levels (PPE provided and required).
Work Schedule & Availability:
Standard 40-hour work week during off-peak seasons. Must be able and willing to work extended hours, 10-14 hour shifts, and weekends during peak harvest intake (July-September) and spring planting seasons. Compensation & Benefits (WA
