New Job Sampler In Montana
Full Description
The Montana Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a part-time Agricultural Inspector in the Chester, Cut Bank or Shelby area to sample grain and other crops.
In addition to a paycheck, this position comes with Full State Benefits. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation package! Upon date of hire, employees working at least half-time for more than six months are eligible for state paid premiums toward employee “core” medical, dental, and basic life insurance coverage. Employees earn 15 working days of annual leave, 12 days of sick leave and 10-11 paid holidays each year. Membership in a Retirement System - vesting criteria applies.
The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries.
The State Grain Laboratory, located in Great Falls, is responsible for the operation of a statewide grain and commodity inspection program. Accurate and unbiased sampling inspections and testing are performed in compliance with federal and state grain standards. The State Grain Laboratory is the only federally designated, official grain inspection service in the state of Montana. The purpose of official grain inspection is to certify the type and grad of crops for setting market values under federal standards issued by USGA/AMA.
Job Overview:
The Grain Sampler’s typical day will be collecting official samples from 1 to 3 grain elevators along the high line and delivering them to the Great Falls Lab. The majority of the day will be spent driving the route from one grain elevator to the next and to Great Falls. Most elevators are located within one hour of Chester. While at each elevator, you will collect a crop sample from their rail cars, trucks, totes, or bag lots in accordance with federal regulations. The samples are then delivered to the lab after completing the assigned route. The routes and crops being collected will vary each day. Schedule is variable and other duties at the lab may be assigned to fill the part time hours requirement.
Physical Demands:
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- The State Grain Laboratory has a peak work season starting at the end of July and lasting until early January. During these months, employees may be asked to work 10 hours a day and up to seven days a week to provide timely customer service. During off-peak season, from January to July, employees may be asked to work a reduced work week.
- Overtime is paid at 1.5 times base rate.
- Lunch time is paid while in route and collecting samples.
- Sampling is performed outdoors on railcars and trucks, indoors for totes and bags.
- Workers can be exposed to discomforts and physical annoyances: traffic, road construction, adverse weather, noise, fumes, and dust.
- Workers are required to lift up to 50 lb. crop samples and boxes.
- Requires climbing ladders to the top of rail cars, hopper cars and trucks. Must be able to carry a 12 ft. probe to the top and insert into 12 feet of compacted grain to obtain samples.
- Other work duties may include processing of samples in the laboratory. Sample processing requires the use of lab equipment where accuracy is critical to meeting federal standards.
- May include occasional paid overnight stays and meals for sampling unit trains.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Good driving record.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.