Maintenance Technician - 3rd shift - Nichols Farms

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors of pistachios in the United States. For more than two decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and exceptional service in supplying pistachio and almond products to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally. Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees. Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms possesses a strong employee-oriented environment dedicated to training and growth of team members.

The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers and customers through operational excellence and educational development.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Maintenance Technician is responsible for completing daily tasks assigned by the Maintenance Department, focusing on maintaining and improving the reliability of plant production assets. This role requires adherence to all SOPs, GMPs, safety protocols, and company standards while ensuring work is performed to a professional standard. As a growth-oriented position, the technician is expected to demonstrate initiative in learning and mastering the electrical and mechanical skills necessary to complete all assigned tasks effectively. Candidates should understand their limitations, remain open to constructive feedback from leads, supervisors, and managers, and continuously work towards enhancing their skill set. By successfully executing these responsibilities, this position contributes to the overall goal of building a World-Class Maintenance Department.

SAFETY ABILITY:

Promote a "Safety First" culture by adhering to all safety protocols, including Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space, Fall Protection, Hot Work, and Hazard Communication. Promptly report any near misses, injuries, or incidents to the Shift Supervisor, Production Supervisor, or Leads, ensuring proper documentation is completed.

QUALITY ABILITY:

Perform all duties in accordance with Quality and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) established company policies and procedures

JOB ATTRIBUTES:

• Safety Awareness: Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.
• Leadership: Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions
• Time Management: Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to change in the workplace. Capable of functioning in a fast-paced entrepreneurial setting.
• Resource Management (People & Equipment) - Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.
• Prioritization: Ability to quickly prioritize among numerous pressing tasks and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills, as well as ability to make presentations.
• Interpersonal: Ability to effectively build working relationships
• Team Involvement: Works effectively with teams and work groups. Actively participates in problem solving and interacts with team and work groups to achieve team and organizational goals.
• Detail-oriented: Attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Continuous Improvement: Active participant in continuous improvement initiatives and goals. Seeks opportunities to improve self and processes.
• Critical Thinking: Use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weakness of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Active Learning: Understanding of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Technician II should bring at least 3+ years' experience working in an Industrial Maintenance Department.
• Firm understanding of mechanical, electrical, and controls principles with ability to physically demonstrate these to maintenance leadership team.
• Required to complete all assigned tasks by due dates and report to management when these are not completed along with reasons and timeline for follow up to be completed.
• Ability to effectively communicate with all plant personnel and provide training when needed to elevate their personal understanding of equipment.
• Willing to work overtime as assigned by leadership to provide coverage/support for production operations.
• Fluent in Spanish and/or English preferred but not required.
• Ability to lift 100lbs occasionally while normally lifting upwards of 50lbs repeatedly.
• Ability to work with outside resources (vendors) as needed.
• Ability to work indoors/outdoors in extreme temperatures (hot/cold) as required by the company.
• Be able to confidently explain the current condition of assets and communicate needs to nontechnical employees.
• Participate in annual production training to ensure compliance with Nichols Farms standards and SOPs.
• Work with department leadership to understand and complete all tasks assigned even outside of direct job description.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Two to four years of practical experience in the maintenance field, preferably in food production setting. Limited Maintenance Electrician (LME) license preferred.
• Experience in maintenance support, including welding and understanding of maintenance related processes and procedures.
• Strong mechanical, electrical and troubleshooting skills.
• Pneumatics, hydraulics, motors, pumps and gearbox repairs experience.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, stand for periods of time at work station, climb stairs, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as designated by the company.

The job responsibilities for this roles is performed in a manufacturing environment which may include high levels of noise and as well as perform work in an outdoor environment. Working in outdoor conditions can include extreme cold, heat, or humidity; and sometimes can include work in dusty or muddy work conditions. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

EOE/M/F/D/V