Careers

About Ostara

Ostara is passionate about changing the way the Ag and T&O industry thinks about phosphate management. Our continuing mission is, and will remain, “Feeding the World While Protecting It.”

We believe that passionate people can make a real difference and we are building a culture around innovation, sustainability, efficiency, nimbleness, honesty, compliance, and a sense of urgency to make a positive difference and create real value. Ostara’s Crystal Green® fertilizers are the first granular phosphate fertilizers to release nutrients in response to plant demand. Using Crop Driven Release™, Crystal Green is proven to increase yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphate tie-up and runoff, thereby improving food security while protecting local waterways from nutrient pollution.

Position summary

The Operator controls equipment and systems that process raw materials into Crystal Green® fertilizer. This position monitors the efficiency of the production line to ensure timely loads and shipments to achieve daily production goals.

Essential functions

• Operates equipment and monitors the production process to ensure efficient and safe output
• Follows standard operating procedures and performs in process quality checks to identify and resolve issues during production
• Troubleshoots problems with equipment, responds to system notifications, and makes required adjustments as needed
• Efficiently operate or ability to train and become proficient operating heavy equipment (ie. Fork truck, skid steer, and payloader. Training will be provided as needed.)
• Enters required production data and information into logs
• Performs reliability-based equipment care tasks
• Collects samples and quality testing product
• Reviews product for inconsistences or abnormal appearance assuring fertilizer meets quality requirements
• Completes safety focused check sheets and environmental data collection sheets
• Completes daily housekeeping, quality, and safety inspections checklists
• Ensures adherence to preventative maintenance programs
• Stops operations and activities that could harm staff or equipment
• Identifies opportunities to minimize workplace injuries, accidents, and health problems

Required skills/abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to perform simple calculations
• Ability to perform quality testing on product samples
• Ability to safely move in and through work areas, including climbing stairs, maintaining good balance, being mentally alert, having good visual acuity and safety working at heights
• Ability to safety work in and around heavy industrial environment, including moving objects, concentrated chemicals, and transport vehicles

Education/experience

• High school diploma, GED or related experience required
• At least 3 years of industrial operations experience

Physical requirements and work environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, high places, airborne particles, chemicals, and temperature ranges. The noise environment in the work environment is usually loud.

Employees are required to wear PPE which may include hard hat, safety toe shoes/boots, gloves, safety glasses/goggles, hearing protection and respiratory protection. The employee needs the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

EEO statement

Ostara is an equal opportunity employer. Ostara does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship or immigration status, age, national origin, the presence of any physical, mental, or sensory disability, gender identity, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, political ideology, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Comments

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Ostara reserves the right to change duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice.

Federal law requires Ostara to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.  Ostara will provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Details:  E-Verify Information Work Authorization Information  EEO Poster

A post-conditional offer of employment drug test and background investigation are required.

About Ostara

Ostara is passionate about changing the way the Ag and T&O industry thinks about phosphate management. Our continuing mission is, and will remain, “Feeding the World While Protecting It.”

We believe that passionate people can make a real difference and we are building a culture around innovation, sustainability, efficiency, nimbleness, honesty, compliance, and a sense of urgency to make a positive difference and create real value. Ostara’s Crystal Green® fertilizers are the first granular phosphate fertilizers to release nutrients in response to plant demand. Using Crop Driven Release™, Crystal Green is proven to increase yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphate tie-up and runoff, thereby improving food security while protecting local waterways from nutrient pollution.

Position summary

The Maintenance Technician maintains industrial machinery and equipment using hoists, lift trucks, hand, and power tools. This position moves, assembles, installs, or dismantles machinery. The technician will troubleshoot electrical and mechanical problems and repairs or replaces broken parts as necessary. This is a dual craft role.

Essential functions

• Maintains all operational equipment and facility infrastructure
• Facilitates process set-up and start-up as needed
• Complies with all of Ostara’s policies related to all personal protective equipment (PPE), pre-job hazard analysis, lock-out tag-out (LOTO), hot work, hazardous work, confined space, line breaking, safe work, daily PM inspection, work order feedback, general equipment/line isolation
• Applies preventative measures to the building and equipment to reduce the risk of future problems
• Collaborates with other functional departments in the scheduling of down time and repairs
• Stays informed of and complies with all safety policies, guidelines, and procedures at all times
• Addresses and/or responds to all safety hazards, near misses and work-related incidents immediately
• Offers suggestions and supports in efforts to improve the safety culture of Ostara

Required skills/abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software
• Ability to read blueprints and schematics for electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic systems
• Ability to safely use hand tools, torches, and welding equipment, pneumatic and/or electric tools, and precision measuring tools to make repairs or replace equipment
• Rotating Equipment experience (rotary kiln, granulator, etc.) preferred
• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical, pneumatic, electrical, electronic equipment and instrumentation to make appropriate repairs, calibration, recommendation and or replacement
• Ability to safely move in and through work areas, including climbing stairs, maintaining good balance, being mentally alert, having good visual acuity and safely working at heights
• Ability to safely work in and around heavy industrial environments, including moving objects, concentrated chemicals, and transport vehicles.

Education/experience

• High school diploma or GED; vocational, millwright, pipefitter, boilermaker, machinist, or welding certification preferred
• At least 4 years of related industrial mechanical experience or completion of an accredited apprenticeship program required
• Experience in operation and maintenance practices associated with manufacturing equipment in an industrial environment required; at least 3 years.

Physical requirements and work environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, high places, airborne particles, chemicals, and temperature ranges. The noise environment in the work environment is usually loud.

Employees are required to wear PPE which may include hard hat, safety toe shoes/boots, gloves, safety glasses/goggles, hearing protection and respiratory protection. The employee needs the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

EEO statement

Ostara is an equal opportunity employer. Ostara does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship or immigration status, age, national origin, the presence of any physical, mental, or sensory disability, gender identity, genetic information, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, political ideology, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Comments

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Ostara reserves the right to change duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice.

Federal law requires Ostara to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.  Ostara will provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Details:  E-Verify Information Work Authorization Information  EEO Poster

A post-conditional offer of employment drug test and background investigation are required.