Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Grain Sorter

🎯 Role Definition

As a Grain Sorter, you are a crucial guardian of quality within the agricultural supply chain. You will be responsible for operating, monitoring, and maintaining advanced sorting equipment to ensure our grain products—such as corn, wheat, and soybeans—meet and exceed stringent quality and safety standards. Your meticulous attention to detail in identifying and removing defects, foreign materials, and substandard kernels directly impacts product value, food safety, and our company's reputation for excellence. This hands-on role requires a proactive and safety-conscious individual who thrives in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment and understands their vital contribution to feeding communities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

General Laborer (Agriculture or Manufacturing)
Farm Hand
Warehouse Associate

Advancement To:

Lead Grain Sorter / Quality Control Lead
Grain Elevator Supervisor
Quality Assurance Technician / Manager

Lateral Moves:

Mill Operator
Equipment Maintenance Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and meticulously monitor automated sorting machinery, including color sorters, gravity tables, and screeners, to efficiently segregate grains based on size, shape, color, and quality.
Perform continuous visual inspections of raw and processed grain streams to identify and manually remove foreign materials, cross-contaminants, and damaged kernels that machinery may miss.
Adjust equipment settings and calibration parameters based on the specific type of grain, commodity characteristics, and desired quality outcomes to optimize sorting efficiency and product yield.
Systematically collect representative grain samples from inbound trucks, rail cars, storage bins, and production lines according to established sampling procedures for quality analysis.
Conduct a variety of quality control tests on grain samples, including assessing moisture content, test weight, broken kernels, and foreign material percentage, using specialized testing equipment.
Accurately document and maintain detailed logs of all sorting activities, quality test results, machine settings, and downtime, ensuring data integrity for operational analysis and traceability.
Interpret and apply USDA and other relevant federal and state grain grading standards to classify commodities accurately, ensuring compliance and maximizing market value.
Troubleshoot and resolve minor operational issues and blockages with sorting and conveyance equipment to minimize downtime and maintain a consistent production flow.
Perform routine and preventative maintenance on sorting equipment, including cleaning screens, calibrating sensors, and lubricating moving parts to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Adhere strictly to all company safety policies, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) protocols to ensure a safe work environment and product integrity.
Manage the flow of grain through the facility by operating conveyance systems, including augers, bucket elevators, and belts, to move product between storage bins and processing stations.
Maintain a high level of cleanliness and organization in the work area, including sweeping up grain spills and removing waste materials to prevent cross-contamination and workplace hazards.
Communicate effectively with supervisors, equipment operators, and lab technicians regarding any quality deviations, equipment malfunctions, or production delays.
Assist in managing grain inventory by accurately recording bin levels, product transfers, and shipment data to support inventory control and reconciliation.
Safely operate a forklift or other heavy machinery to move materials, load/unload trucks, and support overall facility logistics as required and certified.
Participate actively in team meetings, safety briefings, and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, quality, and workplace safety.
Properly handle, document, and dispose of or re-route rejected materials and grain screenings according to established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Generate and affix accurate identification tags and labels to grain lots, samples, and finished products to ensure full traceability throughout the production process.
Assist in the loading and unloading of grain from trucks and railcars, ensuring proper procedures are followed for weighing, sampling, and directing the grain to the correct storage.
Cross-train on other grain elevator and processing tasks to provide operational flexibility and support to the team during peak periods or staff absences.
Monitor and manage dust control systems to maintain air quality within the facility and comply with environmental and safety regulations.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Grain Grading & Inspection: Proficiency in applying USDA standards to grade various grains and identify defects, damage, and foreign material.
Equipment Operation: Experience operating and adjusting industrial machinery such as color sorters, gravity tables, cleaners, and conveyance systems.
Mechanical Aptitude: Ability to perform basic preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, and minor repairs on sorting and processing equipment.
Quality Control Testing: Skill in using grain testing equipment to accurately measure moisture, test weight, and other quality factors.
Data Entry & Record Keeping: Competency in using basic computer software or manual logs to accurately record production and quality data.
Safety Protocol Compliance: Strong knowledge of and adherence to OSHA, GMP, and other relevant safety and food handling regulations.
Forklift Operation: Certification and ability to safely operate a forklift and other material handling equipment.
Inventory Management Principles: Basic understanding of tracking product movement and maintaining accurate inventory counts.
Sampling Techniques: Knowledge of proper, unbiased sampling procedures for bulk commodities.
Basic Mathematics: Ability to perform calculations related to percentages, weights, and production volumes.

Soft Skills

Attention to Detail: Exceptional ability to spot minor imperfections and inconsistencies in a high-volume environment.
Problem-Solving: The capacity to identify issues, analyze root causes, and implement effective solutions quickly.
Communication: Clear and concise communication skills to relay information about quality and operational status to team members and supervisors.
Dependability & Reliability: A strong work ethic with a commitment to punctuality and completing tasks thoroughly.
Adaptability: Flexibility to work in varying environmental conditions (dust, noise, temperature) and adapt to changing production priorities.
Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively with others to achieve common production and quality goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Associate's Degree or technical certificate in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Agricultural Science
Agribusiness
Manufacturing Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0-3 years.

Preferred: 1+ years of experience in a grain elevator, agricultural processing, or manufacturing environment is highly desirable. Experience with quality control or machine operation is a significant plus.