H-2A Visa Operations Specialist Jobs
Operations Specialist jobs with H-2A visa sponsorship place you at the center of large-scale agricultural workflows, coordinating equipment, labor scheduling, and compliance tracking across harvest seasons. Employers must provide free housing and transportation, pay the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, and file a certified job order with DOL before you arrive.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States that provides grain, food and energy resources to businesses and consumers around the world. We serve agriculture customers and consumers across the United States and around the world. Most of our employees are in the United States, but today we have employees in 19 countries. At CHS, we are creating connections to empower agriculture.
SUMMARY
CHS Drayton is seeking an Operations Specialist to support our grain operations in Kennedy, MN. In this hands-on role, you’ll be responsible for loading and unloading trucks and trains, performing routine maintenance, maintaining a clean and safe elevator environment, and providing additional support at our Drayton location as needed. We’re looking for someone dependable, team-oriented, and ready to take initiative in a fast-paced agricultural setting.
Schedule: Primarily Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with extended hours during train arrivals and the fall harvest season.
Join CHS and discover how your work can contribute to a global agricultural impact.
Responsibilities
- Under general supervision, carry out general labor responsibilities promptly and efficiently. Responsibilities may include:
- Develop and maintain knowledge of the commodities handled at the location and comply with company policy and government regulations pertaining to commodities.
- Work with customers in a courteous and professional manner.
- Prepare trucks and railcars for loading/unloading, which may require sampling, loosening large nuts, opening hatches, and attaching and/or detaching flexible hoses.
- Load and unload agricultural inputs from railcars and/or trucks using heavy or light duty machinery/equipment. May include bulk and or packaged material.
- Control and monitor all load out functions.
- Understand and operate automated scale/dump systems.
- Conduct and properly record daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks including but not limited to lubrication of pumps, valves, and loading arms. Inspect in-use equipment looking for seeps and leaks of process equipment.
- Monitor and maintain quality of inventory (may include blended, bulk or packaged product).
- Deliver products such as fertilizer, chemical, seed, feed and others to customer sites.
- Keep all work areas in a clean, orderly and safe condition. Conduct regular housekeeping duties such as sweeping, shoveling, power washing, scraping and cleaning up spills. Complete appropriate record keeping.
- Perform grounds maintenance including snow removal.
- Perform warehouse work including driving loader, loading/unloading inventory, forklift operation, and general maintenance.
- Promptly report any customer complaints, repair or maintenance needs, or safety concerns to supervisor.
- Maintain and promote a strong safety culture and follow all safety policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
- Follow all company policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
- Perform other duties as needed or assigned to ensure facility operates smoothly and customers receive excellent customer service.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must meet minimum age requirement
- 1+ years of experience in Operations and/or Business Operations
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to operate machinery such as loaders, conveyors, tractors, and track mobile
- Ability to work extended hours during peak seasons to meet business demands
- High School diploma or GED preferred
- Agriculture experience preferred
- Forklift certification preferred
- Pre-employment screening is based on the job requirements and industry guidelines and may or may not be required for the position. If required, selected candidates must pass pre-employment screenings to include all or a combination of drug, criminal, motor vehicle check, physical requirements and FMSCA Clearinghouse.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift 75 pounds
- Ability to climb rail cars, ladders, stairs, and bins
- Ability to work in dust and adverse weather conditions and temperatures
CHS offers a competitive total rewards package. Compensation includes base wage and, depending upon position, may include other earnings such as bonus, incentives and commissions. Actual pay offered will vary based on multiple factors which may include, without limitation, experience, education, training, specialized skills and certifications, minimum wage/salary requirements under local law.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, life insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, paid time off, 401(k), pension, profit sharing, short- and long-term disability, tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance, subject to the eligibility requirements for each benefit plan.
CHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability.
Please note that any communication from a CHS recruiter would be sent using a chsinc.com email address. In addition, a CHS recruiter will not ask for confidential information over the phone or in an email, or request money from a candidate involved in an offer process. If you have questions regarding an employment opportunity, please reach out to chscareers@chsinc.com to verify that the communication is from CHS.
INTRODUCTION
CHS Inc. is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States that provides grain, food and energy resources to businesses and consumers around the world. We serve agriculture customers and consumers across the United States and around the world. Most of our employees are in the United States, but today we have employees in 19 countries. At CHS, we are creating connections to empower agriculture.
SUMMARY
CHS Drayton is seeking an Operations Specialist to support our grain operations in Kennedy, MN. In this hands-on role, you’ll be responsible for loading and unloading trucks and trains, performing routine maintenance, maintaining a clean and safe elevator environment, and providing additional support at our Drayton location as needed. We’re looking for someone dependable, team-oriented, and ready to take initiative in a fast-paced agricultural setting.
Schedule: Primarily Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with extended hours during train arrivals and the fall harvest season.
Join CHS and discover how your work can contribute to a global agricultural impact.
Responsibilities
- Under general supervision, carry out general labor responsibilities promptly and efficiently. Responsibilities may include:
- Develop and maintain knowledge of the commodities handled at the location and comply with company policy and government regulations pertaining to commodities.
- Work with customers in a courteous and professional manner.
- Prepare trucks and railcars for loading/unloading, which may require sampling, loosening large nuts, opening hatches, and attaching and/or detaching flexible hoses.
- Load and unload agricultural inputs from railcars and/or trucks using heavy or light duty machinery/equipment. May include bulk and or packaged material.
- Control and monitor all load out functions.
- Understand and operate automated scale/dump systems.
- Conduct and properly record daily, weekly and monthly maintenance tasks including but not limited to lubrication of pumps, valves, and loading arms. Inspect in-use equipment looking for seeps and leaks of process equipment.
- Monitor and maintain quality of inventory (may include blended, bulk or packaged product).
- Deliver products such as fertilizer, chemical, seed, feed and others to customer sites.
- Keep all work areas in a clean, orderly and safe condition. Conduct regular housekeeping duties such as sweeping, shoveling, power washing, scraping and cleaning up spills. Complete appropriate record keeping.
- Perform grounds maintenance including snow removal.
- Perform warehouse work including driving loader, loading/unloading inventory, forklift operation, and general maintenance.
- Promptly report any customer complaints, repair or maintenance needs, or safety concerns to supervisor.
- Maintain and promote a strong safety culture and follow all safety policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
- Follow all company policies, procedures, and safety requirements.
- Perform other duties as needed or assigned to ensure facility operates smoothly and customers receive excellent customer service.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must meet minimum age requirement
- 1+ years of experience in Operations and/or Business Operations
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to operate machinery such as loaders, conveyors, tractors, and track mobile
- Ability to work extended hours during peak seasons to meet business demands
- High School diploma or GED preferred
- Agriculture experience preferred
- Forklift certification preferred
- Pre-employment screening is based on the job requirements and industry guidelines and may or may not be required for the position. If required, selected candidates must pass pre-employment screenings to include all or a combination of drug, criminal, motor vehicle check, physical requirements and FMSCA Clearinghouse.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift 75 pounds
- Ability to climb rail cars, ladders, stairs, and bins
- Ability to work in dust and adverse weather conditions and temperatures
CHS offers a competitive total rewards package. Compensation includes base wage and, depending upon position, may include other earnings such as bonus, incentives and commissions. Actual pay offered will vary based on multiple factors which may include, without limitation, experience, education, training, specialized skills and certifications, minimum wage/salary requirements under local law.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, life insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, paid time off, 401(k), pension, profit sharing, short- and long-term disability, tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance, subject to the eligibility requirements for each benefit plan.
CHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability.
Please note that any communication from a CHS recruiter would be sent using a chsinc.com email address. In addition, a CHS recruiter will not ask for confidential information over the phone or in an email, or request money from a candidate involved in an offer process. If you have questions regarding an employment opportunity, please reach out to chscareers@chsinc.com to verify that the communication is from CHS.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Operations Specialist
Verify your occupation qualifies as agricultural
H-2A visa covers agricultural labor, but Operations Specialist duties that extend into office management or HR administration can trigger scrutiny. Cross-reference your job description against the O*NET profile for agricultural operations to confirm your core duties stay within qualifying scope before you accept an offer.
Request the employer's certified job order early
Your employer must file a job order through DOL before petitioning USCIS. Ask for a copy of the certified ETA-790A before the I-129 is filed. Discrepancies between that order and your actual duties are one of the most common causes of H-2A RFE delays.
Search H-2A Operations Specialist openings on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for roles with confirmed H-2A sponsorship history, so you're not applying to operations positions where the employer hasn't committed to the visa process. Use it to target agricultural employers already familiar with DOL job order requirements.
Confirm housing meets federal and state standards
H-2A employers are legally required to provide housing at no cost, but standards vary by state. Before accepting, ask whether housing is employer-owned or third-party, and whether it has passed a DOL-required pre-occupancy inspection. Substandard housing is one of the most-cited H-2A violations.
Understand the AEWR and how it applies to your role
Your employer must pay the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for your state or the prevailing wage for your occupation, whichever is higher. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for operations roles in your target state before comparing it to any offer you receive.
Document supervisory experience specific to harvest operations
Operations Specialist roles under H-2A often involve scheduling field crews, tracking equipment maintenance cycles, and coordinating with compliance officers during peak season. Gather references and documentation that reflect these duties specifically, since USCIS and DOL reviewers look for a clear match between your background and the certified job order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Operations Specialist jobs with H-2A visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is the most direct way to find Operations Specialist roles where the employer has committed to H-2A sponsorship. Because H-2A requires employers to file a certified job order with DOL before hiring, not every agricultural employer advertising an operations role is prepared to sponsor. Migrate Mate filters for employers who have already engaged with the H-2A process, so you can focus your applications where sponsorship is real.
What housing and transportation obligations does my H-2A employer have?
Your employer must provide free housing that meets federal and applicable state safety standards, inspected and approved before you arrive. They must also cover transportation costs from your home country to the worksite and back at the end of your contract. Inbound and outbound transportation is mandatory, but daily transport between employer-provided housing and the worksite is also required at no cost to you.
Can an Operations Specialist role qualify for H-2A if it involves administrative work?
It depends on where the majority of your duties fall. H-2A is limited to temporary agricultural labor, so if your Operations Specialist role is primarily coordinating field crews, managing equipment logistics, and overseeing harvest scheduling, it likely qualifies. If a significant portion of the role shifts into general office administration, HR, or non-agricultural functions, the employer may face a DOL challenge during the job order certification process.
How long does H-2A visa sponsorship take for this type of role?
The H-2A process typically runs 60 to 75 days from the employer's initial DOL filing to visa issuance, assuming no RFEs or processing delays. Employers must submit the ETA-790A job order to DOL at least 60 days before the work start date and file the I-129 petition with USCIS no later than 45 days before. Delays in the DOL certification step are the most common bottleneck for agricultural operations roles.
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