H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Montana
Montana's H-2A visa market is driven by agriculture across the Yellowstone Valley, the Flathead Valley, and eastern grain-farming counties. Crop production, livestock operations, and sugar beet harvesting generate consistent seasonal demand, making Montana one of the more active H-2A states in the Northern Rockies region.
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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 has an exciting opportunity at our Oil Refinery in Laurel, MT. We are looking for a Union Shift Operator (entry-level operations) to join our growing team. You must be detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving skills and communication skills, both verbal and written. You must be able to form and maintain positive relationships at all levels within the organization.
COMPENSATION DATA
Salary $44.03/hr
This is a union role. Wages are based on the collective bargaining agreement.
Responsibilities
- Operate and maintain a refinery operating unit in a safe and efficient manner.
- Continuously monitor operational conditions, as well as mechanical equipment, and make process and equipment adjustments as necessary to meet operating objectives.
- Troubleshoot issues through a collection of data, establishing facts, and finding solutions.
- Perform emergency duties related to process upsets, leaks, fires, etc.
- Must have a practical understanding of mechanical principles.
- Experience applying fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Knowledge of probability and statistical inference, fundamentals of plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry.
- Perform other duties as needed or assigned.
- Maintain and promote a strong safety culture for all employees, vendors, and customers and follow all safety policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (required)
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
- Proficient in the English language due to safety-sensitive work.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Training or work experience in refinery process technology and/or refinery process systems.
- Training or work experience with mechanical and chemical scientific principles.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts (nights and days), including weekends and holidays.
- Ability to work overtime as needed.
- Ability to perform physical work in all weather conditions.
- Must pass all pre-employment testing, physical, drug test and background screening.
- Must be able to wear personal protective equipment, including hearing protection, Hard Hat, NOMEX, safety glasses, and respirator.
CHS offers a competitive total rewards package. Compensation and benefits are subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, life insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, paid time off, 401(k), pension, and disability, subject to any relevant provisions in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and 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 has an exciting opportunity at our Oil Refinery in Laurel, MT. We are looking for a Union Shift Operator (entry-level operations) to join our growing team. You must be detail-oriented with excellent problem-solving skills and communication skills, both verbal and written. You must be able to form and maintain positive relationships at all levels within the organization.
COMPENSATION DATA
Salary $44.03/hr
This is a union role. Wages are based on the collective bargaining agreement.
Responsibilities
- Operate and maintain a refinery operating unit in a safe and efficient manner.
- Continuously monitor operational conditions, as well as mechanical equipment, and make process and equipment adjustments as necessary to meet operating objectives.
- Troubleshoot issues through a collection of data, establishing facts, and finding solutions.
- Perform emergency duties related to process upsets, leaks, fires, etc.
- Must have a practical understanding of mechanical principles.
- Experience applying fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Knowledge of probability and statistical inference, fundamentals of plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry.
- Perform other duties as needed or assigned.
- Maintain and promote a strong safety culture for all employees, vendors, and customers and follow all safety policies, procedures, and regulations. Identify and communicate workplace hazards and correct or seek assistance in correcting unsafe actions or conditions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (required)
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
- Proficient in the English language due to safety-sensitive work.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Training or work experience in refinery process technology and/or refinery process systems.
- Training or work experience with mechanical and chemical scientific principles.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work 12-hour rotating shifts (nights and days), including weekends and holidays.
- Ability to work overtime as needed.
- Ability to perform physical work in all weather conditions.
- Must pass all pre-employment testing, physical, drug test and background screening.
- Must be able to wear personal protective equipment, including hearing protection, Hard Hat, NOMEX, safety glasses, and respirator.
CHS offers a competitive total rewards package. Compensation and benefits are subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Benefits include medical, dental, vision, wellness programs, life insurance, health and dependent care spending accounts, paid time off, 401(k), pension, and disability, subject to any relevant provisions in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and 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.
Tips for Finding H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Montana
Verify your work history matches H-2A roles
H-2A positions in Montana are limited to temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Document prior experience in crop harvesting, irrigation, livestock handling, or farm equipment operation before approaching employers, since generic labor history won't satisfy the job-specific requirements.
Target eastern Montana grain and livestock operations
The largest concentrations of H-2A filers in Montana are in Yellowstone, Richland, and Dawson counties, where large-scale grain, sugar beet, and cattle operations run predictable seasonal hiring cycles. Contacting these operations directly in late winter gives you the earliest access to open positions.
Search verified H-2A employer filings on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter Montana employers with confirmed H-2A Labor Condition Application history. This lets you identify which operations have filed before, what job titles they sponsored, and which counties have the highest filing activity, cutting out guesswork entirely.
Confirm the employer has filed a valid job order
Before accepting any H-2A offer in Montana, confirm the employer has submitted a job order through the State Workforce Agency and that DOL has certified the Labor Condition Application. An offer without a certified LCA cannot legally move forward to visa processing.
Use OFLC Wage Search to check Flathead Valley pay rates
Montana H-2A positions must pay at least the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the region. Run the OFLC Wage Search by agricultural occupation and Montana county to confirm your offered wage meets the legally required floor before signing any agreement.
Time your application around Montana's harvest windows
Sugar beet harvesting near Sidney typically peaks in October, while hay and grain operations in the Flathead Valley run through late summer. USCIS requires H-2A petitions to be filed at least 45 days before the employment start date, so backwards-planning from harvest dates determines your application window.
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Get Access To All JobsH-2A Jobs in Montana: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Montana sponsor the most H-2A visas?
Crop production dominates Montana H-2A sponsorship, with sugar beet farming in the Yellowstone and Milk River valleys accounting for a significant share of filings. Grain farming, hay production, and cattle ranching across eastern and central Montana also generate consistent H-2A demand. Fruit and vegetable operations in the Flathead Valley represent a smaller but active segment of the market.
Which cities in Montana have the most H-2A sponsorship jobs?
Sidney and Glendive in eastern Montana see the highest concentration of H-2A filings, driven by sugar beet and grain operations in Richland and Dawson counties. Billings serves as a regional hub for agricultural employers across the Yellowstone Valley. Kalispell and the broader Flathead Valley also have H-2A activity tied to orchard and vegetable farm operations.
What types of roles typically qualify for H-2A sponsorship in Montana?
Qualifying roles are limited to temporary or seasonal agricultural work. In Montana, this covers crop harvesting laborers, irrigation technicians, livestock handlers, farm equipment operators, and general farmworkers. The position must be tied to a defined season with a specific start and end date. Year-round or permanent farm management roles do not qualify for H-2A sponsorship under DOL rules.
How do I find H-2A jobs in Montana?
Migrate Mate lets you search Montana employers with verified H-2A filing history, filtered by county, job title, and crop type. This is more reliable than general job boards because it draws on actual DOL Labor Condition Application data rather than self-reported employer listings. You can also check the Montana Department of Labor and Industry's job order board, where employers are required to post H-2A openings as part of the certification process.
Are there any state-specific considerations for H-2A sponsorship in Montana?
Montana requires H-2A employers to coordinate with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry's Workforce Services Division as part of the job order process before DOL certification. The state's short growing season and severe winters mean most H-2A contracts run from April through October, with sugar beet harvest positions extending into November. Workers should confirm housing arrangements in advance, as Montana's rural employer locations often make third-party housing necessary.