Agriculture OPT Jobs in Washington
Washington state offers F-1 OPT holders strong agricultural opportunities across the Yakima Valley, Wenatchee, and the Columbia Basin, where major apple, wine grape, and potato producers regularly hire for technical and research roles. Companies like Stemilt Growers, Dole, and Washington State University Extension programs are among those that have engaged international talent in agricultural sciences, crop management, and food technology.
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The Simplot Company is a diverse, privately held global food and agriculture company headquartered in Boise, Idaho. We are a true farm-to-table company with an integrated portfolio including food processing and food brands, phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, and other enterprises related to agriculture.
Summary
Supports the plant operations teams by acting as liaison between Production and Quality to ensure finished products meet food safety, quality and customer standards. Works with the operation team to actively manage holds, callbacks, and restrictions. Assist shift operations leaders with team member accountability.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure plant(s) are prepared for customer tours/visits as well as customer and third-party audits.
- Maintain high product quality that conforms to internal and external customer requirements; monitor and audit practices to ensure food safety and quality standards are met; stop production at any time when product safety is compromised.
- Review, investigate, respond to customer complaints.
- Investigate and follow-up for any situation requiring extraordinary measures i.e. potential product contamination from any source.
- Must understand, interpret and enforce applicable food manufacturing laws and regulations including but not limited to HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Schedule and audit sample collection in accordance with SOPs including special sampling for new product nutritional data, pesticides, and others as identified.
- Conduct product cuttings and arrange for training and follow-up.
- Maintain standard operating procedures for the quality department, including auditing and updating as necessary.
- Assure adequate and complete quality requirement training of Operators, QA Auditors, and others that have direct impact/control of product quality.
- Process dispositions for product outside specifications and ability to place finished product, ingredients, and dry supplies on ‘Hard hold’ where appropriate.
- Formulate and implement plans and objectives for departmental operations based on directives of QA manager and/or other corporate initiatives.
- Preparation, distribution, and follow-up for all established records, reports, and forms.
- Continuous improvements of operating methods and procedures.
- Support the Quality Assurance Manager as needed in specific job responsibilities.
- Function as liaison with Production Supervisors to ensure needs are met in a timely manner with respect to quality checks, additional quality testing, and to meet production and quality goals.
- Manage conflict, change, people, and systems to successfully meet quality requirements within the factory cost measurement system.
Typical Education
Bachelor’s degree in Food Quality/Safety, Food Technology, Business, Accounting, Human Resources, Engineering or food manufacturing supervisory experience, prior experience in Management, Auditing, Production, or Quality Assurance is preferred.
Relevant Experience
- Knowledge of food processing systems from field to shipping or ability to learn quickly.
- Effective planning and organizational skills.
- Anticipate and demonstrate an ability to manage change and the challenges associated with it.
- Belief in total customer satisfaction.
- Foster a management system driven with quality being first among equals with cost and schedule.
- Ability to work flexible schedules i.e. days, afternoons, nights, overtime, etc.
- Basic math skills, Microsoft Office Suite knowledge, and the ability to understand and interpret work instructions and specifications.
Other Information
- Must be able to stand and walk on concrete surfaces, ladders, stairs for up to 10-12 hrs per day.
- Must be able to work in different environments such as cold, hot, humid, or dry.
- Manual dexterity required for computer work and product sampling.
- Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
- Ability to use senses such as smell, taste and touch for product grading.
- Ability to see colors.
Job Requisition ID: 26730
Travel Required: Less than 10%
Pay Grade: Global Grade 3
Location(s): GF Plant - Moses Lake
Country: United States
Wage range or rate of pay: $80,000 - $90,000 annually, plus annual incentive plan eligibility
The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons.
Attractive total rewards package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision coverage
- 401(k) savings plan
- Paid Family Building Leave
- Generous Paid Time Off - Eligible employees may accrue up to 160 hours in year 1
- 10 Paid Holidays
- Relocation Assistance Program (where applicable)
- Education Assistance
- Benefits details available at simplotbenefits.com
The Simplot Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.
If the Simplot Company decides to offer you this position, such offer will be conditioned on your satisfactory completion of a post-offer criminal background check. For Washington Job Applicants, see the Washington State Attorney General’s Washington Fair Chance Act Guide and RCW 49.94.010 for more information.
OPT Agriculture Job Roles in Washington
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Search Agriculture Jobs in WashingtonAgriculture OPT Sponsorship Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
Which agriculture companies sponsor F-1 OPT visas in Washington?
Washington agricultural employers that have historically engaged F-1 OPT workers include Stemilt Growers, Broetje Orchards, and large food processing operations in the Yakima and Columbia Basin regions. Research institutions like Washington State University and the USDA's research centers in Pullman and Prosser also hire OPT students in plant science, soil science, and agricultural engineering roles. Sponsorship practices vary by employer and position.
Which cities in Washington have the most agriculture F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Yakima, Wenatchee, and the Tri-Cities area (Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco) concentrate the highest volume of agricultural hiring in Washington, driven by fruit orchards, wine grape vineyards, and potato processing. Pullman is notable for research and academic agriculture roles tied to Washington State University. Larger metro areas like Spokane also have food science and agribusiness positions with OPT-eligible employers.
What types of agriculture roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Roles that commonly qualify for F-1 OPT in Washington agriculture include crop science research assistants, agricultural data analysts, food safety specialists, precision agriculture technologists, viticulture technicians, and agricultural engineers. These positions generally require degree-level training directly related to the work. Seasonal harvest or general labor roles typically do not qualify, as OPT requires employment in a field directly related to your major.
How do I find agriculture F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Washington?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students seeking OPT-eligible roles and filters agriculture jobs in Washington by visa type, so you are not sorting through listings that do not apply to your situation. Search by the agriculture category and filter for Washington state to see employers actively open to F-1 OPT candidates. Applying early in the season matters for Washington agriculture hiring, as many positions fill before the spring planting cycle begins.
Are there any Washington-specific considerations for F-1 OPT in agriculture?
Washington agriculture is highly seasonal, so F-1 OPT start dates and employer timelines need to align carefully given the 12-month authorization window. Students in agricultural STEM fields, such as plant pathology or agricultural data science, may qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension if the employer is E-Verify enrolled. Washington's large research presence through WSU and USDA also creates pathways that are more structured for international student hiring than purely commercial farm operations.