Simplot:

Electrician (Nights - Crew C) Ontario, OR

The J.R. 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

External Only: Sign on bonus of $1500 & $3000 retention bonuses. 

This job ensures efficient operation of all electrical systems and electrical/electronic components on site. The individual in this job will be required to fully understand the purpose and operation of the electrical systems, electronic equipment and instrumentation throughout the plant and have the ability to make decisions based on sound judgement when a situation dictates.

Key Responsibilities

•  Installs power supply wiring and conduit for newly installed machines and specialized potato-processing equipment such as conveyors, and programmable logic controllers.
• Connects power supply wires to machines and equipment and connects cables and wires between machines and equipment.
• Shall have proven and demonstrated history of responsible and safe electrical work and possess a strong knowledge of NEC safety standards and other associated standards and codes.
• Diagnoses malfunctioning apparatus such as transformers, motors, and lighting fixtures and replaces damaged or broken wires and cables.
• Tests malfunctioning machinery and discusses malfunction with other maintenance employees, (General Maintenance, Pump Mechanics and Electronics) to diagnose malfunction.
• Replaces faulty electrical components of machine such as relays, switches, and motors, and positions sensing devices as appropriate or necessary.
• Diagnoses and repairs or replaces faulty electronic components, such as printed circuit boards.
• Reads blueprints and all types of electrical schematics.
• Replaces electric motor bearings and rewires motors as necessary or required.
• Operates equipment to test for malfunctions and to verify repairs. Plans layout of wiring and installs wiring, conduit, and electrical apparatus in buildings.

Shifts:

Week 1: Work Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday

Week 2: Work Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday

Repeats

Typical Education

Journeyman Electrician License from the State of Oregon or a State with reciprocity such as, Idaho, Utah, Maine, Montana, Arkansas, Washington or Wyoming.

High School Diploma or GED.

Relevant Experience

3+ years related experience and/or training

Must be familiar with automated control systems and be able to read, understand and maintain electrical drawings and manuals.

Other Information

The JR Simplot Company offers a competitive compensation package including medical, dental and vision benefits, paid holidays, paid family building leave, retirement contribution match and paid vacation & floating holidays.

Pay: $47.35 p/hr + 1.00 diff

Schedule: Nights (6pm - 6am) 

Other: Overtime is paid after 10 hours worked each day. Nightshift will receive an added differential pay on top of base rate.

Job Requisition ID: 23733

Travel Required: None

Location(s): GF Plant - Ontario 

Country: United States

Generated by AI. Be sure to check for accuracy.

Meeting notes:

• Recruitment Challenges for Electrical Roles: Cristal, Rachel, Andrew, and Dustin discussed significant difficulties in recruiting for electrical technical lead and journeyman electrician positions at the Ontario, Oregon plant, citing issues such as location, licensing requirements, wage competition, and candidate shortages.
• Licensing and Experience Requirements: Cristal explained that the Ontario plant requires electricians with a journeyman license, but the team cannot support an apprentice program, which limits the talent pool. Most available candidates have residential or commercial experience, which does not translate well to the plant's industrial needs.
• Location and Tax Concerns: Cristal noted that the plant's location in Ontario, Oregon, near the Idaho border, creates a challenge because many licensed journeymen are reluctant to pay Oregon taxes in addition to Idaho taxes, further reducing the number of interested candidates.
• Contracting and Wage Competition: Due to the shortage of qualified candidates, the plant has resorted to hiring electricians through local contracting agencies, paying them $80–$90 per hour, which is significantly higher than the plant's direct wage offerings. Rachel added that large contracting companies move electricians between locations, making it difficult to convert contractors to full-time employees.
• Vacancy Increase and Interview Outcomes: Cristal reported that vacancies for journeyman electricians increased from five to nine within a week, and despite conducting five to six interviews since reopening the requisition, most candidates did not meet minimum expectations or had unstable job histories, raising concerns about retention.
• Contracting Company Identification: Rachel identified Quality Electric Inc (QEI) as one of the contracting companies currently used in Ontario, responding to Andrew's request for company names to avoid duplicating recruitment efforts.
• Shift Structure and Compensation Details: Cristal provided a breakdown of the Ontario plant's shift schedules, compensation structure, union requirements, and overtime policies, with Andrew and Dustin seeking clarification on these operational details.
• Shift Schedules: Cristal described the plant's four-shift system: Crew A and B operate from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (day shift), while Crew C and D work from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM (night shift).
• Shift Differential and Paid Breaks: Night shift workers receive a $1 per hour differential, and all breaks and lunches are paid for the entirety of the shift.
• Union Membership and Dues: Cristal stated that union membership is mandatory from day one, with monthly dues calculated as two and a half times the hourly rate (e.g., 47.45 multiplied by 2.5).
• Shift Mobility and Bidding: Movement between shifts is not automatic; employees must bid for open roles internally if they wish to switch from night to day shift or vice versa.
• Overtime Policy: Overtime pay begins after 10 hours of work in a shift, and Andrew confirmed that overtime is paid for the last two hours of extended shifts.
• Relocation and Licensing Considerations: Rachel, Andrew, Dustin, and Cristal discussed the willingness to offer relocation packages for hard-to-fill roles and clarified the specific electrical licensing requirements for candidates in Oregon.
• Relocation Package Availability: Rachel confirmed that the team is likely willing to offer relocation packages for the Ontario plant's open roles, pending final confirmation, and agreed to provide details of the package to Dustin and Andrew for candidate discussions.
• Electrical License Requirements: Andrew and Dustin clarified that candidates need either an 01 license or a plant electrical card for Oregon, with Cristal noting that the plant electrical license is rare locally and difficult to obtain, as it is specialized for industrial roles rather than residential or commercial work.

Follow-up tasks:

• Contracting Companies Information: Obtain and share the names of the contracting companies currently being used for electricians in Ontario from the HR team. (Cristal)
• Relocation Package Details: Send a copy of the relocation packages or offerings for the electrician roles once finalized. (Rachel)