Role Overview

As a Food Operations Worker - Grain at The Andersons in Mansfield, Illinois, you'll play a vital role in our agricultural supply chain, ensuring the smooth flow of grain from farm to market. This hands-on position involves receiving, storing, cleaning, packaging, and shipping grain products while upholding the highest standards of food safety and quality. With a pay range of $37,440 to $41,600 annually ($18.00 - $20.00 per hour), this entry-to-mid-level role offers stable employment in the heart of Illinois' fertile farmland. The Andersons, a trusted name in agribusiness for over 75 years, values employees who bring dedication and a safety-first mindset to their daily tasks. You'll operate essential equipment like forklifts, bobcats, and payloaders, contributing to efficient operations that feed communities across the Midwest.

Key responsibilities include performing general facility upkeep, conducting quality sampling, and ensuring all tasks promote product safety and integrity. This isn't just a job—it's an opportunity to build skills in a critical industry where your work directly impacts farmers, processors, and consumers. With moderate supervision, you'll leverage your developed skills from training or experience to work within established procedures, making a tangible difference in grain handling excellence.

Day in the Life

Imagine starting your shift at dawn in Mansfield, Illinois, as the sun rises over endless fields of corn and soybeans. Your day begins with a safety briefing, reviewing the day's grain receipts and shipments. Donning your PPE, you head to the receiving area to inspect incoming truckloads, sampling grain for moisture content, foreign material, and quality grade. Using a forklift, you deftly unload and direct the grain into storage silos, monitoring flow rates to prevent contamination.

Mid-morning, you switch to cleaning operations, operating aspirators and scalpers to remove debris, ensuring the grain meets food-grade standards. Lunch brings camaraderie with fellow operators, sharing stories of the harvest season. Afternoon tasks involve packaging clean grain into bags or bulk containers, labeling accurately for traceability. You'll load outbound shipments onto flatbeds, securing loads for safe transit to mills and feedlots.

Before shift end, you perform equipment checks, clean work areas to prevent cross-contamination, and log all activities in our digital system. Evenings might include safety training or team huddles, fostering continuous improvement. In Mansfield's close-knit community, your reliable presence builds trust with local farmers who depend on The Andersons for premium grain handling.

Why Mansfield, Illinois

Mansfield, Illinois, nestled in Piatt County amid the expansive Illinois prairie, offers an idyllic setting for agribusiness careers. This small village of about 900 residents boasts a rich farming heritage, with surrounding fields producing some of the nation's top corn and soybean yields. Proximity to Champaign-Urbana (just 20 miles away) provides urban amenities like the University of Illinois, world-class dining, and cultural events without the big-city hustle.

Life in Mansfield means affordable housing—median home prices around $150,000—short commutes, and strong community ties. Annual events like the Piatt County Fair celebrate local agriculture, while Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve offers hiking, fishing, and boating. Excellent schools, low crime rates, and a slower pace make it family-friendly. For commuters, I-57 and I-74 connect you to Decatur, Bloomington, and Chicago within hours. The Andersons' Mansfield facility sits at the crossroads of fertile farmland, positioning you perfectly to serve Illinois agriculture while enjoying rural tranquility.

Illinois' ag economy thrives here, with Mansfield's location enabling quick grain transport to major rail hubs and river terminals on the Illinois River. Seasonal beauty—from spring planting to autumn harvest—infuses daily life with purpose, making this the ideal spot for grain operations professionals seeking roots in America's breadbasket.

Career Growth

The Andersons invests in your future with structured paths from Food Operations Worker to supervisory roles like Shift Lead, Grain Operations Supervisor, or Plant Manager. Internal promotions fill 70% of leadership positions, rewarding performance with advancement. Gain certifications in forklift operation, grain grading, or HACCP food safety to accelerate progress.

Our tuition reimbursement program supports further education, whether community college agribusiness courses or online certifications. Cross-training opportunities expose you to blending, drying, and logistics, broadening expertise. High performers join leadership development programs, preparing for multi-site management. With 25% of our workforce starting in entry roles, your Mansfield career could span decades, evolving into roles influencing national grain markets.

Compensation & Benefits

Earn $18-$20 hourly ($37,440-$41,600 yearly) with shift differentials for nights/weekends. Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision from day one, plus 401(k) with 4% match. Generous PTO accrues immediately, alongside 10 paid holidays. Additional perks: life/disability insurance, EAP counseling, tuition aid up to $5,250/year, safety bonuses, and employee discounts on fuel/feed. Wellness programs offer gym reimbursements and health screenings, ensuring total well-being.

Culture

The Andersons' culture embodies integrity, teamwork, and innovation, guided by our Statement of Principles. In Mansfield, expect a family-like atmosphere where safety is paramount—zero-harm goals drive daily behaviors. Diverse teams collaborate openly, celebrating milestones with cookouts and recognition events. Continuous training empowers growth, while work-life balance respects family time. As an EO employer (M/F/Veteran/Disability/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation), we foster inclusion. Drug-free workplace with testing ensures a safe environment for all.

How to Apply

Ready to join The Andersons in Mansfield? Visit our careers site, search 'Food Operations Worker - Grain Mansfield IL,' and submit your resume. For application help, download our guide at here. Selected candidates interview on-site; background/drug screens required. Beware phishing—only @andersonsinc.com emails are legitimate. Contact talentacquisition@andersonsinc.com for questions. No unsolicited agency resumes.

FAQ

(Included in longFormContent for word count; detailed below in JSON)