Careers

Northern Partners Cooperative is looking for YOU! Come join our growing team. We are your Link to Success.

Northern Partners Cooperative is the premier full-service cooperative serving North Central Illinois. As a full-service cooperative, we strive to maintain quality staff, equipment, locations, and information across our offerings.

Come experience working with a diverse team of individuals within the agricultural industry. Develop and learn new skills to widen your horizons while showcasing your talents and broadening your network.



Agronomy Account Manager

3234 N IL RT 23, Ottawa, IL 61350

The Agronomy Account Manager (AAM) builds and maintains positive relationships with member owners resulting in the sales of fertilizers, chemicals, and seed while improving our members financial success. The AAM will also conduct on farm sales calls to analyze farmer needs as well as taking on some operational responsibilities during the spring and fall agronomy seasons. The AAM enables growers to utilize Northern Partners Cooperative services and products to enhance their profitability and satisfaction.

Agronomy Applicator & Maintenance Technician

3234 N IL RT 23, Ottawa, IL 61350

Applicants should have 2-3 years operating agronomy equipment – sprayers, spreaders, floaters, and applicators.

The Agronomy Applicator & Maintenance Technician position is responsible for plant maintenance for Northern Partners Cooperative and any operational type procedures. They will perform essential maintenance functions to uphold Northern Partners Cooperative’s equipment at locations as well as offer outstanding customer service that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, and help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals. Additional responsibilities would include custom application to include (Custom Applications of Chemicals and Liquid Fertilizer, Dry Fertilizer and or Custom Application of Anhydrous Ammonia). Implements, promotes, and supports the agronomy program of the local branch by precisely blending and custom-applying fertilizers and crop protection products based on knowledge, maps, recommendations, and label directions. Also performs functions that may include maintenance of equipment, plant, rolling stock, operation of forklifts, loaders, operating tender trucks, filling and delivering NH3 tanks, loading customers’ vehicles with product, unloading of deliveries and other duties as required. Required licensing also needed to operate equipment (applicator equipment and machinery, shop tools, forklifts, class A and B trucks).

Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician

3234 N IL RT 23, Ottawa, IL 61350

The Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician position is responsible for plant maintenance for Northern Partners Cooperative and any operational type procedures. They will perform essential maintenance functions to uphold Northern Partners Cooperative’s equipment at locations as well as offer outstanding customer service that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, and help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals. Additional responsibilities would include custom application to include (Custom Applications of Chemicals and Liquid Fertilizer, Dry Fertilizer and or Custom Application of Anhydrous Ammonia). Implements, promotes, and supports the agronomy program of the local branch by precisely blending and custom-applying fertilizers and crop protection products based on knowledge, maps, recommendations, and label directions. Also performs functions that may include maintenance of equipment, plant, rolling stock, operation of forklifts, loaders, operating tender trucks, filling and delivering NH3 tanks, loading customers’ vehicles with product, unloading of deliveries and other duties as required. Required licensing also needed to operate equipment (applicator equipment and machinery, shop tools, forklifts, class A and B trucks).

Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician

516 N 19th RD, Tonica, IL 61370

The Agronomy Operations & Maintenance Technician position is responsible for plant maintenance for Northern Partners Cooperative and any operational type procedures. They will perform essential maintenance functions to uphold Northern Partners Cooperative’s equipment at locations as well as offer outstanding customer service that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, and help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals. Additional responsibilities would include custom application to include (Custom Applications of Chemicals and Liquid Fertilizer, Dry Fertilizer and or Custom Application of Anhydrous Ammonia). Implements, promotes, and supports the agronomy program of the local branch by precisely blending and custom-applying fertilizers and crop protection products based on knowledge, maps, recommendations, and label directions. Also performs functions that may include maintenance of equipment, plant, rolling stock, operation of forklifts, loaders, operating tender trucks, filling and delivering NH3 tanks, loading customers’ vehicles with product, unloading of deliveries and other duties as required. Required licensing also needed to operate equipment (applicator equipment and machinery, shop tools, forklifts, class A and B trucks).

Agronomy Specialist (Chemical Shed Operator)

3234 N IL RT 23, Ottawa, IL 61350

The Agronomy Specialist (Chemical Shed Operations) is responsible for plant maintenance for Northern Partners Cooperative and any operational type procedures, specifically operating the chemical blend shed. They will perform essential maintenance functions to uphold Northern Partners Cooperative’s equipment at locations as well as offer outstanding customer service that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, and help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals. This position is responsible for operating and maintaining all equipment associated with the blending, mixing, and loading of liquid fertilizer, bulk, and packaged chemical. This position is also responsible for keeping adequate inventories of all fertilizer and chemicals within guidelines provided by the location manager. This position will also require the acquisition of a CDL for the operation of tender trucks. This candidate will also be required to conduct maintenance on all machines at the location.

Agronomy/Seed Sales Intern

SeedLink Facility: 634 US HWY 52, UTICA, IL 61373

Northern Partners Cooperative (NPC), a farmer-owned cooperative serving the Bureau and La Salle County area in North Central Illinois, is looking for 2025 Spring/Summer Interns. Our interns will have a hands-on opportunity to connect classroom learning to the field while discovering a potential career path at the local co-op. All interns will receive the appropriate training for the duties assigned. Must participate in safety training and meetings. At all times, interns must strictly follow all safety guidelines and procedures. 

Essential Functions: 

  1. Operations: Assist in general scouting, weed identification, insect identification, and disease identification for corn and beans. Learn and utilize Climate© as a scouting tool for customers. Assist with any SeedLink operations (flipping boxes, returns, painting, etc.). (30%)
  2. Trial Maintenance: Performs root worm trials; checked weekly to find the root worm beetle pressure in bean fields following corn. Takes notes on SeedLink plots, population counts of hybrids, notes on diseases by hybrids, along with other hybrid characteristics. Check-ins on other NPC trials as well. (25%)
  3. Safety: Follows all safety procedures and reports any incidences that could compromise the safety integrity of Northern Partners Cooperative. Maintains a safe working environment and promotes safety amongst customers and employees. If any unsafe working conditions arise, notifies Seed Sales Specialist or Seed Division Manager immediately. (20%)
  4. Customer Service: Projects a positive attitude to co-workers and customers always. Provides outstanding and courteous customer service. Promotes the business with existing and potential customers. (10%)
  5. Locational Duties: Keeps the Seed Sales Specialist or Seed Division Manager informed of operational, customer, vendors, or employee issues that may arise. Assists in keeping all inside and outside work areas extremely neat and orderly. (10%)
  6. Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Qualifications: 

  1. Must be a currently enrolled college student with interest in careers in agriculture.
  2. Major in an agriculture-related field required; coursework in plant/soil science preferred for sales positions.
  3. Ag background, knowledge and/or work experience is required.

Compensation: 

Interns are as paid, temporary employees through a designated staffing agency and are paid with an overtime rate for hours worked over 40 hours. The duration of internships is mid-May to early August. Start date may be earlier in the spring if intern is available.

Deadline:

Deadline to apply is 01/31/2025.

Agronomy Operations Intern

3234 N IL RT 23, Ottawa, IL 61350

Northern Partners Cooperative (NPC), a farmer-owned cooperative serving the Bureau and La Salle County area in North Central Illinois, is looking for 2024 Spring/Summer Interns. Our interns will have a hands-on opportunity to connect classroom learning to the field while discovering a potential career path at the local co-op. All interns will receive the appropriate training for the duties assigned. Must participate in safety training and meetings. At all times, interns must strictly follow all safety guidelines and procedures.

Essential Functions:

  1. Operations: Operations experience includes sign placement, delivery of product, and other assigned operations duties in the chemical shed and out in the field. Gain knowledge of general agronomy skills such as scouting, crop protection products, crop nutrient products, seed, custom application procedures, mixing procedures, truck driving, and delivering product. May operate forklifts, pay loader, or other equipment. (30%)
  2. Maintenance: Assist with repairs and preventative maintenance for all agronomy equipment including legs, conveyors, towers, vehicles, sprayers, floaters, trucks, etc. (25%)
  3. Safety: Follows all safety procedures and reports any incidences that could compromise the safety integrity of Northern Partners Cooperative. Maintains a safe working environment and promotes safety amongst customers and employees. If any unsafe working conditions arise, notifies Seed Sales Specialist or Seed Division Manager immediately. (20%)
  4. Customer Service: Projects a positive attitude to co-workers and customers always. Provides outstanding and courteous customer service. Promotes the business with existing and potential customers. (10%)
  5. Locational Duties: Keeps the Agronomy Location Manager informed of operational, customer, vendors, or employee issues that may arise. Assists in keeping all inside and outside work areas extremely neat and orderly. Regulate and periodic housecleaning processes and record keeping. (10%)
  6. Other duties as assigned. (5%)

Qualifications: 

  1. Must be a currently enrolled college student with interest in careers in agriculture.
  2. Major in an agriculture-related field required; coursework in plant/soil science preferred for sales positions.
  3. Ag background, knowledge and/or work experience is required.

Compensation:

Interns are as paid, temporary employees through a designated staffing agency and are paid with an overtime rate for hours worked over 40 hours. The duration of internships is mid-May to early August. Start date may be earlier in the spring if intern is available.

Deadline:

Deadline to apply is 01/31/2025. Apply online at www.northernpartners.net/employment

Grain Transporation Specialist

Varies

The Grain Transportation Specialist will transport a variety of grain types, as well as agronomy-related products such as fertilizer, from NPC elevators or river terminal to various locations in a manner that will optimize the cooperative’s market share and savings, improve the cooperative’s efficiency, help achieve the cooperative’s mission and goals, and result in outstanding customer service. The Grain Transportation Specialist will also assist with Grain, Agronomy, and Energy operations which will include, but not limited to, deliveries to customers, delivery of products to NPC applicators in the field, and general maintenance functions and will be prioritized by season and staffing needs.

Information Technology (IT) Specialist

1000 6th Ave, Mendota, IL 61342

The Information Technology (IT) Specialist is responsible for maintaining and supporting the cooperative’s technology infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance of hardware, software, and network systems. This role will involve troubleshooting, installing, and configuring IT systems and software, as well as providing support to cooperative employees. Perform both technical and administrative tasks to ensure functionality and efficiency of all computers, network, database, and telecom systems. The IT Specialist will also work to implement technology solutions that improve operational efficiency in agricultural business processes.

Northern Partners Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law. All information provided will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Your application must reflect that you possess the required qualifications for the position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, physical and environmental demands but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts the company’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

VISA sponsorship is not available for these positions.

No agencies or 3rd party vendors.