Trainee Program Jobs in Fort Myers, FL (NOW HIRING)

Why U.S. Sugar?

Employees are our most valuable asset. When we succeed, our employees succeed. Many have an ownership stake in our privately held business through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). As we grow, we hire new employees who are knowledgeable, energetic and committed to keeping us on the cutting-edge of our industry. We reward them with challenging work, opportunities to learn and grow, competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive work environment where safety is our top priority.

Job Title:               Student Trainee- Heavy Equipment Mechanic - Railroad

Pay Grade:           Special

FLSA Status:        Hourly, Non-Exempt

Position Summary: This is a flexible schedule position of a Student Trainee under the Career Development Program with a probationary period of two (2) years from the date of hire under this job order.  Student Trainees are expected to contribute to the overall success of the Company by attending and completing a training program assigned by the company. The training program (“Program”) includes any educational curriculum, delivered by the Company or any designated partner, leading to an industry recognized certificate. Student Trainees will positively represent the Company at all times to fellow students, faculty, staff, and representatives of the Company. Student Trainees are viewed as an extension of the Company and are therefore expected to conduct themselves as mature professionals at all times.

Student Trainees are paid at one rate lower than their current rate, and move up to their current rate at the successful completion of their first year in the program.  Program is scheduled to start within 30 days from award date.

Student Trainees may maintain their defined benefits and are eligible for annual bonuses.  Student Trainees will be paid based on a guaranteed 40 hour week, are eligible for additional hours and/or overtime at the company’s discretion, and will work hours commensurate with classroom schedules and departmental work schedules, as applicable and outlined in the Essential Duties. 

Student Trainees may be required to work on the following holidays and will be paid straight time if the holiday falls on a weekday: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.  Student Trainees will accumulate four (4) hours of vacation monthly, regardless of seniority or accumulated vacation time prior to entering the Program, and will schedule vacation only in 8 hour increments during the summer or when the Program is not actively in session. Vacation is intended to be used in coordination with the Program schedule, so as to avoid missed instructional time. If required to miss instructional time, PTO and/or vacation time must be used to cover absences. Student Trainees will be required to report to their assigned work location during all weekday periods of school closing not due to federal holiday, including, but not limited to, seasonal recess, spring and winter breaks, teacher planning days, and all other planned school closures.

Student Trainees within the probationary period fall outside the Union and are ineligible to bid for Union positions as an internal candidate until successful completion of the program and satisfaction of the probationary period. 

Internal candidates accepted under this job description are ineligible to rollback, and, if dropped from the vocational program, must re-apply for an open position as a re-hire where, upon successful re-hire, will be eligible to retain all seniority and benefits acquired prior to acceptance in the Career Development Program if re-hire is completed in three (3) years from last date of employment.  This provision also precludes the accrual of seniority or any other time associated with the schedule of benefits or vacation.  Upon successful completion of the program and bid into an available job opening, all seniority prior to entering the program will be awarded.  If not filled internally, Student Trainee shall have up to a 90-day trial period to satisfactorily perform in this role. 

Except for transportation and related costs, all tuition, fees, uniforms, equipment, books, and tools required for the “program” are provided by the Company. 

Essential Duties:  

1. Abide by all rules and policies as set by the receiving school, maintaining a 3.0 GPA on all courses, and adhering to the receiving schools attendance policy. 
2. Take and pass all certifying tests and exams associated with the area of study in a timely manner.
3. Complete the prescribed course in the designated time frame as delineated by the program description in the receiving schools program outline, including following the prescribed course8 outline.
4. Complete all internships, field study, final semester, and all other required coursework outside of the receiving school at the Company, including periods of scheduled and unscheduled school recess, extended vacations, semester breaks, and other instances of school closure. 
5. Maintain at all times with the Company an updated emergency recall contact number and address of record with next of kin information.  Submit to communication and recall to the Company within 48 hours of any natural disaster, emergency, or any other act of God, for the purpose of accountability and assignment of work.
6. Attend all scheduled classes and receive attendance roster from the instructor on a weekly basis. All periods of scheduled time away from your designated program must be coordinated in advance w/your department manager.
7. During periods of the regular work week, as defined by the Student Trainee’s assigned work location, where the receiving school has scheduled an intermission for any reason excluding Federal holidays, incumbent will report to the assigned work location as directed.   
8. Excessive tardiness, unscheduled missed days, excessive time away from school, failing grades, non-communication with the Company, violations of receiving school policies or Company rules as set forth in the Employee Handbook, and other acts of voluntary disassociation with the receiving school, Company, or intent of the program, are grounds for Programmatic Probation.
9. Submit to random drug tests at the expense of the Company, including synthetic drugs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  None.

Qualifications:

• Provide proof of high school graduation prior to enrollment. All applicants must adhere by the “program’s” entrance requirements, including all required exams requested by the program and Florida Department of Education for acceptance. 
• Must successfully complete any required orientation, training, and continuing education courses.
• Complete a panel interview prior to program enrollment.
• Must be Ramsay/TOST qualified.
• Must have positive results from Company-designated tests designed to measure basic skills, job skills, mechanical aptitude and/or other interests, skills and characteristics.
• No active disciplinary action and a good work history.
• Must have and maintain a valid Class E Driver’s license.
• Must sign a Contract agreeing to the provisions of this job order, including the provision guaranteeing 2 years of work with the Company in the vocational field of training.  Contractual obligation for repayment of costs incurred by the Company during the course of training will be waived in the event that no positions are available at the conclusion of the probationary period. 
• Complete pre-hire background check, physical, and drug test, including all immunizations as required by the receiving school/program. For external applicants, successfully complete pre-employment background screening and drug test.
• Excellent interpersonal skills as demonstrated by open communication, relationship building, cultural diversity, time management and decision making skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

The work environment characteristics and physical requirements described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Working Conditions:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee works and drives in outside weather conditions on a regular basis.

• Working conditions may be rainy, hot, humid, dusty, foggy etc. depending on the weather and may be at nighttime.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. 

• Duties of this job are also performed in an office and shop environment. Some of the work environment is conducted in an environmentally controlled classroom with low exposure to adverse customer relationships, using repetitive motions, and submitting to vocational curriculum which includes handling heavy machinery, lifting up to 50 lbs., working with moving equipment, and periodically exposed to loud noise, fumes, and blowing debris.
• Some of the work environment is conducted in an open outdoor environment, exposed to heights and rapidly changing temperatures including extreme heat, weather conditions, blowing dust and particles, and limited visibility, while wearing PPE (i.e.: hard hat, goggles, hair net, ear plugs, and/or full body chemical resistant suites).

• Exposed to heights of up to 40 feet and rapidly changing temperatures, including extreme heat and other weather conditions.

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to handle and/or move various objects, tools and/or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, talk, hear, and see.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Visibility must extend to 62’ and beyond.
• Ability to move or handle various items generally weighing between 0-75 pounds. Ability to lift and carry up to 75 pounds.
• Prolonged kneeling, standing, and looking up.  Incumbent is required to regularly climb stairs and ladders, and will perform overhead work while standing, kneeling, or lying flat, and will constantly crawl, bend at the waist and reach overhead, occasionally lift, pull or carry up to 75 lbs., and walk on uneven ground containing trip hazards.

This information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by associates in this position.  It is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position.  This description supersedes and previous or undated descriptions for this position.  Management has the right to add or change the duties for this position at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

United States Sugar Corporation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.