Educational Farm Manager

Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position. 

Description

The Educational Farm Manager will work with the Assistant Farm Manager(s) and Director of Farm Enterprises, and Department Chair of Agriculture and Natural Resources to fulfill the mission of the Educational Farm, provide day-to-day management, monitor enterprise budgets, coordinate with faculty the use of the Farm for academic and laboratory activities, and develop long-range Educational Farm Plans. The Educational Farm Manager will supervise, train, schedule, and coordinate student labor. The Educational Farm Manager must have a particular concern for student education and safety, and focus on stewardship of the College land, facilities, and equipment. College Farm activities include but are not limited to: year-round feeding and care of pasture-based livestock (cattle, swine, and poultry); seasonal crop production tasks such as primary and secondary cultivation, planting, harvesting and storing grains, hay, and haylage, feed production, inventory management, record keeping, and performing repair and maintenance of equipment and facilities. 

Examples of Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Plan and supervise all Livestock and Crop production operations.
• Supervise, train, schedule, and mentor a changing crew of approximately 30 part-time students each semester, and another changing student crew throughout summer. 
• Organize daily and weekly student labor schedules and assignments. 
• Assist labor students in conducting the daily work and delegate assignments to students as possible. 
• Coordinate, supervise, and train students to care for livestock, crops, facilities, and equipment. 
• Coordinate with faculty the use of the farm for academic courses and laboratory activities. 
• Supervise full and part-time staff to conduct work, and delegate responsibilities as possible. 
• Coordinate, supervise, and train students to keep accurate livestock, crop, and equipment records.
• Work with Farm Director and the college Finance Office to monitor the budget and procure equipment, feed, and other supplies in a timely manner.
• Coordinate inventory management, including procurement, sales, and asset disposal. 
• Assist in the development of long-term goals for livestock and crop production and ensure the completion of plans, including student engagement in the management plans. 
• Provide and schedule tours for college personnel, visitors, and prospective students.
• Direct market farm products and livestock to internal and external customers and delegate to staff as possible. 
• Ability to be on-call for farm emergencies throughout the week, on weekends, and during holidays. 
• Work with professional organizations (livestock, Cooperative Extension, OAK) to promote community engagement with students. 
• Ensure student training is sufficient for them to operate / accomplish tasks safely for all students, staff, and livestock.
• Maintain records for applicable external certifications such as egg producer licensing, USDA Certified Organic, and animal welfare.
• Fulfill labor program requirements for training, mentoring, and evaluating students. 
• Coordinate with the Internal Auditor on the annual inventory audit at the end of the fiscal year. 

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty, and students.

Typical Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• BS in Agriculture related field 

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Minimum of 5 years of diversified farm management experience, including grassfed cattle, pasture-based swine, pasture-based poultry, and organic crop production.

Specific skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Ability to coordinate, organize, and motivate student workers.
• Applied problem solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Thorough knowledge of organic crop production
• Thorough knowledge of livestock production (handling, breeding, nutrition, rotational pasture management, record keeping)
• Highly skilled ability to operate, maintain, and perform repairs to farm equipment including tractors, harvesting equipment, and implements. 
• Knowledge or farm infrastructure maintenance, including fence systems, product storage and handling, and facilities. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Ability to use basic office equipment and software programs necessary to fulfill administrative requirements. 

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license 
• Required background checks

Physical requirements: 

• Ability to repeatedly lift 75 lbs. or more.
• Ability to work in hot or cold environments, both inside and outside 
• Ability to engage in extensive walking and rigorous activities. 
• Ability to engage in a full range of visual observation, physical mobility and motor skills needed to accomplish tasks. 

Environmental conditions:

• Exposure to odor, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, invertebrate pests, manure, adverse environmental conditions, and inclement weather.

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Truck and trailer combinations, including bumper pull and gooseneck containing livestock, livestock products, equipment, or supplies.
• Tractors, planting, harvesting, mowing, feed grinding, and other equipment typically used on a farm. 

Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $204,000. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only nine federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is listed #20 in overall ranking in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse college rankings, 2023. The Washington Monthly ranks Berea College #2 Best Liberal Arts College and #1 in Social Mobility, 2023. Money Magazine ranks Berea #20 Best Overall College and #10 for Best in the South, 2023. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2023.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application! 

Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Our Benefits:

Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement. 

Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits. 

Our Unique Culture:

Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea’s Great Commitments.

Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea

Labor Supervision:

In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students’ workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.

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