• Farm Operations Manager

What we are looking for:
At Crowder College, our mission is to build a civil, serving, literate, learning community of responsible citizens.  We are committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for lifelong learning and meaningful careers.  Our core values of excellence, integrity, inclusiveness, and community guide everything we do.  As we continue to expand our reach and impact, we are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals who share our commitment to student success and embody our values.  We are looking for team players who are innovative, student-centered, and eager to contribute to a dynamic learning environment.  If you are driven by the desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and the community, we invite you to join us at Crowder College.
 
The Crowder College Farm Operations Manager coordinates with the Agriculture Division Chair to ensure the college provides engaging, real-world learning experiences for Crowder students, area school districts, and other community organizations that rely on agriculture education and research. The Farm Operations Manager is responsible for  maintaining and overseeing the care and maintenance of the Crowder College Instructional Farm which encompasses all livestock, pastures, equipment, and crops. The Farm Operations Manager may assist with Agriculture labs that take place on the instructional farm property.
 
Essential Job Duties

• Coordinate with the Agriculture Division Chair to continuously improve and develop agriculture education and farm operation learning experiences for students and the service area of the college.
• Maintain and oversee the care and maintenance of the Crowder Instructional Farm which includes all livestock, pastures, equipment, and any crops with assistance from other agriculture faculty.
• Ensure all livestock are fed and cared for properly and that livestock receive veterinary care as needed, with assistance from other agriculture faculty.
• Maintain all farm fences and equipment as needed.
• Purchase feed and other farm related supplies as needed.
• Maintain the budget related to the farm.
• Record and maintain animal health records for all farm animals.
• Teach Animal Science Labs in conjunction with content being taught in the lecture of ANSC 114.  These labs include basic large animal care, restraint, vaccination protocols, physical exams, and necropsy when necessary. Assist with any Agriculture course labs in Animals Science or Agronomy courses that would be held on the farm including but not limited to large animal science lab, cattle barn, pastures, and sheep barn. Provide farm animals used for such labs.
• Supervise and train large groups of skilled and unskilled farm workers.
• Provide weekly reports to Division Chair. 
• Receive direction from Division Chair/VP with regard to general administrative matters such as production, purchasing, personnel, and accounting.
• Be on call and available in case of an emergency related to the farm.
• Serve on Crowder College committees outside of the Agriculture Division as assigned.
• Other related duties as requested, delegated or assigned by supervisor.

 
 
 
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor of Science degree in an Agriculture field or other related field required.  
• Thorough knowledge of working livestock, operating farm equipment, and maintaining fences required
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of practical farm management as related to institutional needs and purposes.
• Thorough knowledge of soils, crops, animal husbandry, and of farm building and equipment care and maintenance.
• Thorough knowledge of farm equipment and materials and ability to manage the use of materials and equipment efficiently and economically.
• Considerable knowledge of plant and animal diseases and insect pests as well as the modern methods of their prevention, eradication, and cure.
• Ability to keep records of time, production and costs, and to make reports and recommendations for improvement in methods and equipment.
• Ability to plan and direct large-scale diversified farm activities.
• Identify problems and ability to recommend and implement solutions
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Ability to meet deadlines, plan accordingly for projects and create timelines
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, other professionals, staff, vendors, and the public.

 
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Self-starter, motivated to work without abundant supervision.
• Five years of production farming experience.

 
Equipment/Software

• Information Technology Abilities required:
  1. Ability to operate a personal computer using the Windows and Microsoft office software environment.
  2. Ability to understand operating a personal computer within the Crowder College Network environment.
  3. Ability to use E-Mail.

 
Positions Supervised

• Farm workers including student workers and work-study students.
• Supervise the L-Earners student scholarship positions. This includes tracking hours, training on equipment, supervising student tasks and reporting to the Foundation for student scholarship distribution.

Working Environment 

• Some indoor work but generally outdoors with exposure to temperature changes, noise, dust and/or chemicals
• Work schedule will vary as early morning, late evening, weekend, and holiday hours may be required; ability to be On-Call when necessary    
• Work conditions are often dirty, greasy, cold, wet, hot and/or dusty, appropriate apparel for those conditions is required
• The work environment characteristics 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.

 
Physical

• Involves a high level or physical activity and mobility within the campus, campus farm, and various sites
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds repetitively
• Ability to climb ladders and steps repetitively
• Must be able to physically restrain small and large animals
• Operate a variety of farm equipment as needed
• Ability and willingness to work outside in all weather conditions
• Input, access and distribute information using computers, may sit at computer for extended periods periodically
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

 
Creative and Analytical Skills

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to devise or modify methods or processes to solve specific problems.

 
Language/Communication Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people, including staff, students and the general public, in both written and oral mediums.
• Ability to interact with a broad range of people both on and off campus in a positive manner.

 
CROWDER COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERPRET, OR APPLY THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN ANY WAY THE INSTITUTION DESIRES.  THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE OCCUPYING THIS POSITION.  THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION IS NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE.  THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP REMAINS “AT-WILL.”  THE AFOREMENTIONED POSITION REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITY.