Assistant Farm Manager

Summary:

The Assistant Farm Manager: Organic Crops & Livestock will work closely with the Educational Farm Manager and the Assistant Farm Manager in the daily operations of Berea College’s student educational farm and help fulfill the goals and mission of the Agriculture and Natural Resources department and the College Farm. In the absence of the Farm Manager the Assistant Manager will supervise and coordinate student labor among the enterprises at the College Farm. Activities include but are not limited to: year-round feeding and care of pasture-based livestock (cattle, pigs, poultry); seasonal crop production tasks such as ground preparation, planting, cultivating, harvesting; cutting, bailing, wrapping, storing, and feeding hay and haylage; and maintaining and performing basic repair of equipment and facilities.

Minimum Qualifications Required:
Education required to ensure success in this position:

Bachelor’s Degree in agriculture or related discipline desired
Experience required to ensure success in this position:

Minimum two years in production agriculture
Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

Knowledge of basic organic crop and livestock production as well as facility maintenance and repair
Demonstrated capacity to operate, maintain, and perform basic repairs to farm equipment including tractors and implements
Ability to organize, coordinate, and energize student labor
Excellent written and oral communication skills
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License, certification, or registration necessary:
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Valid driver’s license
Required background checks
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Physical requirements:
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Ability to work in hot and cold environments, both outside and inside
Some rigorous activity including extensive walking
Ability to repeatedly lift #75 or more
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Environmental conditions:
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Farm conditions with dust, odors, pollen, plants, animals, manure, insects, rain, ice, snow, heat, and humidity.
Limited activity inside walk-in freezers
Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:​

Truck and trailer combinations including bumper pull and gooseneck containing livestock or livestock products
Tractors, planting, harvesting, mowing, feed grinding, and other farm equipment
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Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
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.

Assist Farm Manager in organizing daily and weekly student labor assignments and schedules
Assist students in executing daily operations
Coordinate and train students as necessary to ensure worker safety, animal welfare, and safe operation of equipment and facility maintenance
Perform and provide oversight of equipment and vehicle maintenance and basic repairs
Field crop production including ground preparation, planting, cultivating, and harvesting
Hay production and use, including cutting, bailing, storing, and feeding
As needed, supervise student workers at the farm and/or gardens on weekend and holiday rotation or during times when other farm staff are absent to ensure that animals and plants are cared for properly
Collaborate and cooperate with other staff to complete time sensitive farm tasks such as harvesting, processing, or cattle working
Conduct tours of the College Farm for college personal, students, visitors, and perspective students
In support of Berea College’s great commitments this position requires student supervision. The fourth great commitment is to promote 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. The Supervision would include scheduling, assigning and approving work performed. Developing students about common workplace acumen and giving them tangible work experience is an expected outcome. To learn more about the student labor program and requirements on this position see: Labor Program Goals
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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.