Gestation Team Lead (Hillview Sow Farm)

Responsibilities

• Ensure daily care promotes humane animal handling, including safeguarding animal health, providing access to water and feed, and maintaining the best possible environment.
• Monitor the health of all animals, ensure proper vaccinations, medications, and injections are given and documented to promote animal well-being, achieve regulatory compliance, and increase production. Communicate all animal well-being issues and/or concerns to the Farm Manager.
• Promote safe work habits, maintain a safe working environment, and report all work-related injuries within 24 hours of occurrence to the Farm Manager.
• Keep and maintain accurate production records.
• Assist the Farm Manager in training team members’ production and interpersonal skills through open and honest informal daily feedback and daily organization of their activities.
• Organize and participate in the daily production activities of their departments, including implementation, follow-up, and review of the execution of standard operating procedures.
• Communicate department needs to the Farm Manager, such as feed, supplies, maintenance, and personnel issues.
• Perform minor maintenance and repairs on buildings and equipment, as well as housekeeping responsibilities of the facility. Communicate necessary repairs or maintenance to the Farm Manager.
• Implement best management practices for environmental stewardship, including proper regulation of manure storage facility (pit) levels and the flushing time and recharge of manure handling systems within the barns.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• 1 year of experience in the swine industry and/or 1 year of leadership experience in any field.

Skills

• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills.
• Organizational and leadership skills.
• Training and development of team members on standard operating procedures.
• Ability to work independently as well as being a team player.
• Ability to effectively monitor and develop subordinates to ensure smooth operation of the farm.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Desire to learn new skills.
• Ability to use production records to facilitate improvements.
• Knowledge of agriculture industry preferred.
• Understanding of company policies and procedures, and standard operating procedures of the system.
• Advanced knowledge of proper pig terminology and livestock handling.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook) and basic understanding of computers is preferred.

Working Conditions

• Office environment in the barn.
• Exposure to extreme hot or cold settings.
• Wet, slippery surroundings.
• Fumes, smoke, odors, dust, and noise.
• Ability to handle exposure to dust, odors, and noise.
• Ability to stand and walk on concrete for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate high-pressure washing equipment and manipulate over-gating in excess of 36 inches high.

Activity breakdown: Visual (seeing) – over 70%, Hearing – 41% to 70%, Speaking – 41% to 70%, Climbing – under 20%, Heavy Lifting – under 20%, Manual Dexterity – 20% to 40%, Pushing/Pulling – 20% to 40%, Standing – over 70%, Walking – over 70%.

Pay

Targeted pay range of $18 – $26.61 USD per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

• Choice between a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan and a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
• Two options for dental coverage, both covering preventative care at 100%.
• Group rate vision benefits.
• Complimentary Basic Life Insurance, as well as voluntary employee, spouse, and child life insurance policies.
• Short Term and Long Term Disability coverage at no cost to the employee.
• A traditional pre-tax 401(k) plan and a Roth 401(k) plan with a company match of the first 4% of employee contributions (immediately vested).
• Generous paid time off program, including a life event day and volunteer day each year for full-time employees.
• Participation in a Company Short Term Incentive Plan (STI) where payments depend on several company factors/metrics.