St. Paul Dairy Unit Manager

About the Job

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Position Overview

The St. Paul Dairy Unit Manager reports directly to the Dairy Faculty Manager and works closely with the Dairy Unit Faculty Management Team. This position is responsible for overseeing animal care, dairy production, facility operations, and personnel management in support of the Department’s teaching, research, and extension missions.

The manager supervises the Assistant Manager and Farm Animal Attendant staff assigned to the St. Paul Dairy Unit, coordinates facility use with faculty and research personnel, and oversees the operation, maintenance, and repair of dairy unit equipment and infrastructure. The position also collaborates with supervisors of other St. Paul animal units to facilitate the shared use of equipment, facilities, and resources.

In addition, the manager may be called upon to assist with animal care activities at other campus animal facilities, including sheep, goat, swine, and beef cattle units. As an essential employee, the manager is expected to participate in daily livestock care activities as needed, including milking and feeding dairy cows, and caring for calves. As operational needs arise, the manager may be asked to assist with the care and management of animals housed in other campus animal facilities, including sheep, goats, swine, and beef cattle.

Responsibilities

• 35% Supervision

  • Full supervisory responsibility of assistant manager and three or more full-time farm animal attendants.
  • Responsible for the development, performance management, and setting of expectations and priorities.
  • Hire, schedule, assign work, train, educate and discipline animal unit employees.
  • Maintain standard operating procedures for operations and animal care.
  • Supervise and manage animal care duties as they relate to general handling, moving, restraining, health care and general husbandry of the animals.
  • Supervise and manage duties related to research protocols and data collection procedures.
  • Ensure employees obtain required occupational health, safety, and care and use of animal training and stay current with university requirements.

• 55% Operational Management

  • Prepare and provide regular operational reports; maintain timely and professional communication with Dairy Unit Faculty Management Team, faculty, staff, and stakeholders; coordinate scheduling, calendar management, and information sharing to support dairy unit operations, teaching, and research activities.
  • Report and be accountable to the Dairy Faculty Manager on all aspects (budgets, animal usage certification/documentation and animal unit personnel) of animal operations and usage.
  • Develop operating budgets and work with DAS Head, Finance Manager, CFANS administration, and faculty management team to ensure animal units are fiscally solvent.
  • Assist in purchasing, leasing, and maintaining equipment.
  • Manage routine cleaning and periodic maintenance and repair of equipment, tools, and facilities.
  • Observe animals for general wellbeing, health, and behavior on a routine basis and adjust procedures and administer treatments as required.
  • Maintain records on animals and animal performance.
  • Monitor animal facilities to ensure regulatory compliance with university requirements.
  • Manage storage and inventory of feed and other supplies necessary for feeding and care of animals.
  • Cook up and oversee silage harvest, including estimating silage needs for year, renting harvest and storage equipment, conducting crop analysis to schedule silage harvest with nutritionist and silage vendor(s).
  • Communicate and interact with faculty, students, veterinarians, other university personnel, and the general public.

• 10% Animal Health and Care

  • Observe animals daily for abnormalities. Treat and care for animals and/or contact veterinarian for assistance according to site procedures. Assist veterinarian in treatment of injuries and ailments and administer treatments, including intravenous therapies, as prescribed by veterinarian or supervisor. Record observations and all therapies administered.
  • Earn ear-tag, tattoo, or attach unique identifiers to livestock for identifications. Perform artificial insemination, castration, and collect blood samples for animals as required. Assist animals during calving, lambing and farrowing. Record breeding, birth, and birthing information.
  • Prepare the parlor, milking equipment and cows for milking, milk the cows according to established procedures, ensure cow IDs and milk weights are captured correctly and stored electronically.
  • Remove uneaten feed from the previous day from the feed mangers. Procure forage from silage bag and/or upright silo, prepare and deliver daily feed allotment to livestock by hand, tractor, or feed mixer/feed wagon. Evaluate clean water supply for livestock. Clean and maintain the watering system as needed.
  • Move cattle and livestock within and between animal facilities.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications

  • BA/BS degree with at least two (2) years of experience OR a combination of related work experience to equal 6 years. Experience should include time in a dairy research facility or dairy cattle facility with supervision and management responsibilities.
  • Moderate physical capability (ability to lift and carry at least 50 pounds repeatedly)
  • A valid Driver’s License
  • Formal experience with record keeping and data logging
  • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

• Preferred Qualifications

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
  • Experience in large animal research and/or animal research facility management
  • Experience leading personnel and coordinating activities within research and/or livestock operations environments.
  • Experience in dairy cattle production equipment repair and maintenance
  • Operational experience with skid steer, tractor and livestock trailer
  • Experience moving, handling and transporting livestock
  • Experience with dairy records and/or feed management software such as DairyComp 305, PCDart, DHI-Plus, Feed Supervisor, EZ Feed, etc.
  • Experience with artificial insemination in cattle.
  • Familiarity with other production animal species beyond dairy cattle
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills

About the Department

College Overview

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 13 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers that span the college, the university, and the globe. CFANS offers thirteen undergraduate majors and thirteen graduate majors, three pre-major/pre-professional programs and 23 minors for undergraduate students. Undergraduate enrollment in the college is about 2000 students. CFANS students are well-prepared for a diverse, multicultural workforce through the college’s emphasis on experiential, interdisciplinary, and intercultural learning, internships and global perspectives.

Department Overview

The Department of Animal Science in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences (CFANS) is located on UMN’s scenic St. Paul campus. The Animal Science major, with an enrollment of about 400 students, is divided into five areas of emphasis: Business/Industry, Companion Animal, Equine, Production, and Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Science. Each emphasis offers a unique combination of classes to prepare students for future careers in business, production management, companion animal, equine, veterinary medicine or graduate school. Within an emphasis area, students can also specialize in a species, such as beef, companion animal, dairy, equine, poultry, swine or sheep, or develop a set of elective classes unique to their animal interests. Undergraduate Students associated with the Animal Science major have access to student organizations such as the Gopher Dairy Club, Block and Bridle, Pre-veterinary Science Club and Minnesota Royal, as well as opportunities to participate on highly successful Dairy Cattle and General Livestock Judging, Dairy Challenge and Animal Welfare Assessment Teams.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $33.50 - $35.50 per hour; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.