Company description

A Meaningful Purpose, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2020 to address the needs of food insecurity, soil regeneration, and community inclusiveness in Atlantic County, NJ.  This mission is carried out at the historic Reed's Farm, continuing a legacy of local food production in the region.  The farm operates year-round utilizing organic and regenerative practices, hosts a sanctuary for farm animals, and provides educational and vocational programming to local schools and organizations with a focus on individuals with cognitive disabilities.  We aim to provide a community hub that inspires all who gather here to engage with nature and celebrate its healing capabilities.

Job description

General Description of the Position: The Animal Systems Manager will oversee all aspects of animal operations at Reed’s Farm. They will be the primary person responsible for the care and wellbeing of all animals on the farm, pasture quality and health, and animal farming systems and rotations. The Animal Systems Manager will work closely with the Farm Director to ensure the broader strategic vision for regenerative animal systems at Reed’s is being achieved. They will also work closely with the Agroforestry Manager to ensure the health and quality of silvopasture systems on the farm and to maximize integration of the animal systems with various tree crops when appropriate. The Animal Systems Manager will oversee a small staff of full and/or part-time workers and ensure all animals are being cared for by staff seven days a week, 365 days a year. The position requires expertise in pasture-based, organically managed livestock systems, as well as an ability to train new staff and quickly troubleshoot any problems that arise. The position calls for a professional that contributes to long term planning and brings thoughtful ideas and practices to the operation. This is a full-time, year-round position. A certain amount of on-call time is also needed for this role to be able to provide care for animals during emergencies.

Required Qualifications:

• At least five years of farming experience working with livestock and/or animal systems and 1+ years of experience working in a management or assistant management role
• Experience with a wide range of different animal species and systems, with some experience with ruminants and poultry being a must
• Experience with intensive rotational grazing systems and other regenerative animal farming systems
• Must be excellent working with and around animals and have solid animal husbandry skills and experience with things like administering medications/vaccinations, hoof trimming, etc.
• Commitment to organic, regenerative, and innovative agricultural practices
• Able to manage the complexity of caring for animals in a highly public nonprofit setting in which animals are rarely if ever harvested for meat
• Basic computer skills, including Google suite and Excel
• Must be capable of meeting the physical demands of the job, including: occasional lifting of heavy objects; working outside in all seasons; strenuous physical labor
• Valid driver's license required for operation of farm vehicles
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Strong work ethic and positive attitude; able to keep up morale throughout long days of physical, repetitive work in all weather conditions
• Excellent attention to detail; able to maintain high quality standards and follow food safety protocols while working quickly and efficiently
• Comfortable working both individually and on a team
• Flexible; able to adapt to shifting priorities and conditions and help out where needed
• Able to take direction, learn quickly, ask for help and clarity as needed, and accept and act on constructive feedback

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in animal science, agroecology, sustainable agriculture, biology, environmental science, or a related field
• Experience with multi-species grazing and silvopasture systems
• Experience with lambing or calving
• Experience operating 25+hp tractors
• Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC)
• Ability to drive a manual transmission

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintaining detailed pasture and animal care records in a timely manner
• Collaborating with Farm Director and Finance Director to build budgets and maintain financial records; plan for and purchase supplies
• Collaborating with Agroforestry Manager to ensure the successful operation and maintenance of all silvopasture systems
• Hire, train, and manage all animal systems staff
• Overseeing the implementation of the new pole barn and leading all aspects of setting up the new rotational grazing system
• Collaborate with Farm Director to create and carry out an annual animal systems plan including pasture management, hay production, animal care tasks, animal therapy programs, and development of animal-related infrastructure
• Live nearby and be able to rotate with other animal care staff to ensure someone is always on call for animal-related emergencies

Compensation and Benefits:

• $55-70k depending on experience
• Paid vacation and sick time; full healthcare benefits after three months
• Free produce from the farm and discounts on products in the farm market

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 50k-75k

Application instructions

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Deadline

December 31, 2024