Purpose & Scope: A successful Department Lead exhibits great leadership skills by showcasing knowledge and competencies to the team members, giving them direction to go about their tasks and duties on the job. The team leader recognizes the contributions of every team member and encourages them to work together, sharing ideas and maintaining good relationships in the execution of production tasks. The team leader promotes the safety and wellbeing of the team and educates them on effective safety, Animal Welfare, and Bio-Security procedures.
Principle Responsibilities:
- Adhere to and monitor team members during production activities to ensure adherence safety, Animal Welfare and Bio-Security procedures
- Motivate team members to increase production and maintain high production standards
- Serve as liaison between team members and management
- Advanced understanding and execution of manual and automated boar semen collection process
- Evaluate and implement continuous improvement of swine production process
- Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury
- Treat minor injuries and ailments
- Communicate with appropriate management and/or veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries
- Stock supplies of feed and medicines
- Ability to understand and implement intermediate boar stud care and handling (feeding/watering/moving/ventilation)
- Brand, tattoo, or tag animals for animal identification
- Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases
- Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition
- Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety
- Prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen
- Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (hand held devices and other equipment, as necessary)
- Attend safety meetings
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Cleaning and disinfection of facilities, including removal of mortality and waste
- Check feed system and fill lines
- Production/facility housekeeping duties
- Any other tasks assigned by Assistant or Manager
Required Qualifications:
- 2-year college degree in related field or equivalent experience in similar production environment
- Strong communication and listening skills
- Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (computers, hand held devices and other equipment, as necessary)
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems and make decisions independently
- Ability to effectively lead a team
- Be a team oriented, self-motivated, and positive individual with strong work ethic
- Ability to efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- Familiarity with Bio-Security and swine production
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Ability to work weekend, as scheduled
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Ability to continually bend, push, grasp, and pull up to 60 lbs
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Continual walking and/or standing, up to 95% of the day
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Reliable method of transportation required
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Ability to work early 1st shift hours or late 2nd shift hours
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bi-lingual English and Spanish
Travel: Occasional travel with valid driver’s license required
EOE/Vets/Disability
