Gestation Department Head
Gestation Department Head
Description:
This key position is responsible of overseeing all the aspects associated with the breeding and gestation department of the farm. The Department Head will lead the employees within their department and manage the daily tasks through training and instruction.
The ideal candidate will have a desire to work with pigs, a high level of dependability, solid work history. Also, the candidate must be willing to work cooperatively for the good of the farm, communicate directly, honestly, and respectfully in all interactions.
Personnel Responsibilities:
• Supporting Farm Manager, Company Owner’s and Management Company decisions and policies provided to all farm personnel
• Collaborate with other departments concerning scheduling and organization of daily, weekly and monthly personnel activities
• Supervise and perform production tasks required in the gestation barn.
• Assist in evaluating farm personnel
• Provide training, instruction and constructive feedback to employees in the department
Production Responsibilities:
• Set short and long-term goals for the gestation department
• Lead all aspects of the breeding and gestation department
• Daily care of animals in gestation buildings
• Oversee and perform chores of the department
o Adequate environment, feed and water
o Body condition score
o Pregnancy checks
o Daily heat check and AI on sows and gilts
o Manage inventory of gilts, sows, open pool
o Manage cull schedule
o Maintain unit cleanliness
o Tagging animals according the needs of the farm and customers
• Monitor the improvement of animal genetic indexes
• Maintain the flow of bred sows within the barn
• Monitor semen delivery, inventory and expiration date
• Follow herd health and biosecurity protocols
o Timely performed vaccination protocols
o Timely performed sow and piglet treatment
o Timely euthanasia of suffering animals and subsequent removal
• Ensure that farm personnel handle animals properly
Facility Responsibilities:
• Address issues that may cause an unsafe working environment
• Report break downs needing farm personnel or outside contractor assistance
• Ensure that work area is kept picked up, clean, neat and orderly
Administrative Responsibilities:
• Ensure sow cards are timely and accurately completed
• Maintain and submit all records and ensure they are accurately completed and submitted in a timely manner
• Collaborate with Farm Manager on flow projections
Other Responsibilities:
• Be willing to respond to and adequately handle emergency alarm calls
• Perform miscellaneous tasks as directed by Farm Manager
• Be willing to acquire skills as needed to perform technological advancements
Physical Requirements:
• Standing, walking and ability to be on feet 8 to 10 hours per day
• Frequent bending, reaching, squatting and kneeling
• Frequent use of one or both hands/arms to grasp or pull
• Frequent lifting of objects weighing 3-20 pounds
• Occasional bending while pulling and/or lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds, or requiring up to 50 pounds of force to move
• Occasional bending while pulling and/or lifting objects weighing up to 100 pounds or requiring up to 100 pounds of force to move with the assistance of another person as needed
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Must be able to print and/or write legibly
Qualifications:
Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred but not required.
Experience: Two years previous livestock handling experience preferred but not required.
Other: Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Display a high level of respect to team members and animals. Demonstrate an impeccable reliability/dependability standard. Must be able to work weekends
Must have reliable method of transportation to get to work.