Animal Handling Manager

Christensen Farms is one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the United States marketing approximately 3 million hogs per year. Headquartered in Sleepy Eye Minnesota the company operates throughout the Midwest with facilities in Minnesota Iowa Nebraska Illinois and South Dakota. Christensen Farms owns four feed mills manages 145000 sows on 44 farms and oversees more than 350 nurseries and grow-finish sites. The company employees nearly 1000 people and maintains 1500 contract partnerships.

The company is vertically integrated with a strong presence across the pork value chain - from farm to fork. Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder of Triumph Foods LLC a producer-owned primary pork processing plant in St. Joseph turn Triumph Food members own 50 percent of Dailys Premium Meats a specialty pork processor bacon and other premium pork products. Triumph Foods also holds a 50 percent partnership in Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC of Sioux City Iowa a primary pork processing plant.

Position Overview & Responsibilities:

By understanding pigs needs and behaviors and our impact on those behaviors the Animal Handling Manager is responsible for the development and modification of company procedures implementation of training monitoring of facilities and maintenance to accomplish established animal handling targets throughout all phases of production. Verification processes including demonstration of competencies and field audits are an essential component of the continuous improvement process ensuring compliance with established expectations minimizing organizational risk and ultimately elevating the culture of animal welfare related to animal movements and improving stockmanship through education of pig behavior.

Major Areas of Accountability:

Develop procedures to achieve animal handling objectives

Develop a robust training program to engage all stakeholders at all levels of competency.

Perform classroom and in-field training as defined in established program.

Develop and implement a field approach to evaluate Animal Handling

Assist with Animal Handling and Safety investigations as well as follow up corrective actions.

In Field diagnosis and troubleshooting of animal handling processes and outcomes.

Engagement of contract producers drivers and production personal with supporting information and feedback of performance as it relates to quality movements of animals

Key resource to Producers

Education Training and Experience Requirements:

Education: Professional two or four-year degree required or High School Diploma and experience in related field.

TQA PQA Plus certification is not needed upon hire but is required to perform job.

Moderate livestock and/or relevant industry experience required

Bi-lingual (Spanish) speaking a plus.

Individual must demonstrate strong communication skills to engage stakeholders ensuring comprehension and ultimately influencing behaviors.

A successful individual will be naturally curious and exercise all means possible to eliminate barriers functioning as a change agent to achieve excellence in animal handling activities for both people and pigs.

The individual must practice sound judgement to appropriately identify and escalate issues to ensure compliance at all times.

Individual must possess personal organization and time management skills with the ability to adapt and function effectively in a fast paced changing environment.

Other Technical Skills required: Basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook Excel and Word

OTHER SKILLS

• Basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook Excel and Word
  
  

Specialized or Motorized Equipment and/or Tools:

This position will require occasionally operating a company vehicle or mileage reimbursement. Any employment offer extended for this position will be contingent upon the review of the candidates motor vehicle record (MVR). The MVR will be reviewed to determine insurability based on CFFs insurance carrier and company policy.

Vehicle Licensing Requirement: Class D

Christensen Farms is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization. No employee of CF will discriminate against any applicant for employment or a fellow employee because of race color religion sex national origin disability citizenship status genetic information age sexual orientation gender identity military status veteran status or any other prohibited basis under applicable local state or federal law.

Required Experience:

Manager