Director, Farm Services

Agency

Department

The Farm Director provides strategic leadership operational oversight and administrative management for the Prairie View A&M Universitys (PVAMU) Governor Bill and Vara Daniel Farm and Ranch operations in support of the College of Agriculture Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) land grant mission of research teaching extension outreach and public service. The position is responsible for ensuring that the farm operates as a modern efficient safe productive and mission-aligned agricultural enterprise that supports faculty research student experiential learning extension programming demonstrations stakeholder engagement and sustainable agricultural development.

The Farm Director oversees integrated farm systems including crop production livestock operations greenhouse systems natural resource management equipment and infrastructure management personnel supervision and performance evaluation and operational planning. The position works collaboratively with faculty research scientists extension specialists extension agents students industry partners and community stakeholders to advance CAFNR priorities the NIFA Plan of Work and PVAMUs strategic initiatives.

The Farm Director serves as the lead operational administrator for farm activities and is expected to provide forward-thinking leadership operational discipline accountability and innovation to support the continued growth and modernization of the universitys farm and ranch enterprise.

This position is funded by a grant or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of grant or restricted funding.

The salary isdeterminedin accordance withthe Universitys compensation structure and will becommensuratewith the candidates education and experience within the assigned salary range for this position.

Responsibilities:

Farm Operations Management and Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and operational oversight for all farm and ranch activities.
• Direct and coordinate daily operations involving crops livestock greenhouses pasture systems natural resources and support facilities.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range operational plans aligned with CAFNR strategic priorities and institutional goals.
• Establish seasonal work plans operational calendars production schedules labor plans and resource allocation strategies.
• Ensure operational efficiency productivity accountability and continuous improvement across all farm systems.
• Coordinate land use planning irrigation management forage utilization and infrastructure utilization.
• Lead efforts to modernize farm operations through technology integration precision agriculture tools and data-driven management systems.
• Support development of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural systems.

Research Teaching and Extension Support

• Coordinate farm resources personnel equipment and land to support faculty-led research projects demonstrations field trials and extension programming.
• Collaborate with faculty researchers extension specialists and extension agents to implement research protocols and educational activities.
• Support experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist with field days workshops demonstrations tours and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Coordinate farm scheduling and use to support teaching laboratories student projects and extension events.
• Ensure farm operations effectively support interdisciplinary research and extension initiatives.
• Maintain records and reporting systems related to research and educational activities.

Personnel Leadership and Workforce Management

• Recruit supervise train mentor and evaluate farm personnel technicians seasonal employees student workers interns and support staff.
• Establish work assignments schedules operational expectations and performance standards.
• Foster a collaborative safe professional work environment.
• Promote workforce development employee accountability and operational excellence.
• Coordinate staff communication and support cross-functional collaboration among operational units.
• Support employee development through training opportunities related to safety technology equipment compliance and operational procedures.

Equipment Facilities and Infrastructure Management

• Oversee maintenance repair replacement planning and safe operation of farm equipment machinery vehicles irrigation systems barns fencing storage facilities greenhouses feed systems and related infrastructure.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance programs and equipment utilization schedules.
• Monitor operational readiness of facilities and farm assets.
• Oversee facility improvement projects and infrastructure upgrades.
• Maintain accurate records related to maintenance activities inventories and equipment usage.
• Ensure safe operation and compliance with university policies and agricultural safety standards.

Financial Management Procurement and Resource Stewardship

• Assist with preparation and management of farm operating budgets.
• Monitor expenditures cost recovery activities purchasing inventory control and operational resource utilization.
• Oversee procurement of equipment supplies livestock inputs chemicals feed seed fertilizer and related operational materials.
• Support strategic allocation of resources to maximize operational effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate operational and financial records.
• Assist leadership with budget projections operational forecasting and financial planning.

Compliance Environmental Stewardship and Safety

• Ensure compliance with university state federal USDA and environmental regulations.
• Oversee implementation of agricultural safety protocols pesticide regulations biosecurity procedures animal welfare standards and environmental stewardship practices.
• Promote sustainable land management soil conservation water management and resource protection.
• Coordinate inspections audits certifications and required documentation.
• Maintain operational records associated with compliance and safety programs.
• Support emergency response planning and risk management activities.
• Outreach Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
• Represent CAFNR and the university farm professionally with producers agencies industry partners community organizations donors and external stakeholders.
• Support outreach programming demonstrations tours agricultural field days workshops and public engagement events.
• Foster partnerships that support research workforce development extension programming and farm sustainability.
• Assist with development of collaborative initiatives aligned with land-grant priorities.
• Promote visibility and impact of university farm operations within the agricultural community.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Agriculture Agronomy Animal Science Agricultural Engineering Agricultural Systems Management Natural Resources Environmental Science Agribusiness or a closely related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in farm management agricultural operations research farm administration ranch operations or a related agricultural setting.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of crop production systems livestock operations natural resources pasture management irrigation systems and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Knowledge of farm equipment operation maintenance and agricultural safety procedures.
• Knowledge of environmental stewardship land management pesticide regulations and compliance standards.
• Knowledge of operational planning budgeting inventory management and workforce coordination.
• Strong leadership communication organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a dynamic agricultural environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty researchers extension personnel students and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters degree or Ph.D. in Agriculture Agronomy Animal Science Agricultural Engineering Natural Resources Agricultural Systems Management or a related field.
• Experience supervising personnel and managing agricultural operations involving crops livestock facilities equipment and land resources.
• Experience supporting research teaching extension demonstration or outreach activities.
• Experience with budgeting procurement operational planning and resource management.
• Experience in a land grant university research farm or extension environment.
• Experience managing integrated crop and livestock systems.
• Experience supporting faculty research trials extension demonstrations and student learning environments.
• Experience with precision agriculture technologies AI-enabled agricultural systems remote sensing greenhouse automation and digital farm management platforms.
• Licensed pesticide applicator or ability to obtain certification in 3-6 months after hire date.
• Demonstrated success in improving operational efficiency sustainability and farm productivity.
• Experience managing large-scale agricultural operations and multidisciplinary teams.

Other Requirements:

• Work is performed in office field livestock greenhouse and outdoor agricultural environments.
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions livestock agricultural chemicals machinery and farm equipment.
• Ability to perform moderate physical activity including walking fields lifting materials inspecting facilities and operating around livestock and equipment.
• Occasional evening weekend holiday and emergency response work may be required based on operational needs and seasonal demands.
• Some travel may be required.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.