Manager WKU Dairy Farm

The Dairy Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the WKU Dairy/SmartHolstein Lab to include animal care, health, and well-being, animal nutrition, reproduction and genetics, marketing of livestock and milk, facility upkeep, cow comfort, management of lab technologies, forage production and harvest, public outreach, and managing dairy workers. Additionally, the Dairy Manager will work with the AREC Director on how to best utilize the Dairy budget to generate as much revenue as possible while still providing a laboratory for student engagement, education, outreach, and applied research. The WKU dairy is designed to milk 56 cows with associated replacements at the WKU Agriculture Research and Education Center. The WKU SmartHolstein Lab is a strategic, synergistic partnership between Holstein Association USA and Western Kentucky University Department of Agriculture and Food Science designed to be a research, development, and demonstration center for the dairy industry. With over 30 technologies in place, the SmartHolstein Lab has been established as an easy-to-access demonstration and development farm to explore new technologies designed to collect novel phenotypic traits including wearable or indwelling sensors and milk-based biomarkers. This is a unique opportunity for someone who wants to work with genetically elite Holstein cows and cutting-edge technologies in a University setting. Housing can be provided, and there are opportunities to work towards a graduate degree while in this position.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive oversight of dairy herd health, welfare, and production, including daily care routines, nutrition management, reproductive programs, health monitoring, and implementation of best practices to maintain high standards of animal fitness and productivity
• Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise dairy employees and promote safe, productive, and educational work environment
• Work with Holstein Association, faculty, and industry partners to install, operate, and troubleshoot new and emerging dairy technologies and facilitate research and educational opportunities
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the production, harvest, storage, and quality management of forage crops utilized by the dairy
• Assist in planning and leading educational tours, field days, demonstrations, and extension

Job Requirements:

• B.S. in Agriculture or related field

Additional Information:

Salary Range: $50,000 - $55,000

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270-745-5121 for assistance. To report concerns related to WKU''s Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040 and/or WKU''s Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy, No. 0.2070, please complete the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX, including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options, is available on WKU''s Title IX website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: https://www.wku.edu/academics/

For information related to job postings, application status, or the hiring process, please email employment@wku.edu.