Company description

Q Farms is a pasture-based protein farm in the hills of northwestern Connecticut's Housatonic river valley. We are located just 2 hours from New York City.  In the upcoming 2019 season, we expect to raise approximately 10,000 pastured meat chickens, 500 pastured layer hens, 100 pastured pigs (breeding stock and feeders), 60 grass fed Dexter and Devon cattle (breeding stock and feeders). We also have 20+ honey bee hives, 2000+ tree walnut, hazelnut and chestnut orchard and potentially will expand to grow some non-meat sources of protein in 2019 including heirloom beans.  We breed pigs and cattle.  The pig breeding program is year round and the cattle breeding program is targeted to achieve spring and fall offspring.
 

Our goal is to provide people a diverse, healthful, and regionally appropriate way of meeting their protein needs. We believe that a sustainable lifestyle requires us to have a diverse range of protein sources to meet our health needs while protecting the environment and respecting the plants and animals that provide these nutrients to us. We believe that when an animal has healthy food, clean water, pastures to roam, and thoughtful husbandry, they will thrive and produce the highest quality meat. 
 

We do not use any chemicals on our farm - no synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or non-therapeutic antibiotics.  This compels us to have a diverse group of animals and plants that ensure that there is a depth and breadth of diversity to replicate what nature does best.  We seek to create a vibrant ecosystem on our farm that allows all our plants and animals to thrive.
 

We are impassioned by husbandry, and care deeply of the well being of our animals from birth to processing.   We are committed to humane processing, and work with other facilities that hold the same values for animals we can't process here.  
 

Together, with our community, we believe we can build a sustainable, viable farming business.

Job description

Q Farms is hiring a full-time, year-round Assistant Farm Manager in charge of the Poultry operations (Broiler, Laying Hens and Turkeys).  This position will commence as soon as possible and will report to the Farm Manager.  This position will offer the opportunity to be part of a developing sustainable agricultural enterprise, to grow and develop alongside it and offers a career path for expanding our operations.  As Q Farms grows, the responsibilities will as well, which will create the opportunity to further develop and pursue personal and farming goals.  As part of the Q Farms team, the person will take part in all aspects of the farm, but will have their main focus on the Poultry operations.   

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Poultry Assistant Farm Manager include, but are not limited to the following:

Poultry Enterprise

Supporting the Farm Manager with all aspects of the Poultry operations,

including;

• Planning for season that will kick off in March. Working with the Farm Manager,  pre-season planning and program management throughout the season to include (1) develop and manage to budget for the season; (2) set up of infrastructure (brooding pens, chicken tractors, etc.); (3) placing orders for weekly Broiler deliveries and supplies (grit, egg cartons, shavings, etc.); (4) tracking broiler mortality, weights, feed conversion, etc.; (5) development of rotational pasture plan and adjustment throughout as necessary for pasture conditions and other livestock needs; (6) review and improve standard operating procedures for care of poultry to be used to train staff; and (7) coordinating with sales team to ensure supply of product is on track with sales.
• Ensuring apprentices and other staff are trained on daily poultry care.
• Support all aspects of daily operations including, moving chicken tractors, moving Egg Mobiles, clean and replenish waterer/feeders, ensure chicken tractors are not vulnerable to predators, move mobile grain bins and operate a tractor through uneven terrain with heavy loads, etc.
• Support weekly operations including receiving new chicks, cleaning out brooders, preparing chicken tractor, weighing chickens, managing feed levels to ensure Farm Manager has information needed to order, ordering other supplies, giving feedback to team on status of predators, other issues impacting the welfare of the chickens and frequent and regular communications with Farm Manager regarding all aspects of the enterprise.
• Supporting the Farm Manager in maintaining the highest animal welfare and health practices.
• Preparation of weekly cut-sheets for poultry processing and review with Manager and/or Owner.
• Loading chickens for processing and driving to/from processing facilities.
• Regular communications with Owner, Farm Manager and sales team to ensure all coordinated on quantities, size and sales expectations.
• Identify and implement modifications to create efficiencies in operations.

Poultry processing
In previous years, we ran an onsite USDA facility.  We will look to the Poultry Assistant Manager to participate in the decision regarding whether to process 2019 season on or off site.  If on site, the Poultry Assistant Manager may be responsible for managing the Poultry processing facility including:

• Manage overall aspects of processing operations.
• Take part in slaughtering the animals.
• Take part in eviscerating the animals.
• Butcher and packaging.
• Cleaning before and after processing to USDA standards.
• Staff the facility.
• Ensure facility has supplies and is ready for processing.
• Maintain records as required for USDA.

Livestock & Other Farm Operations

• Support daily chores (feed, water, pasture rotation, fencing) for all other livestock including cattle and pigs.
• Learn and support care of Bee hives, fruit and nut trees and any other expanded enterprises.
• Support other aspects of animal care for pigs and cattle including observing overall well-being and health of animals, loading animals for processing, driving animals to processing facilities.

Maintenance

• Brush clearing, the occasional mowing of the field and Barn areas and plowing after snowfall.
• Basic barnyard carpentry/construction and equipment maintenance.
• Support structural maintenance and cleaning of structures.
• Maintain overall clean and organized work environment.

Sales and Marketing

The employee will support the Sales and Marketing by;

• Work at weekly Farmer’s markets in Connecticut and New York.
• Deliver finished product to customers.
• Develop new opportunities for sales.

Administration

• Work with Manager to manage staff and apprentices including scheduling, training of standard operating procedures, communication, prioritization and oversight of daily/weekly farm projects and tasks.
• Maintain Farm store inventory and sales records.
• Maintain time records.
• Maintain Freezer inventory of products.
• Support product sales team (e.g. ensure understanding of customer needs and coordinate availability of product with sales).
• Maintain records of enterprise (feed consumed, weight, etc.).

Compensation this position is : salaried Application instructions Deadlineno deadline