Company description

The Hotchkiss School is an independent boarding school located in Lakeville, Connecticut. Founded in 1891, the School provides an education of academic distinction to 600 students in grades 9 through 12, and to a small number of postgraduates. Students at Hotchkiss come from across the United States and around the world. Graduates attend many of the most selective universities and colleges.

In 2004, the School acquired a 260-acre parcel of farmland just a mile south of campus from Jack Blum ’47, a former trustee who raised Black Angus cattle. Six years later, Hotchkiss purchased an additional 27 acres and four buildings on the Blum property, bringing the total acreage to 287.

Today, the farm has become a vital part of community life and a source of academic inspiration, providing a venue for outdoor classes, co-curricular activities, concerts, and School functions — and supplying the dining hall with organically grown produce.

Job description

Apply Now! Fairfield Farm Manager

Located in the scenic Berkshire-Taconic landscape in the quiet northwest corner of Connecticut, The Hotchkiss School is a community in which faculty and staff members build careers and grow as professionals. We seek to identify, recruit, and develop faculty and staff members who bring a diversity of experiences, perspectives, talents, and backgrounds. Collectively, we are dedicated to supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of 600 students who come from around the country and the world.

The School is eager to accept applications from populations historically underrepresented in our community and who are excited to support an inclusive and warm learning community for students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences.

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary mission of Fairfield Farm is to serve as an educational resource for the academic, co-curricular and residential programs at Hotchkiss. In order to achieve our educational goals, the Farm must be a true production-oriented farm providing significant amounts of food to the School’s dining program. The Farm Manager is primarily responsible for ensuring the daily running of all operational matters relating to Fairfield Farm --its food production and the stewardship of the agricultural land-- as well as serving as a leader of both students and adults participating in experiential learning and leadership development programming. The Farm Manager is an integral part of the support and development of an inclusive community at Fairfield Farm and by extension the Hotchkiss community.

The Farm Manager has a 10-month schedule and is designated as a staff position. Given the farm management responsibilities, an apartment is provided on-site.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with Assistant Head of School, Director of Strategic Initiatives on strategic goals and key initiatives, including:
   1. Develop and implement long-term strategic goals for farm operations and educational programs,
   2. Identify and mitigate risk, including the development and enforcement of student and staff safety protocols and policies,
   3. Develop and implement plans and schedules for planting and harvesting operations, including the procurement of seeds and necessary supplies,
   4. Ensure up-keep of key assets such as farm buildings and equipment,
   5. Oversee tenant farm operations to ensure proper pasture management/stewardship.
2. Manage vegetable operations, including:
   1. Hoop House operations, programs and maintenance,
   2. Ecological stewardship through maintenance and enhancement of soil health in planting field,
   3. Equipment operation in field,
   4. Seeding, planting, cultivating, and harvesting produce,
   5. Food storage, cleaning, and delivery,
   6. Bookkeeping and data reporting.
3. Oversee all aspects of livestock management, including:
   1. Daily feedings, including weekends unless a replacement is arranged,
   2. Slaughterhouse coordination and delivery (with director of dining services),
   3. On-farm educational experiences related to livestock.
4. Manage employee training and supervision.
5. Collaborate with The Farm Education Coordinator on educational programming, including:
   1. Facilitate experiential learning with various groups
   2. Collaborate with Director of Dining Services to advise student projects concerning Fairfield Farm and the dining program,
   3. Facilitate and lead meaningful farm work for visiting classes or campus groups (i.e. orientation, environmental work days, academic classes) building a “hands-on” component.
6. Support further programmatic and operational growth at the Farm.
7. Serve as a representative of Fairfield Farm and the Farm’s programming.
8. Skills and Experience Required:
   1. Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the principles of soil biology and management, low-till crop production, permaculture, growing perennials, using cover crops, composting, and a general ecological systems approach to agriculture.
   2. Experience farming in a production, educational, or comparable setting.
   3. Basic light farm carpentry and proficiency with power tools is preferred and ability to operate farm equipment is highly desired.
   4. Willing and able to be an integral part of a student-centered, inclusive campus community.
   5. A desire for continuous professional growth and development.
   6. Excellent problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking skills.
   7. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
   8. Given the need to operate heavy machinery and drive students and occasionally visitors, a valid driver's license is required, with a demonstrated commitment to safety.
9. Physical Requirements:
   1. Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and elements, including dust, dirt, high/low temperatures and rain.
   2. Ability to walk extensively, stand for long periods, frequent bending and stooping, shoveling.
   3. Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs frequently and occasionally up to 50 lbs.

The essential functions and basic skills have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.

The Hotchkiss School is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its staff and faculty qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all phases of the employment process (including recruitment, hiring, assignment, terms and conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline and termination). In accordance with applicable law, the School does not discriminate against any individual based on age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $35,000 - $50,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline