Reed Farm is a family-owned and operated, innovative, small-scale pastured (as season allows) poultry farm and on-farm state-inspected poultry processing facility in Western MA. We raise poultry for wholesale and provide the local farming community with custom poultry processing services. We are progressing towards a USDA Grant of Inspection, after which we will be the sole USDA poultry processing facility in MA, filling a crucial gap in the local food system. We are always learning and improving, and striving for work-life balance. We value integrity, inclusivity, having fun while working hard, education and outreach, and the strength of community.

More about Reed Farm at www.reedfarmpoultry.com.
Reed Farm is an equal opportunity employer. 

Reed Farm is seeking the right person to fill a year-round, long-term position as Assistant Farm Manager. The ideal candidate has several years of poultry production and processing experience, enjoys hard work with integrity in a fun and dedicated team dynamic, and is passionate about local food systems and sustainable & regenerative agriculture. This is an entry-level management position supported by professional development and has potential for upward mobility with increased responsibility and financial compensation.

Compensation: $25-28+/hour ($52.2k-58.2k+/year) depending on experience, paid overtime, ongoing education and financial assistance for relevant conferences and educational programs, performance-based bonus after Thanksgiving, plus chicken. Increases based on performance. Additional compensation possible for highly experienced candidates.

After 6 months: 2 weeks paid vacation time and 40 hours paid sick time.

Full-time, 40 hours/week (# of days/week schedule flexibility), year-round.
Minimum of 1-year commitment, ideally long-term.

Job Description

The Assistant Farm Manager assists with managing all operations on the farm (poultry production, processing, and packing) in accordance with our farm’s standards of high-quality products, work, and services, and does so with integrity. They work closely with owners/managers Peter and Kat on all aspects of the farm. This is a leadership position with encouraged space for input into our rapidly growing farm operation. They will help lead a diverse crew and learn all the jobs within the team. The Assistant Farm Manager will help teach and nurture a supportive and hardworking crew.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Promote and support a fun and dedicated work environment and team dynamic
• Poultry processing work:
  • Oversee & assist with set up and clean up
  • Assist in overseeing processing crew and adherence to safety protocols
  • Humane treatment of livestock
  • High product quality control
  • Kill side stations: cones, scalding, plucking
  • Clean side stations: crop, vent, evisceration, rinsing
  • Chilling stations: monitor & recordkeeping, stir and add ice as needed
• Packing and Value-Added work:
  • Oversee & assist with set up and clean up
  • Maintain high product quality control and food safety standards
  • Assist with organizing and tracking inventory, recordkeeping
  • Parting poultry
  • Packing and operating vacuum sealer
  • Value-added products: sausage, ground meat, etc
• Work with Peter and Kat to develop, update, and oversee adherence to HACCP and SOPs and relevant recordkeeping
• Oversee & maintain clean, organized work/storage spaces
• Basic equipment maintenance, repairs, and tracking
• Assist in livestock management and care (poultry and some rare heritage fiber sheep)
• Assist in compost management

Required Experience, Skills, & Abilities

• 2+ years experience commercially raising and processing poultry
• Treat animals and fellow crew with utmost care, compassion, and respect, always
• Reliability
• Sense of humor
• Ability to work well independently and with a team
  • Strong communication skills
  • Willingness to learn, take direction, and be proactive
  • Willingness to receive and offer constructive feedback
  • Know when to ask for help
• Multitasking, flexibility, adaptability
• Strong attention to detail
• Problem solving, resourcefulness
• Perform repetitive tasks efficiently and thoroughly
• Knife skills and excellent manual dexterity
• Willing to work outside in all weather conditions and inside walk-in coolers and freezer
• Lift and carry up to 40-60lbs, repeatedly lift 4-20lbs for several hours
• Basic understanding of proper use of power tools and safety
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record
  • Willingness to drive refrigerated van and refrigerated box truck, off-farm
  • Willingness to operate farm vehicles, on-farm
• Access to reliable transportation for commuting to farm

Preferred Candidates

• 5+ years experience commercially raising and processing poultry
• Demonstrated ability in leadership positions
• Able to drive standard truck, tractor, skidsteer, loader
• Knowledge of and passion for: 
  • Sustainable & regenerative agricultural practices
  • Pasture management, rotational grazing 
  • Education and outreach
  • Composting

Schedule 

40 hours per week, processing days required (currently Sun/Tues/Fri) and flexibility otherwise

Expected for most turkey processing days during Turkeygeddon (1.5 wks before Thanksgiving)

Example schedule (may change):

March-early June: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. Other hours flexible.

June-October: Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. Other hours flexible.

November 15-22: all hands on deck for Turkeygeddon, with a day off.