Shepard Farm Manager

Dodge Nature Center is hiring for the Shepard Farm Manager position in Cottage Grove, MN. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Plan and direct seasonal crop, orchard, livestock, labor, equipment, material, and facility priorities for the assigned farm. • Train and supervise staff while also working alongside the crew during planting, cultivation, harvest, animal care, maintenance, and other time-sensitive work. • Track production, quality, safety, staffing, and resource needs and communicate decisions and exceptions across the farm's operating teams. • Manage daily care for the farm animals, including purchasing and organizing feed and supplies, feeding, cleaning, observation, and basic veterinary care within established protocols. • Plant and manage crops, gardens, the community garden, orchard, apiary, and sugarbush while coordinating property, structure, vehicle, and equipment maintenance with the Farm Director. • Supervise assigned staff, interns, and volunteers, work alongside the farm and buildings teams, and facilitate agriculture or environmental programs when farm operations support teaching. How the work fits together Farm management joins seasonal planning with daily field judgment. The manager turns crop, livestock, weather, labor, market, and maintenance information into clear priorities; confirms that people and resources are ready; checks execution and records; and adjusts the plan without losing sight of safety, quality, stewardship, or cost. At Dodge Nature Center, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Manage daily care for the farm animals, including purchasing and organizing feed and supplies, feeding, cleaning, observation, and basic veterinary care within established protocols. Plant and manage crops, gardens, the community garden, orchard, apiary, and sugarbush while coordinating property, structure, vehicle, and equipment maintenance with the Farm Director. Supervise assigned staff, interns, and volunteers, work alongside the farm and buildings teams, and facilitate agriculture or environmental programs when farm operations support teaching. What the employer is looking for • A degree related to agriculture, biology, education, environmental studies, or horticulture, or at least three years of related experience, plus a valid driver's license and ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively. • Ability to perform farm and maintenance labor, lift and carry 50 pounds, travel uneven terrain, spend up to six hours outside in inclement weather, and work some evenings and weekends; sustainable-farming and animal-care knowledge are preferred. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation This is an indefinite, full-time exempt position performed in person five days per week at Shepard Farm, with some evening and weekend work. Annual compensation is $37,623–$45,000 plus health and dental options, retirement-plan contributions, and paid time off. The application deadline is Monday, August 31. Candidates should confirm the normal workday, on-call animal-care rotation, exempt-position workload expectations, benefit effective dates, and the reporting-location wording during the interview. The employer publishes $37,623–$45,000 per year. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person horticulture and outdoor position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Email a resume and cover letter to Farm Director Don Oberdorfer at doberdorfer@dodgenaturecenter.org by Monday, August 31. Address your animal-care, crop, garden, orchard, apiary, facilities, supervision, and agriculture-education experience.