POSITION PURPOSE
● The purpose of this position is to assist the Herd Manager with all dairy herd operations to ensure animal health and milk quality while aligning with the farm’s strategic objectives.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
● Comply with all animal welfare, milk quality, safety, and regulatory standards
● Communicate effectively with leadership and co-workers
● Assist Herd Manager in achieving agreed-upon performance metrics
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES (ROLE-SPECIFIC)
Duties include, but are not limited to:
● Assist Herd Manager with daily operations for 175-cow milking herd, including:
- Milking operations
- Parlor maintenance and supply inventory
- Calf and young heifer feeding and care
- Cow comfort and facility management, including scraping manure, cleaning pens and grooming and bedding stalls
- Maintaining accessibility to feed and water
- Checking heats and breeding
- Labor and delivery
- Health management, treatments, hoof trimming and dehorning
- Transition cow management
● Work with veterinarian, milk tester, nutritionist, and other advisors
● Transport cows to meat locker or sale barn using truck and trailer and pick up finished beef products as needed
● Help maintain and repair livestock-related building and equipment
● Maintain tool shop and overall farm cleanliness and appearance
● Other tasks as needed to maintain farm operations
QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred
● Degree in Dairy Science or related field
● Experience in cow labor and delivery, breeding and hoof trimming
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS
● Acts with integrity, accountability, safety and respect
● Communicates clearly, consistently and proactively
● Respects the cows, management and co-workers
● Strives for continuous improvement in animal care, efficiency, and performance
● Works as a team with other employees
● Willing to help with other tasks as necessary
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Physical demands
● Frequent lifting of 50 pounds or more
● Standing for extended periods (4+ hours)
● Comfortable around large animals
● Good listening, verbal and observational skills
Work schedule expectations
● Generally early morning through evening hours (approximately 3:30 a.m. start), with rest and meal breaks during the day
Environmental conditions
● Indoor and outdoor work in all seasons/weather conditions, air quality and noise level
COMPENSATION
● Hourly wage of $23.00, full-time (must work at least 40 hours/week). Eligibility for raise after maximum of six months of training based on performance evaluation, then annual raise eligibility.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Hansen’s Dairy is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including those in the State of Iowa. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.
Pay: From $23.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
