Title: Farm Manager
Location: Voluntown, CT
Industry: Poultry, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical
Salary: $80K and above based on experience
Shift: Days (weekend availability required)
Job Type: Direct Hire
Client Overview
AVS Bio is a global leader in biologics with more than 60 years of innovation supporting the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and breakthrough scientific research that protects human and animal health worldwide.
Position Overview
The Farm Manager leads the day-to-day performance of the farm. The role typically directly manages the Assistant Farm Manager and Farm Technicians, with Poultry House Operators also reporting to the Farm Manager depending on the site structure. The Farm Manager translates operational priorities into clear goals and expectations and ensures the farm meets its commitments for animal welfare, safety, biosecurity, quality, production, and cost.
The Farm Manager builds team capability, uses structured problem solving to address day-to-day performance gaps, and works with the Production Manager and cross-functional partners to remove barriers and improve how the operation runs.
Key Areas of Impact
- People Leadership & Team Development
- Lead and develop the Assistant Farm Manager and farm team members, setting clear goals, priorities, roles, and expectations for the operation.
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Hold regular performance and development conversations, provide timely feedback, recognize strong performance, and address performance or conduct concerns consistently.
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Identify and develop high-potential employees to build strength and support succession.
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Delegate effectively and coach team members to make sound decisions, solve problems, and build capability within their areas of responsibility.
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Partner with the Senior Farm Leadership and HR on recruiting, onboarding, and employee relations.
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Establish communication routines that keep the farm team aligned on priorities, performance, risks, and operational changes.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Own day-to-day farm performance against established goals and KPIs for production, animal welfare, safety, quality, biosecurity, labor, and cost.
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Plan and adjust daily labor, resources, and work priorities to meet production needs while maintaining biosecurity, animal welfare and quality standards.
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Work with the Senior Farm Leadership to review farm performance, identify trends, risks, and gaps, define problems clearly, and agree on corrective action when results are off plan.
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Lead structured problem solving within the farm, evaluate potential solutions, and escalate issues that require broader support, resources, or decisions.
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Build continuous improvement into daily work by engaging the Assistant Farm Manager and farm team in reducing waste, improving flow, and strengthening standard work.
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Collaborate with Quality, Laboratory, Maintenance, Planning, and other operations teams to coordinate day-to-day priorities, resources, and operational changes; escalate unresolved barriers to the Production Manager.
Animal Health & Husbandry
- Be accountable for the humane care and well-being of birds throughout all life cycle phases, ensuring standards are understood and consistently followed.
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Maintain working knowledge of core husbandry practices - including egg management, incubation and hatching, breeder/grow house oversight, pullet management, and depopulations - sufficient to guide decisions, coach the team, and verify execution.
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Lead the response to alarms, animal health concerns, and operational disruptions, escalating appropriately and communicating clear direction.
Farm Stewardship
- Ensure farm records, biosecurity logs, and regulatory documentation are accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
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Identify maintenance and infrastructure needs, coordinate day-to-day repairs, and work with the Production Manager to prioritize resources and larger investments that protect animal welfare, safety, quality, and operational continuity.
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Maintain a safe, clean, professional, and compliant operation, holding the team accountable for PPE, biosecurity, and safety requirements.
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Take immediate action to address biosecurity or animal welfare concerns, including stopping work when necessary, until risks are resolved.
What You Bring
Experience & Education
- 5+ years of experience in poultry, livestock, or agricultural operations, including 2+ years of supervisory or management responsibility in a hands-on environment.
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Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Agribusiness, Operations, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
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Demonstrated experience translating operational goals into daily priorities, using performance data, developing teams, and improving results in a hands-on environment.
Capabilities & Mindset
- Accountability & Impact: You translate farm goals into clear priorities, measure day-to-day performance, and act when results are off plan.
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Talent Development: You coach team members to strengthen their skills and judgment and prepare them for greater responsibility.
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Problem Solving: You define problems clearly, gather the right information, use data to understand root causes, and evaluate solutions before acting.
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Communication & Collaboration: You communicate with clarity and empathy, resolve conflict, and build effective working relationships across the farm and supporting functions.
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Focused Urgency: You prioritize, delegate, and adapt quickly while maintaining follow-through on critical commitments.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This is an active, physical role in an agricultural setting. The work environment includes indoor poultry housing, outdoor grounds, and processing areas, each with varying temperatures, noise levels, and exposure to dust, fumes, and biological materials. Candidates must be comfortable working hands-on with live poultry, lifting up to 80 lbs on occasion, and wearing full PPE including respirators. A genuine comfort with and respect for animal agriculture is essential.
Biosecurity FAQs:
- What is included in the biosecurity requirement? Employees may not own or have contact with live birds of any kind, including backyard poultry, ducks, turkeys, wild, or exotic birds, or visit farms, fairs, or other locations with bird exposure.
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What other animal contact is prohibited? Prohibited contact includes reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and certain wild animals (e.g., snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, deer mice), or animals requiring feeding of rodents or raw/frozen animal products.
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What animal contact is permitted? Permitted animals include dogs, cats, fish, and traditional farm animals (horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, llamas/alpacas). Employees may not handle raw or frozen meat or poultry products before work.
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How is biosecurity enforced? All candidates must complete a Biosecurity & Animal Ownership Disclosure Form prior to hire and certify ongoing compliance. Violations or falsification may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.
Why Join Us:
- Direct hire with long-term career stability
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401(k) with company match
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Up to 3 weeks paid vacation
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Up to 11.5 paid holidays
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Medical, dental, and vision coverage
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Benefits effective the 1st of the month after your start date
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Consistent daytime schedule for work life balance
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Entry point into the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry
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Work that directly supports vaccines, diagnostics, and breakthrough therapies
EOE/ADA
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