Job description
Salary: Up to £37,720 per annum depending on experience
Full Time
We are seeking an experienced pig unit manager to manage our brand new 300 sow breeding unit on the Bishop Burton College Farm. The chosen candidate, with support from our industry partner, will have full responsibility for the unit overseeing the highest standards of care and welfare of our pigs. On a unit, with state of the art facilities working on a 5-week batch farrowing to weaning system. Previous experience managing a pig breeding enterprise is essential for this role.
OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:
To be responsible for the management of the Bishop Burton Pig Unit to include physical performance recording, liaison with our customer, line management of one Pig Stockperson, co-ordination and supervisory responsibility for external staff working on the unit for specialist tasks and safe working practices in the pig unit.
The following list of duties and responsibilities is not meant to be exclusive. It should be taken as an indicator of the type and level of activity expected of this post. The list does not represent either priorities or frequency of tasks and should be regularly updated by the post holder in consultation with and agreement of their line manager.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage the 300-sow farrowing unit to achieve the output plan for the unit in line with annually reviewed targets.
- Order and maintain stock levels of feed, veterinary treatments, semen and sundry items to maximise efficiency.
- Line manage one Pig Stockperson to help achieve the unit's
- Manage and review of all Health & Safety Risk Assessments relating to the unit.
- Manage the unit's Red Tractor Assurance status and record all information required for Red Tractor and other pig industry audit standards required by the customer (e.g. Marks and Spencer pig standards), alongside accurate physical performance recording for the customer and farm office.
- Ensure that the welfare of all animals in the pig unit is to the highest standards at all times and that pigs leaving the holding achieve the quality requirements of the customer's specification.
- Attend meetings on a regular basis to review production, animal health, farm policies, health & safety audits, pig industry seminars, conferences, meetings off site to maintain their own professional knowledge and standards.
- Maintain the tidiness of the site and ensure building maintenance is carried out as required.
- Develop and maintain good working relationship with our customer's key staff.
- Promote Bishop Burton College as a centre of excellence in pig husbandry by demonstrating technical excellence in all duties related to pig management, to groups of students and staff, particularly to enthuse students to consider the pig industry as a
- Strive for continual improvement of the pig unit both in terms of physical performance and as a facility to develop the skills and learning of
- Manage weekend & holiday rotas to ensure stock are adequately cared for at all
- Manage the biosecurity of all staff and visitors to comply with pig industry best practice standards.
- Take part in all staff College events.
The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. All staff are in a position of trust and therefore have a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in accordance with the nature of this post. A Disclosure & Barring Service check is carried out for all relevant appointments.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Minimum NVQ Level 3 in Agriculture
Desirable
- NPTC or equivalent Skid Steer Loader Certificate
Experience
Essential
- 2 year's practical or management experience in running a pig unit
Desirable
- Specific experience of running a breeding unit within the above experience
Skills & Special Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to Al, Farrow and undertake piglet management practices
- Able to record data on a recognised pig management system
- Able to Identify, treat and record treatments for pigs in poor health
- Able to sort, load and unload pigs safely
- Able to manage of all records required for Red Tractor and other quality assurance schemes
- Ability to focus on the delivery of Key Performance Indicators (KPl's) for the pig unit
- Ability to deal with unexpected challenges which livestock can throw up along with a calm approach to problem solving
- Ability to organise and provide appropriate cover to care for stock at weekends, holidays etc.
- Able to form & maintain appropriate relationships & personal boundaries with young people
Desirable
- Able to diagnose and euthanize, pigs with untreatable illnesses
- Ability to manage groups of students through practical's, farm duties and talks to enthuse and encourage interest in the pig industry as a career.
- Ability to liaise with academic and other farm staff
- Ability to line manage one member of staff and to co-ordinate with external staff for certain tasks
- Knowledge of Safeguarding Children
Disposition
Essential
- Motivation to work with children and young people
Desirable
- A professional approach to pig farming, being knowledgeable of the major issues in the industry
- A potential mentor for students wishing to enter the pig industry
Other
- Fit for the duties of the post
- DBS check carried out on appointment