Job Description

Salary: Depends on Qualifications

Location : Sewanee, TN

Job Type: Staff Full-Time

Job Number: 202100380

Division: Vice Provost's Division

Department: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability

Opening Date: 06/20/2024

Position Overview

Primary Function:

The University Farm Assistant Manager supports a co-curricular farm program that enhances academic learning, enables student research projects, provides career experience and training, fosters wellness, and directs outreach into the surrounding community.

This position guides and trains students and volunteers in the processes of regenerative agriculture. This position mentors students' understanding of the role that crops, livestock, and food processing play as a supporting pillar of civilization. It includes reviewing the schedule and mentoring small crews of students and visitors while ensuring their safety and training in daily farm tasks; it assigns overflow volunteers. This position identifies needed repairs to infrastructure and equipment and performs these projects independently. This position is responsible for composting operations and for the organization and maintenance of equipment and tools. This position includes public contact several times a year and represents the University during visitor events at the farm.

Performance of the essential duties of this position is dependent upon independent ingenuity and developmental efforts.

Position Appointment Details:

• Career Band: NE10
• Hourly position
• Full-Time

Position Description

Typical Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Mentors and trains student and visitor crews, giving feedback to achieve learning objectives and safety, including food safety standards.
   
2. Schedules student workers and volunteers.
   
3. Independently responsible for the organization of equipment and tools.
   
4. Independently responsible for all aspects of composting.
   
5. Undertakes a full range of infrastructure design and repair and mentors students during the project management and construction of irrigation zones, fences, small sheds, greenhouses, and other typical farm structures. Estimates materials, supplies, and timelines for infrastructure projects.
   
6. Operates tractors and implements, vehicles, mowers, tillers, and chainsaws. Initiates routine maintenance and keeps logs for equipment and infrastructure. Trains students and records which of them is certified for each kind of equipment.
   
7. Assists with crop, animal, and honey production.
   
8. Uses cloud-based programs for communication and record keeping.
   
9. Other duties as assigned.

Judgment Required: Judgment and discretion as to the use of established policies are required to perform the essential duties of this position.
Machines & Equipment Used:

• Tractor and 3-point hitch implements,
  
• Truck and trailer,
  
• Tiller,
  
• Mower,
  
• Chain saw,
  
• String trimmer,
  
• Garden hand tools and,
  
• Carpentry power tools

Budgetary Responsibility:

Monitors expenditures against budget; prepares budget data for review/approval by supervisor/department head.

Personal Interaction/Communication:

• Student Contact: Daily
• Internal: Once a month
• External: Visitors and suppliers: once a week

Attributes of a Successful Candidate

Education:

• High School Diploma or GRE required.

Preferred:

• B.S. or Associate degree in biology, horticulture, or a related field, or technical certification in construction, welding, or mechanics or,
  
• 5+ years of experience in horticulture or farming.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience with crop planting, cultivation, harvest, and post-harvest processing.
  
• Broad experience with operation and maintenance of heavy equipment and implements used in agriculture and construction.
  
• Demonstrated competence with hand and power tools, and the construction of sheds, greenhouses, gates, etc.
  
• Experience with irrigation design and installation.
  
• History of leadership, mentoring position, or instructor in a social group setting such as a church, camp, school, 4-H, scouts, junior ranger, riding club, etc.

Job-Related Skills:

Demonstrated oral and written communication skills to deal effectively with a diverse clientele. Familiar with smartphone technology and Google Docs, sheets, calendars, and drive.

Licenses & Certifications:

• Valid Driver's license.
  
• Has or can obtain a Grower Training certificate from the Produce Safety Alliance.

Supplemental Information

Confidential Information:

This position signs community service forms.

Working Environment:

Must be able to wear an approved personal protective equipment in accordance with University policies

The farm is a startup operation with fast-paced changes in work routines and infrastructure. A high level of flexibility, curiosity, and drive are needed. The assistant farm manager will work a flexible schedule in response to the needs of animals and crops and work schedules are often driven by weather events. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required and there will also be on-call during some off hours. A typical workweek is 40 hours. This position is physically active in all kinds of weather.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time
• Must be able to walk for extended periods of time
• Must be able to climb (many stairs, ladders)
• Must be able to crawl and or kneel
• Must be able to push and/or pull objects
• Must be able to navigate steep and rough terrain
• Must be able to use feet for repetitive tasks
• Must be able to use hands for repetitive tasks
• Must be able to lift between 51-100 pounds (Heavy work)
• Must be able to carry between 51-100 pounds (Heavy work)

Any additional requirements specific to this position:

The University of the South, commonly known as Sewanee, comprises a nationally ranked residential College of Arts and Sciences and a School of Theology. The University is strongly committed to the values of intellectual inquiry, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and living and serving in community. Situated on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is known for its stunning natural beauty while providing easy access to Chattanooga, Nashville, and Huntsville. The University is affiliated with the Episcopal Church and seeks to help employees of all backgrounds and identities flourish.
If you have questions about a position, the University application process, or if you are a person with a disability and would like to request an accommodation in the application and interview process please contact Human Resources at 931.598.1381 or email us at hr@sewanee.edu.

DEI Institutional Statement:

At the University of the South, our commitment to inclusion and belonging is grounded in our core values of community, courage, flourishing, and inquiry. We seek to build a community enriched by our diversity and centered on equity, justice, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The University of the South is an equal-opportunity educational institution that is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive campus environment.

Job Tags

Hourly pay, Full time, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,

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