Position Overview

Shepherds Brook Farms (SBF) is seeking an experienced Farm Manager for our diversified livestock enterprises currently in production across 1000+ acres in Vermont's Upper Valley region.  This position requires a versatile agricultural professional who can manage multiple interconnected operations including rotational grazing and feedlot beef finishing, cow-calf production, pasture and cropland management, and commercial sheep/lamb enterprises.  The ideal candidate will coordinate operations across all SBF farm properties (each with unique production goals and management systems) while maintaining efficiency, profitability, and animal welfare standards for the broader organization.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Manage multi-site farm operations

• Develop and implement integrated farm operational plans and standard operating procedures
• Balance allocation of equipment, labor, and supplies between properties/operations
• Maintain farm infrastructure, facilities, and pastures to highest professional standards
• Coordinate livestock movements and transfers between properties
• Manage farm level data collection to support management decision making

2. Manage livestock enterprises

• Manage complete sheep production cycle from breeding through market-ready lamb
• Manage cow-calf operations including breeding, calving, calf health and weaning, yearling development, brood cow maintenance, and transfer of feeders to finishing 
• Implement comprehensive health and vaccination protocols across all species and production systems
• Manage annual forage production optimized for both sheep and cattle

3. Farm business development

• Participate in hiring, training, and supervising farm staff
• Support management in development of farm budgets, reports, and forecasts
• Manage inventory of livestock supplies, feed, and agricultural inputs
• Organize and execute timely on-farm equipment and machinery maintenance
• Support development and execution of marketing strategy

Skills and Qualifications

1. Essential Experience

• Minimum 3-5 years experience in livestock operations management
• Minimum 3 years hands-on experience with commercial sheep/lamb production 
• Proven track record of efficiently and responsibly running a diversified operation

2. Technical Skills & Physical Requirements 

• Ability to operate and oversee maintenance of tractors, light machinery, and various other farm equipment
• Ability to support animal health programs, including administering vaccines, assessing individual animal health and performance, supporting low-stress animal handling, and maintaining internal SBF veterinary care records
• Ability to work across multiple farm sites daily - valid driver’s license essential
• Physical capability to handle cattle and sheep, willingness to work outside in adverse weather conditions 
• Willingness to work extended hours during lambing and calving seasons, including responding to farm emergencies at any location
• Ensure adherence to with agricultural workplace safety standards and farm environmental compliance regulations

3. Personal Attributes & Intangibles

• Excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple production systems simultaneously
• Detail-oriented with ability to track multiple concurrent operations
• Eager to learn and apply leading technologies and animal management techniques