Assistant Farmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Hormel Foods - Inspired People. Inspired Food.
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement - Inspired People. Inspired Food. - to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit hormelfoods.com.Assistant Farm Manager

Full Time - Salaried

• Applicants must not now, or at any time in the future, require employer sponsorship for a work visa.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. 
• Must be 18 years of age or older (all plant positions) 

At Hormel Foods, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range.  The base hiring pay range for this role is between $48,640.80 - $62,900 per year, and your actual base pay within that range will depend upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, skill set, level of experience, and geographic market location.

Purpose of Position: 

Assist Farm Manager in maximizing Grow Out Farm productivity and profit by planning, organizing, directing, and controlling activities in assigned Brood or Grow Facility that meet and/or exceed customer specifications.

Assisting Farm Manager to document plans and programs; help accomplish positive employee morale and retention of employees; involvement in and implement training; help maintain volume, costs, and quality of product and supplies; help promote safety and document safety issues; comply with all company policies and procedures

Principle Accountabilities

• Effectively support the implementation of principles and philosophies expressed in company documents (i.e. Team Charter, Commitment, Managing Principles, and Total Customer Satisfaction, etc.) within your assigned farm departments.
• Assist with the training of all employees working at your assigned brood/grow farm in direct communication with your Area Production Supervisor and within guidelines set forth by company policies.
• Assist in the responsibilities for the management of flocks within your assigned brood/grow farm in direct communication with your Farm Manager and within the guidelines set forth by the Department Production guide to achieve optimum poult and turkey performance.
• Assist with the planning and directing of farm work within your assigned brood/grow farm on a regularly scheduled basis within perimeters set forth by corporate and division policies.  This includes but is not limited to maintaining accurate livability records, individual flock records, monthly checklists, bird handling, timecards and attendance calendars.
• Manage and monitor the environmental conditions of the farm's flocks, seeing that all details necessary for maximizing performance are carried out on a consistent basis.
• Review with Farm Manager any issues that are occurring and work together to come up with solutions to maintain healthy and comfortable flocks.
• Know, understand and enforce all sanitation and biosecurity procedures as set forth by Jennie-O Company Live Production policy, along with Company policies, rules and procedures.
• Responsible to see that your assigned brood/grow farm and working area is kept maintained in a neat and orderly condition.
• Assist Farm Manager to ensure that feed is scheduled and ordered in a timely manner following guidelines and procedures set in place by feed mill.
• Assist Farm Manager to ensure company safety audits are completed with results meeting or exceeding Company standards.
• Assist Farm Manager to ensure the implementation of preventative maintenance and repairs for facility, equipment and vehicles within your assigned brood/grow farm.
• Utilize Brood/Grow Manual and share new ideas and procedures for updating with Farm Manager and Area Production Supervisor that enhance quality and livability.
• Review Emergency situations with Farm Manager and employees annually and review emergency procedures for fire, standby power, emergency weather, etc.
•  Ensure farms and supporting personnel are performing their jobs in such a way that they are continually providing their customers with products/services that meet or exceed expectations.
• Ensure compliance with all appropriate Company policies, procedures, and programs.
• Ensure that all farm/flock inputs and outputs are fully accounted for in an accurate and timely manner.
• Have a thorough understanding of all technical fundamentals necessary to support turkey brooding and growing operations.
• Maintain our standard environmental requirements that have been determined necessary to maximize all advantages to show the turkeys full potential in your facility.  Responsible for the efficient usage of shavings, electricity, L.P. Gas, medications, feed, etc.
• Assist the Farm Manager with developing profit plans and capital expenditure plans on an annual basis, while being knowledgeable of resources needed for performance and setting objectives for improvement.
• Ensure that all jobs necessary for proper performance of flocks are conducted - this includes, but limited to, poult placement, bird transfers, environmental sampling, and other farm activities.
• Perform vaccination activities including manufacturing and administration of vaccines per Staff Veterinarian.
• Be involved in department activities and problem solving through regular attendance of employee meetings..
• Ensure that turkey handling and care is done in accordance with established animal welfare guidelines.
• Fully knowledgeable of all Grow Out operating procedures and specifications.
• Fully knowledgeable of all Basic Production sanitation procedures and policies.
• Fully knowledgeable of all Basic Production personnel policies and benefit programs.
• Individual is available as needed on a 24 hour, 7 day per week schedule.  Work assigned weekends and assigned holidays.

Minimum Qualification:

• Good work history - stability with previous employment or internal position (1 year minimum).

• Performance results - must have met expectations with previous employer, and/or Jennie-O Turkey Store (internal candidate) in the following:

  • Attendance and Dependability
  • Performance:  Quantity and Quality
  • Behavior and Cooperation

• Individual must have a valid driver license with good vehicle operating records.

• Must be in good physical condition (able to wear eye and respiratory, and any/all safety protection for extended periods of time).

• Individual must occasionally to frequently be able to twist, stoop, bend, squat, lift, and carry at least 50 pounds.

• Willing to work 7 days/week up to 2 weeks at a time.

• Good math ability to perform farm inventory and other record keeping tasks.

• Good mechanical aptitude and ability to use hand tools to perform minor repairs and maintenance activities.

• Must possess the ability to work effectively and efficiently without supervision.

Preferred qualifications:

• Four years of experience in the field of poultry with responsibilities and standard performance results (preferably turkeys).

• High school diploma or equivalent.

What you will receive:

• Competitive pay with pay increases
• You will be trained on all equipment and procedures to prepare you for your role
• Extraordinary benefit package including medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage. Eligible for health care plans after 30 days of employment!
• Life & disability insurance, PTO, paid holidays, 401K, pension, stock purchase plan.
• Continuing education and FREE two-year community/technical college tuition for children of employees and much more.
• Advancement opportunities
• Employment with a solid employer - People stay here for the great employee experience and the long-term opportunities available.

Hormel Foods provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.