Position Title: Mgr, Farm Ranch

Employee Classification: Mgr,Farm Ranch

College/Division: Agricultural Experiment Station

Department: 317200-FABIAN GARCIA AG SCIENCE CTR

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable): Fabian Garcia Research Center

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate with education and experience

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The Fabian Garcia Research supports greenhouse, orchard, and crop research. The center also contains a botanical garden and turf demonstration plots, open to the public, which are used to screen new plant materials and to teach classes on landscaping, ornamental design, and maintenance.

Classification Summary:
Plans, manages and supervises the farming/ranching and administrative operation of research which is part of an agricultural and/or livestock research center, as appropriate to the position.

Classification Standard Duties:
Supervises two or more employees, or their equivalent, on a regular basis. Makes decisions regarding hiring, evaluation, promotion and termination of employees, or makes related recommendations that are given particular weight. Develops, plans, schedules and monitors work projects and farm activities such as planting, irrigating, harvesting and mixing experimental feed according to formulas. Inspects buildings, machinery and equipment and makes evaluations of repairs and maintenance needed; assigns duties to supervised staff. Coordinates with project leaders to determine their research needs; determines whether request is feasible and, if so, assigns plot of land and allocates staff resources. Develops budget for the upcoming year, estimating cost for operations, travel, wages and capital equipment. Interprets and enforces rules and regulations for the farm operation; meets with farm personnel to provide information concerning rules and regulations. Monitors the maintenance or maintains records of the farm activities such as, crop summaries, crop prices, weather conditions, feeding and care of livestock, personnel information and farm expenses. Purchases and authorizes the purchase of supplies such as herbicides, pesticides, livestock feed and fertilizers. Markets commodities produced on the farm, through approved channels.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Required Education:Bachelor's degree in a related field.; Required Experience:Three (3) years of experience directly related to the standard duties as outlined.; Equivalency:Any equivalent combination of education and experience as approved by HR Services; Required Certification/License:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE:Knowledge of experimental farming including procedures and controls. Knowledge of specified local, state and federal regulations and mandates. Knowledge of shop skills necessary for the maintenance of farm machinery. Knowledge in the management of major farming operations.; SKILLS:Skill in the operation of all farm machinery.; ABILITIES:Ability to effectively communicate.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Oversees, evaluates, and assigns duties to all full and part-time farm laborers and part-time research assistants in research plot activities (plot layout, planting of experimental treatments; weeding, irrigating, insect scouting, soil sampling, plant sampling, weighing, pruning, etc., specific to experimental protocols). Make hiring and termination decisions of field/shop staff. Oversee supervision of all full and part-time farm laborers in general field and shop maintenance (soil prep and crop production; basic servicing and repair of farm equipment, buildings, fences, irrigation system, etc.). Contacts and works with electrical, plumbing, and general contractors. Oversee Investigation, orders, and trouble-shoots/repairs experimental equipment (electronic scales, moisture sensors, soil samplers, data-loggers and associated software, etc.); investigates and orders agricultural and lab chemicals, and general farm equipment and supplies. Inspects all equipment and buildings for safety concerns and general maintenance need. Coordinates and manages field, equipment, and shop resources, etc., to visiting researchers and/or graduate students. Monitors and maps all plot and field activities and applications of materials, including through appropriate mapping software, and send to ACES/AES main campus office annually (now required). Operate farm vehicles such as UTV’s, NMSU trucks, and tractors to haul equipment, debris, etc. around the center grounds.

Preferred Qualifications

5 years of direct experience with farm equipment, farm operations and farm management with supervision of farm laborers.

Special Requirements of the Position
-Valid Driver’s License to be able to obtain an NMSU Driver’s Permit
-To BE OBTAINED WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF HIRE:
--> Public Applicator’s License – Yearly Renewal
--> Certificate “How To Safely Use and Handle Paraquat – Containing Products”

Department Contact:  Rebecca Martinez, 575-646-3125, rbanegas@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Shift: Other Shift

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: May work evenings, weekends, and holidays

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work involves almost constant exposure to unusual elements: i.e. extreme temp, toxic chemicals, biohazardous materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, loud noises, other potentially dangerous materials/situations that require safety precaution/protective equip

Physical Effort: Considerable physical activity. Physical work is a primary part (more than 70%) of the job.

Lifting Requirements: Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects up to 50 pounds.

Risk: Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.