Working/Functional Title
Farm Manager
Position Summary
Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:
- We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
- We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
- We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
- We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
- We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
- We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
- We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
- We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
- Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.
POSITION SUMMARY
Michigan State University (MSU) Extension helps people improve their lives by bringing the vast knowledge resources of MSU directly to individuals, communities, and businesses. For more than 100 years, MSU Extension has helped grow Michigan's economy by equipping Michigan residents with the information they need to do their jobs better, raise healthy and safe families, build their communities, and empower our children to dream of a successful future.
Bowers Farm at Discovery Oaks is a centerpiece of Oakland County Parks' (OCP) Food, Farm, and Managed Landscapes initiative, one of the strategic pillars of Mission 26, OCP's framework for building a connected, equitable, and resilient countywide park system. Mission 26 recognizes parks as essential civic infrastructure that supports public health, environmental stewardship, learning, and community life. The Food, Farm, and Managed Landscapes initiative extends this mission by developing working agricultural landscapes across the OCP system that produces food, sustains ecological health, and creates meaningful learning and community experiences for Oakland County residents.
As part of MSU Extension and the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), the Farm Manager will oversee the daily agricultural operations, educational programming, and community engagement of Bowers Farm at Discovery Oaks , an approximately 84-acre working farm operated through a partnership between Oakland County Parks and Recreation Commission (OCPRC), MSU Extension and Bloomfield Hills Schools. You will serve as the primary on-site agricultural leader, will be responsible for hands-on management of farm production, educational activities, and public engagement that advance the site's mission as an authentic working farm and community resource.
You will manage the full scope of farm operations, including livestock care, crop production, orchard management, greenhouse operations, community gardens, and managed horticultural landscapes, ensuring the farm functions as a productive and educationally aligned working farm. You will develop and carry out seasonal farm production plans that align with the site’s educational mission, program calendar, and operational priorities. Your responsibilities also include overseeing key production systems and resources, including hay production, feed and supply management, and equipment inventories and overseeing the maintenance and safe operation of farm equipment and vehicles, including coordinating repairs, maintaining inventories and service schedules, troubleshooting issues, and training staff on proper use. You will also track purchases, monitor operational needs, and contribute to budget awareness and financial stewardship in coordination with MSU Extension and OCPRC leadership.
In this role, you will also provide first-level supervision of the Livestock Coordinator and will work in close coordination with the OCPRC Park Supervisor and the Facilities and Operations Manager to ensure farm, facilities, and program functions are aligned. You will lead day-to-day operations through collaboration across roles, ensuring production, infrastructure, and programming operate in a coordinated and efficient manner.
As the Farm Manager, you will bring demonstrated agricultural expertise, hands-on farm management ability, and a genuine commitment to public engagement and educational mission in a dynamic, community-centered environment.
The Farm Manager is stationed at Discovery Oaks and works in coordination with the MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center in Novi to support the shared goals of the Food, Farm, and Managed Landscapes initiative across southeast Michigan. This position also contributes to the Oakland County Farmers Market and connects farm production at Discovery Oaks to the broader OCP agricultural network, including Springfield Oaks County Park.
This is an off-dated position funded for one year from the date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal. The position is non-union.
Characteristic Duties/ Responsibilities
- Maintains and cares for the livestock and crops.
- Orders supplies and equipment in order to maintain a working inventory.
- Interviews, hires, supervises, schedules, assigns and evaluates the support staff; resolves grievances and complaints.
- Maintains farm system records and data bases, records data and evaluates production records.
- Conducts tours of farms in order to promote public relations and provide information.
- Repairs and maintains buildings and equipment and fabricates special equipment.
- Prepares animals for scheduled programming.
- Markets crops and animals.
- Plans the farm breeding program and the crop program in order to produce the required feed and animals.
- Manages the extension activities for the farm.
Minimum Requirements
- Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Animal Science or Crop, Soil Science, Agriculture, Facilities Management, Natural Resources, or related field.
- One to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in supervision, daily farm management within all the animal groups and knowledge of crops and farm equipment.
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience operating tractors and agricultural equipment.
- Experience supervising staff or coordinating teams.
- Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability.
Desired Qualifications
- Valid vehicle operator's license where needed to perform duties of the position.
- Experience working on a teaching farm, research farm, or public agricultural site.
- Pest applicator certification. If candidate does not possess certification, professional development will be provided through MSU Extension to pursue this certification.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Demonstrated skills and professional development from the last five years related to cultural competency and inclusive excellence.
- Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
- Understand and support the Community, Food and Environment Institute’s efforts in culture, access, and belonging, with a special emphasis on reaching populations representative of the communities we serve, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status, socio-economic class and other human differences.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with students, faculty, regulators, and industry partners.
- Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and varied economic backgrounds and perspectives of the target population served.
- Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
- Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently in an office or plant environment without daily supervision and/or coaching.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Work Hours
Generally 40 hours Monday through Friday, with some nights and weekends needed.
Description of End Date
This is an off-dated position funded for one year from the date of hire with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.
Website
https://youtu.be/R58m2-um5Mg?si=Qra8RMsP
Summary of Physical Demands
Mildly disagreeable working conditions involving exposure to adverse weather conditions. The job requires heavy physical exertion and involves handling animals and lifting and moving equipment, hay and harvested crops of over 75 pounds up to 25% of the time.
