What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Welfare Specialist position at Farmer Focus?
Who We Are and What We Do
Farmer Focus’s mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals. Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship.
How this Role Will Be Impactful
The Animal Welfare Specialist will work with our farmers in Virginia and West Virginia. The position will play a crucial role in assessing, maintaining, and improving animal welfare standards across poultry operations. This position requires a deep understanding of the poultry industry, strong auditing skills, and a passion for animal welfare. The position will work closely with our farm partners and growers to ensure compliance with animal welfare regulations and promote best practices in the field.
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Conduct On-Site Inspections and Audits:
- Perform a minimum of three farm visits per week with the balance of time spent in the plant and preparing reports.
- Perform thorough, systematic audits of poultry facilities to assess compliance with animal welfare standards and regulations.
- Evaluate various aspects of poultry operations, including housing conditions, ventilation systems, lighting, and stocking densities.
- Assess biosecurity measures and their effectiveness in maintaining animal health and welfare.
- Formulate Corrective Action Plans to address findings of non-conformances discovered in audits
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Evaluate Animal Care Practices:
- Review and assess animal housing, feeding, and watering systems to ensure they meet or exceed industry standards.
- Evaluate health management practices, including vaccination programs, disease prevention measures, and veterinary care protocols.
- Assess handling practices during various stages of production, including catching, transport, and processing.
- Ensure the humane treatment of animals while contributing to the overall quality and sustainability of operations.
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Document and Report Findings:
- Prepare detailed, accurate, and objective audit reports outlining observations, non-conformances, and areas for improvement.
- Develop comprehensive recommendations for addressing identified issues and enhancing animal welfare practices.
- Maintain meticulous records of all audits, follow-up actions, and improvements implemented.
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Collaborate with Industry Stakeholders:
- Work closely with growers, processors, and industry partners to promote and implement animal welfare initiatives.
- Provide guidance and support to help facilities achieve and maintain compliance with animal welfare standards.
- Conduct training sessions and workshops to educate staff on animal welfare best practices and regulatory requirements.
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Stay Current with Industry Developments:
- Continuously monitor and stay informed about the latest animal welfare regulations, guidelines, and emerging best practices in the poultry industry.
- Attend relevant conferences, workshops, and training sessions to enhance knowledge and skills in animal welfare auditing.
- Contribute to the development and refinement of internal auditing protocols and standards.
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Promote a Culture of Animal Welfare:
- Act as an advocate for animal welfare within the organization.
What You Bring to the Role
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Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum 3-5 years of experience in the protein industry, with a specific focus on poultry operations.
- Demonstrated knowledge of animal welfare standards, regulations, and best practices in the poultry industry.
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Skills and Competencies:
- Strong auditing, inspection, and reporting skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficiency in using computer software for data analysis and report writing.
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Certifications and Training:
- Relevant certifications in animal welfare auditing or inspection (e.g., Professional Animal Specialist Certification Organization - PAACO).
- Training or certification in HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles.
- Reliable transportation to conduct work-related business in the Shenandoah Valley and parts of West Virginia.
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Personal Attributes:
- Strong ethical standards and a genuine commitment to animal welfare.
- Ability to maintain objectivity and professionalism in challenging situations.
- Demonstrated customer services skills, ability to relate effectively and tactfully with all levels of the organization as well as with our farm partners.
- A willingness to work within the framework of our Farmer Focus CARES values of Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship
Work Environment and Reasonable Accommodations Statement
Work is conducted both on-site at our Harrisonburg, VA facilities and in the field at grower farms in Virginia and West Virginia. Position is required to travel extensively (up to 70% of the time) to conduct on-site audits.
The position is required to access to the production environment or farms. Must be able to tolerate the varying heat, wet, and chill of the plant. Hearing and eye-protective equipment required in the production area. Required to wear hair and beard nets in the production area.
Must be able to traverse a two-story staircase multiple times per day. Must be able to tolerate outdoor environment with varying temperatures, walking on uneven surfaces and exposure to live animals.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Farmer Focus is committed to the principles of equal employment and to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is inclusive and equitable, free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based upon an individual's age, race (including traits historically associated with race, which includes hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), military status (including status as a uniformed servicemember, a veteran, or dependent of a servicemember), or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Farmer Focus is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
