Campus Farm Program Coordinator

UME Agriculture and Food Systems (AgFS)

Campus (IL)

On-site

USD 52,000 - 62,000

Full time

10 days ago

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Job summary

University of Maryland, College Park is seeking a Program Coordinator to manage the Campus Farm, ensure high‑quality animal care, and support teaching and outreach. The role includes supervising staff, coordinating lab schedules, and maintaining health records for multiple animal species.

Responsibilities cover facility maintenance, resource planning, compliance with IACUC protocols, and collaboration with faculty and farm managers to support courses and research activities.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required. One year of agricultural, animal handling, animal feeding and general animal care experience.
Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
Knowledge of animal handling, feeding and general care; strong communication skills and comfort with MS Office.

Responsibilities

Provide operational leadership of the Campus Farm; plan, organize, coordinate and evaluate daily operations supporting teaching, research and outreach.
Exercise independent judgment in prioritizing work and allocating resources with minimal supervision.
Supervise staff and student labor; recruit and onboard personnel as appropriate.
Ensure compliance with university policies, IACUC protocols, safety standards and farm SOPs; maintain animal health records.
Coordinate animal availability, laboratory logistics and instructional schedules with faculty; facilitate laboratory instruction.
Engage with faculty, students, farm managers and external visitors as the main operational liaison.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Policy interpretation

Multitask / time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Farm equipment

Job description

Job Description Summary

This position is a 12-month staff vacancy with responsibilities that include the overall management of the animals, facilities, and equipment on the Campus Farm. In addition, the Program Coordinator will provide high-quality animal care to animals located on the department’s Campus Farm, ensure animal availability for various classes, and assist with laboratory instruction and coordination. The Program Coordinator must also supervise an Assistant Coordinator, staff and student farm labor; maintain communication and working relationships with other UMCP farm facilities, locations, managers, and AGNR faculty and staff; handle routine repair and maintenance of facilities, farm equipment, and vehicles; maintain accurate animal health records, as well as farm SOPs per IACUC teaching and use protocols; and finally, facilitate the instruction of courses or animal laboratory sections as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Experience: One (1) year of agricultural, animal handling, animal feeding, and general animal care experience. Other: Additional work experience as defined above may be substituted on a year for year basis for up to four (4) years of the required education. Knowledge of animal handling, feeding and general care. Knowledge of farm equipment. Skill in oral and written communication. Skill in the use of Microsoft Office products. Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws. Ability to multitask while demonstrating a commitment to customer service and sensitivity to a culturally and ethnically diverse community.

Additional Job Details

Program Administration: Provide overall operational leadership of the Campus Farm; plan, organize, coordinate and evaluate daily operations supporting teaching, research and outreach. (20%)

Independent Judgement: Exercise independent judgment in prioritizing work, allocating resources, coordinating competing instructional needs, and resolving operational issues with minimal supervision. This includes overall responsibility for the animals, facilities, and equipment on the Campus Farm, while working closely with department students, staff, and faculty. (15%)

Personnel Leadership: Assign work, provide day-to-day supervision, train, coach, evaluate performance, and participate in recruitment and onboarding of staff (Ag Worker II & Coordinator, Technical Research Operations) and student employees, as appropriate. This includes student clubs and organizations that use the Campus Farm facilities and animals (primarily the UM Equestrian Club and Block and Bridle Club). (15%)

Compliance and Animal Care: Ensure compliance with university policies, IACUC protocols, safety standards, farm SOPS, accurate animal health records, and applicable regulatory requirements; identify and implement corrective actions where needed. This includes providing high-quality animal care to animals located on the campus farm: a small and highly visible instructional and research facility adjacent to the Animal Sciences building on the College Park campus. The facility permanently houses 4-6 horses, a small (20 ewe) breeding flock of sheep, and 6-20 dairy goats to support the undergraduate teaching program. Other animal species, including beef, dairy cattle, swine, and poultry, are housed temporarily as dictated by the instructional and research needs of the department). (25%)

Instructional Coordination: Coordinate animal availability, laboratory logistics, and instructional schedules in collaboration with faculty; independently facilitate laboratory instruction as assigned. (10%)

Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary operational liaison with faculty, researchers, students, University farm managers, and external visitors - acting as a public representative for the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and offering public tours to local student educational groups and campus visitors. The program coordinator also maintains communication and working relationships with other UMCP farm facilities, locations, managers, and AGNR faculty and staff. (5%)

Budget & Resources: Monitor operational supply needs, recommend purchases and equipment replacement priorities, and coordinate resource utilization. This includes storage/inventory oversight and managing the routine repair and maintenance of facilities, farm equipment, and vehicles. (10%)

Preferred Qualifications

A master’s degree in animal sciences is preferred. In addition, previous supervisory experience is highly preferred.

Physical Demands Of The Position

Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds on a regular basis.

This position requires the employee to work outdoors often. Job duties may occur during very hot, cold, or inclement weather. The working environment may contain allergens (e.g., animal dander, dust, mold, and grass).

Best Consideration Date

08/05/2026

Posting Close Date

N/A

Open Until Filled

Yes

Job Risks

Animal Handling

Financial Disclosure Required

Department

AGNR-Animal & Avian Sciences

Worker Sub-Type

Staff Regular

Salary Range

$51942.00 - $62330.40

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Exempt benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

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