Director of Farm Enterprises

Berea-College; Berea (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Berea College seeks a Director of Farm Enterprises to provide strategic and administrative leadership for the Farm Store, Livestock and Horticulture Operations. The role ensures educational integration with the ANR curriculum, supervises staff, and guides long-range planning and financial performance.

The Director will partner with college leadership, advance sustainable Appalachian agriculture, and serve as the College's primary advocate for Farm Enterprises with external stakeholders and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or similar.
• Minimum 5-7 years in diversified farm management experience including supervision.
• 3+ years supervising across multiple agricultural or business functions.
• Strong leadership, budgeting, financial management, and regulatory compliance skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and operational oversight for Livestock & Horticulture Operations and Farm Store.
• Supervise professional staff and conduct annual performance evaluations.
• Ensure farm practices align with ANR curriculum and educational mission.
• Oversee budgeting, revenues, expenditures, and financial performance.
• Lead external relations, marketing, and representation of Farm Enterprises.
• Support work-learning and student development within Berea College's Work College Program.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Strategic planning

Staff supervision

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or related field

Job description

Reporting directly to the Provost, the Director of Farm Enterprises provides strategic and administrative leadership for Berea College's Farm Enterprises, encompassing the Livestock & Horticulture Operations, and Farm Store. The Director provides overall direction for these areas and supervises the professional staff responsible for their day-to-day operations. In partnership with ANR faculty, the Director ensures Farm Enterprises support the College's academic mission and provide meaningful educational and labor experiences for students. The Director is responsible for the overall financial performance, operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and long-range planning of Farm Enterprises. The position establishes priorities and coordinates resources across the three areas to support sustainable agricultural practices and the educational and financial objectives of the College. The Director also serves as a key innovator and the primary representative and advocate for Farm Enterprises with College leadership, campus partners, and external stakeholders moving the College Farm forward and ensuring its longstanding role in the community.

Following long-standing tradition and practice at Berea College, this position includes responsibility for supervising, mentoring, and developing students in the College's integrated Work College Program. This supports student learning, career readiness, and the program's learning goals and outcomes. The Work College Program provides a developmental framework that guides student learning while creating a structured mentorship opportunity, with role-specific training that equips faculty and staff mentors to support student development. Faculty and staff mentors play an essential part in helping students connect their work-learning-service experiences with broader academic, professional, and personal development. For faculty, this aligns with Berea's tenure and promotion criteria.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Regular and predictable attendance is essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Farm Operations, Educational Integration & Program Management (45% of the time):
  • Provide overall leadership and operational oversight for the Livestock & Horticulture Operations, and Farm Store, establishing priorities and ensuring coordination across Farm Enterprises.
  • Supervise professional staff responsible for Farm Enterprise operations, including establishing expectations and conducting annual performance evaluations.
  • Ensure farm management practices support ANR curriculum and the College's educational mission, particularly in the areas of the environmental stewardship, economic viability, social responsibility, and animal welfare.
  • Lead regular staff meetings to establish priorities, coordinate activities, address operational needs, and maintain effective communication among Farm Enterprises staff and ANR faculty.
  • Lead hiring processes for Farm Enterprise staff positions and work with Human Resources to maintain appropriate position descriptions and coordinate recruitment, interviewing, and hiring.
  • Collaboration with Farm Enterprise staff and ANR faculty to develop and implement long-range plans that strengthen the Farm's educational mission, operational effectiveness, and role as a model of sustainable Appalachian agriculture.
• Financial Management & Administrative Oversight (25% of the time)
  • Develop and oversee the operating budget for Farm Enterprises, working with managers and staff to monitor revenues, expenditures, and overall financial performance.
  • Establish financial resource priorities across the Livestock & Horticulture Operations, and Farm Store to support the educational and operational objectives of Farm Enterprises.
  • Review and approve Farm Enterprise expenses to ensure appropriate allocation, alignment with approved budgets, and responsible stewardship of College resources.
  • Advise the Provost regarding significant financial, operational, equipment, infrastructure, and other resource needs affecting Farm Enterprises.
• Institutional & External Relations & Strategic Leadership (15% of the time):
  • Advise the Provost on Farm Enterprise operations, strategic priorities, opportunities, and challenges.
  • Provide leadership for the marketing and public representation of Farm Enterprises and its products in collaboration with appropriate College offices and Farm Enterprise staff.
  • Serve as the primary representative of Farm Enterprises with prospective students, donors, agricultural professionals, peer institutions, customers, community partners, and other visitors.
  • Coordinate and support Farm Enterprise tours, field days, summer courses, and other educational or community events.
  • Serve as the spokesperson for Farm Enterprises as appropriate and represent its interests within the College and broader community.
• Advancement, Relations, Community Engagement (10% of the time):
  • Partner with Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy to identify and support grants, fundraising, donor engagement, and other opportunities that strengthen student learning, Farm Enterprise operations, and infrastructure.
  • Support communications and outreach efforts that promote Farm Enterprises, its educational mission, products,programs, and community engagement.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with agricultural organizations, community partners, alumni donors, and other stakeholders that support the long-term success and visibility of Farm Enterprises.
• Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management (5% of the time):
  • Maintain overall accountability for Farm Enterprises' compliance with applicable College policies and external regulatory requirements, including requirements of the Internal Auditor, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Madison County Health Department, and other applicable agencies.
  • Ensure Farm Enterprise managers maintain appropriate operational records, certifications, safety practices, and compliance procedures within their respective areas.
  • Identify and address significant operational, regulatory, safety, and compliance risks affecting Farm Enterprises.

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for al staff, faculty and students.

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Agribusiness Management, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management or similar

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Minimum 5-7 years' experience in diversified farm management experience, including pasture-based livestock (cattle, hogs & poultry), organic crops and produce production including supervision and personnel management, required.
• 3+ years' experience providing supervision across multiple agricultural or business functions, preferably including pasture-based livestock, organic crop and product production, horticulture, retail or direct-market operations,or other diversified agricultural enterprises.

Special Skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to supervise, develop, and evaluate professional staff
• Demonstrated leadership ability and capacity to provide strategic direction and administrative oversight across multiple operational areas.
• Strong knowledge of diversified agricultural operations and familiarity with sustainable agriculture, livestock and crop production, horticulture, agricultural markets, and contemporary food and agriculture trends.
• Knowledge of regulatory, safety, risk-management, animal welfare, environmental-stewardship, and other compliance considerations associated with diversified agricultural enterprises.
• Demonstrated experience with budget-development, financial management, operational planning, and resource allocation.
• Excellent oral/written communication and superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Strong organizational skills, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex operations.
• Significant experience in program planning, coordination, and evaluation. Demonstrated aptitude for analyzing data and applying findings to direct the program, set goals, and make program projections.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver's license
• Required background checks

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds
• Ability to travel independently by car and/or plane
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.

Environmental Conditions:

• Farm conditions with exposure to odor, dust, pollen, mold, animals, invertebrate pets, manure, adverse environmental conditions, and inclement weather (heat, humidity, cold, rain, ice, snow)
• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty
• Occasional travel required for meetings, conferences, etc.
• Limited activity within walk-in freezers and refrigerators

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
• College Vans, truck and trailer combinations, including bumper pull and gooseneck containing livestock, livestock products, equipment, or supplies.
• Tractors, cultivation, planting, harvesting, mowing, feed grinding, and other equipment typically used on a farm