Farm Manager (EH-11460)

Kansas Ag Connection; Kansas; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas Ag Connection is seeking a Working Farm Manager for a large Kansas farming operation. The role combines management oversight with hands-on field work to maximize production, quality, efficiency, and profitability.

You will lead a farm crew, plan cropping activities, manage inputs and equipment, and report to absentee ownership about budgets, opportunities, and risks. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in farm management within a crop operation, strong leadership and communication skills,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of farm management experience in a larger crop operation.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills are required.
• Experience managing an extended team preferred.
• Solid understanding of crop production and field operations from planting to harvest.
• Ability to manage budgets, safety, and personnel within an absentee-owner framework.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on leadership and supervise farm employees.
• Coordinate crop production activities: field prep, planting, fertility, chemical application, irrigation, harvest.
• Remain actively involved in field operations and operate equipment when needed.
• Utilize precision-agriculture tools to improve efficiency and decision-making.
• Direct procurement of inputs and manage annual operating budgets.
• Communicate regularly with ownership about production status, budgets, opportunities, and risks.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise farm staff while maintaining a positive team environment.
• Oversee equipment, facilities, and preventive maintenance.
• Collaborate with vendors, agronomists, and contractors on larger projects.
• Lead safety programs and maintain strong relationships with local agricultural community.

Skills

Crop production

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Operational planning

Financial management

HR management

Problem solving

Entrepreneurial spirit

Collaborative working style

Senior management experience

Hands-on field work

Sprayer operation

Education

BS Agronomy

BS Business

MBA

Tools

Sprayer operation

Equipment maintenance

Job description

**QUALIFICATIONS:** - BS Agronomy, Business, MBA or related fields preferred - 5+ years of experience in a senior management role within a comparable structure or operation - Experience managing an extended team is preferred - Demonstrated expertise in Crop Production - Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills - Excellent interpersonal skills - Ability to professionally represent the farm in business and environmental areas - Demonstrated understanding of operational planning, and financial and human resource management - Excellent judgement and problem-solving skills - An entrepreneurial spirit and collaborative working style **JOB DESCRIPTION:** Hansen Agri-PLACEMENT is representing a large, progressive, and rapidly growing Kansas farming operation in their search for an experienced **Working Farm Manager** for an absentee owner. This is a true management position; however, the successful candidate must also be a hands-on agricultural professional who is willing and able to step into the field and assist with farm operations when needed. The Farm Manager will oversee day-to-day crop production and farm operations with a primary focus on maximizing production, quality, efficiency, and profitability. This individual will lead and supervise the farm crew, coordinate cropping activities, manage equipment and agricultural inputs, and maintain regular communication with ownership regarding production, budgets, opportunities, challenges, and future growth. **This employer is not looking for strictly an equipment operator, nor are they looking for a manager who only wants to manage from the office.** The right individual will be a working manager who understands what is happening in the field, can lead by example, and is willing to jump into a tractor, sprayer, or other piece of equipment when necessary to keep the operation moving. The Farm Manager does not need to be the primary operator on a daily basis, but must have the experience and willingness to fill in wherever needed, including operating a sprayer. The Farm Manager will utilize strong crop production knowledge and sound agricultural and land-management practices to direct the farming operation and meet established production, environmental, and financial goals. This individual will also provide consultation and support to additional farming activities and business interests, which may include row-crop production, sales, marketing, real estate, and future expansion.**ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:**• Provide hands-on leadership and effectively lead, motivate, and supervise full- and part-time farm employees.• Coordinate and implement all phases of crop production, including field preparation, planting, fertility, chemical application, crop protection, irrigation where applicable, harvest, and post-harvest activities.• Remain actively involved in field operations and be willing and capable of operating farm equipment, including a sprayer, when workloads, staffing, or field conditions require additional help.• Utilize and understand modern precision-agriculture technology and equipment to improve production efficiency and decision-making.• Coordinate crop-management activities and prepare the operation for continued growth in accordance with the Farm Business Plan.• Monitor crop conditions and the effectiveness of implemented production and management strategies to ensure operational and financial goals are being achieved.• Communicate regularly with the absentee owner regarding daily farm activities, crop conditions, personnel, progress toward goals, budgets, opportunities, concerns, and potential risks.• Assist with recruiting, hiring, training, scheduling, and supervising farm employees while addressing personnel issues and maintaining a positive team environment.• Lead by example and work alongside employees when necessary. The successful manager must be a team player who can earn the respect of the crew while holding employees accountable and getting the best from the people they supervise.• Oversee farm equipment, infrastructure, tools, and facilities to ensure they are properly maintained and in good working condition. Coordinate repairs and preventative maintenance as necessary.• Manage and assist with purchasing equipment, fertilizer, chemicals, seed, fuel, parts, supplies, and other agricultural inputs while carefully tracking expenses and managing the annual operating budget.• Work with vendors, agronomists, suppliers, contractors, and other outside professionals as necessary.• Coordinate with contractors on larger projects involving buildings, irrigation installation and repair, wells, housing improvements, and other farm infrastructure.• Implement and enforce company safety policies and sound agricultural safety practices throughout the operation.• Maintain strong relationships with landowners, neighbors, vendors, customers, contractors, and others within the local agricultural community.• Assist with additional responsibilities and special projects as required by ownership.The ideal candidate will have **5+ years of farm management, assistant management, foreman, or lead experience with a larger-scale crop farming operation**. Candidates who have not held the formal title of Farm Manager will be considered if they have demonstrated significant leadership responsibilities and are ready to take the next step in their career. Strong row-crop production experience from planting through harvest is required. Candidates should have a solid understanding of equipment, precision-ag technology, fertility programs, chemical applications, crop inputs, equipment maintenance, and overall production agriculture. **Sprayer experience is strongly preferred**, as this individual must be capable of stepping in and operating the sprayer when needed. The successful candidate must be an excellent communicator, highly organized, financially responsible, and capable of balancing management responsibilities with the hands-on demands of a large farming operation. This person needs to be comfortable making decisions, solving problems, communicating with an absentee owner, and leading a crew while still being willing to get their hands dirty when the job requires it. This is a **family-friendly farming operation experiencing significant growth**, creating an excellent opportunity for an experienced agricultural professional who enjoys both the management and production sides of farming and is looking for a long-term position with considerable responsibility and opportunity.