PRODUCTION TECH LEAD- BREEDING

Pilgrim; Las Animas, Lamar (CO, CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim in Las Animas, Colorado, is seeking a qualified supervisor to lead swine production operations. This role focuses on safety, welfare, bio-security, and high production standards across a dynamic farm team.

You will oversee daily tasks, mentor staff, manage breeding and care activities, and ensure accurate recording of animal data while coordinating with management for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 4-year college degree or equivalent experience in production.
• Strong communication and listening skills.
• Experience with farm technology (hand held devices, sow monitoring tools).
• Ability to solve problems and make independent decisions.
• Ability to lead a team.
• Team-oriented, self-motivated, and reliable.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Bio-Security and swine production.
• Ability to work weekend as scheduled.
• Physical ability to bend, push, and lift up to 60 lbs and stand most of the day.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to safety, animal welfare and bio-security procedures during production activities.
• Motivate team members to maintain high production standards.
• Serve as liaison between team members and management.
• Evaluate and implement continuous improvement of swine production processes.
• Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets.
• Examine animals to detect illness or injury and obtain treatment as needed.
• Stock supplies of feed and medicines; maintain facilities.
• Assist with breeding functions and record semen results and handling.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Bio-Security

Problem solving

Multitasking

Weekend availability

Education

Bachelors degree in related field

Tools

Farm technology

Job description

• Adhere to and monitor team members during production activities to ensure adherence safety, Animal Welfare and Bio-Security procedures
• Motivate team members to increase production and maintain high production standards
• Serve as liaison between team members and management
• Evaluate and implement continuous improvement of swine production process
• Ability to perform necropsy and collection of tissue sample including PUC sampling
• Examine animals to detect symptoms of illness or injury
• Treat minor injuries and ailments
• Communicate with appropriate management and/or veterinarians to obtain treatment for animals with serious illnesses or injuries
• Stock supplies of feed and medicines
• Ability to understand and implement advanced sow/gilt care and handling (feeding/watering/moving/ventilation)
• Observe animals in heat to detect approach of estrus and exercise animals to induce or hasten estrus, if necessary
• Understanding and ability to conduct advanced breeding functions (artificial insemination, heat check, day-one pig care)
• Select animals to be bred, and semen specimens to be used, according to knowledge of animals, genealogies, traits, and desired offspring characteristics
• Record animal characteristics such as weights, growth patterns, and diets
• Brand, tattoo, or tag animals for animal identification
• Place vaccines in drinking water, inject vaccines, or dust air with vaccine powder to protect animals from diseases
• Exercise animals to keep them in healthy condition
• Adjust controls to maintain specific building temperatures required for animals' health and safety
• Maintain logs of semen specimens used and animals bred
• Inject prepared animal semen into female animals for breeding purposes, by inserting nozzle of syringe into vagina and depressing syringe plunger
• Prepare containers of semen for freezing and storage or shipment, placing them in dry ice or liquid nitrogen
• Package and label semen to be used for artificial insemination, recording information such as the date, source, quality, and concentration
• Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
• Attend safety meetings
• Cleaning and disinfection of facilities, including removal of mortality and waste
• Check feed system and fill lines
• Production/facility housekeeping duties
• Any other tasks assigned by Assistant or Manager

Required Qualifications:

• 4-year college degree in related field or equivalent experience in similar production environment
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Experience with or ability to learn farm technology (computers, hand held devices/wand sows and other equipment, as necessary)
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems and make decisions independently
• Ability to effectively lead a team
• Be a team oriented, self-motivated, and positive individual with strong work ethic
• Ability to efficiently multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Familiarity with Bio-Security and swine production
• Ability to work weekend, as scheduled
• Ability to continually bend, push, grasp, and pull up to 60 lbs
• Continual walking and/or standing, up to 95% of the day
• Reliable method of transportation required
• Ability to work early 1 st shift hours or late 2 nd shift hours