Manager, WKU Dairy Farm

Job Description

The Dairy Manager will oversee the day‑to‑day operations of the WKU Dairy/Smart Holstein Lab, including animal care, health, and well‑being; animal nutrition, reproduction and genetics; marketing of livestock and milk; facility upkeep and cow comfort; management of lab technologies; forage production and harvest; public outreach; and management of dairy workers. The manager will also work with the AREC Director to utilize the Dairy budget effectively while maintaining a laboratory for student engagement, education, outreach, and applied research.

The WKU dairy milks 56 cows with associated replacements at the WKU Agriculture Research and Education Center. The Smart Holstein Lab partners with Holstein Association USA and Western Kentucky University Agriculture and Food Science to serve as a research, development, and demonstration center, featuring more than 30 technologies to collect novel phenotypic traits, including wearable or indwelling sensors and milk‑based biomarkers.

This unique opportunity allows the manager to work with genetically elite Holstein cows and cutting‑edge technologies in a university setting. Housing can be provided, and there are opportunities to pursue a graduate degree while in this position.

• Provide comprehensive oversight of dairy herd health, welfare, and production, including daily care routines, nutrition management, reproductive programs, health monitoring, and implementation of best practices to maintain high standards of animal fitness and productivity.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise dairy employees to promote a safe, productive, and educational work environment.
• Collaborate with Holstein Association, faculty, and industry partners to install, operate, and troubleshoot new and emerging dairy technologies and facilitate research and educational opportunities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute the production, harvest, storage, and quality management of forage crops utilized by the dairy.
• Assist in planning and leading educational tours, field days, demonstrations, and extension activities.

• B.S. in Agriculture or a related field.

Salary Range: $50,000 - $55,000

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre‑employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270‑745‑5121 for assistance.