Dairy Farm and Herd Operations Manager

The Dairy Farm and Herd Operations Manager leads all aspects of herd health, milk production, and daily farm operations, with direct accountability for animal welfare, operational performance, and business outcomes. This hands‑on role is responsible for an excellent herd of high‑producing, healthy, registered Holsteins across all life stages, including milking, dry, maternity, and young stock. The herd is housed at one cow per deep‑bedded sand stall and milked 2x in a double‑ten parallel parlor.

It averages 90 lbs of milk at 4.3% BF and 3.4% protein, with SCC under 150,000.

This Manager partners closely with the Director Crops to plan and execute the herd's forage inventory and quality needs, and pitches in when it's time to "make hay while the sun shines."

As a key part of Wright's "Cow-to-Customer" model, this role ensures the highest standards of herd care while driving the milk quality, efficiency, and consistency of our customers' experience. We're looking for a business leader who can balance strategic decisions with day‑to‑day execution in a fast‑paced, 365‑day environment, and who builds a culture of accountability, safety, and care for both animals and people.

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead and oversee all aspects of herd health management, including daily observation, early illness detection, diagnosis, and treatment decisions
• Establish and maintain best-in-class animal welfare, biosecurity, and humane handling practices
• Own reproductive performance, including heat detection, breeding strategy, artificial insemination coordination, and pregnancy tracking
• Partner with veterinarians and nutritionists to optimize herd health, milk production, and long‑term sustainability
• Ensure high‑quality calf care, development, and successful transition into the milking herd
• Maintain accurate, timely, and actionable herd health and production records to support data‑driven decision‑making
• Drive continuous improvement in milk quality metrics in collaboration with the Dairy team

• Oversee daily farm operations to ensure efficiency, cleanliness, and adherence to all protocols across barns, milking systems, and facilities
• Drive operational performance by optimizing feed utilization, labor efficiency, and herd productivity
• Monitor and manage key herd and operational metrics, including production, reproduction, culling, and replacement rates
• Identify operational gaps and implement improvements to enhance productivity, workflow efficiency, and cost management
• Manage inventory of veterinary supplies, medications, and herd‑related resources
• Oversee maintenance and functionality of farm equipment and facilities, coordinating repairs as needed

• Lead, coach, and develop farm staff, setting clear expectations and holding the team accountable to performance and behavioral standards
• Build and maintain a high‑performing, safety‑focused, and team‑oriented culture aligned with Wright’s core values
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, and workforce planning to ensure consistent coverage for a 365‑day operation
• Train team members on herd care protocols, safety practices, and operational procedures
• Provide real‑time feedback, address performance concerns, and support employee development and retention
• Partner with HR and leadership on hiring, onboarding, and performance management initiatives
• Facilitate regular team communication to ensure alignment, accountability, and continuous improvement

• Lead ongoing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance herd performance,…