Manager Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility

Primary Purpose: To provide operational management and support of the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility on the Animal and Poultry Science Farm.

Nature of Work: Reporting to the Department Head, the Manager is responsible for managing and participating in day-to-day operations of the facility working alongside staff. In collaboration with the Department Head and Faculty Advisor, the Manager will provide direction for the unit. The position requires close collaboration with faculty, staff, and graduate students and will liaise with other units, both internal and external to the university, including Facilities, Enterprise Procurement, Safety Resources, ConnectionPoint, WCB Support, UACC, CFRC, etc., and vendors for the purchase of feed, equipment, supplies, services, and companies that purchase our animals and waste. The Manager may be required to facilitate outreach and engagement activities with the dairy industry.

The Manager will be required to work evenings and weekends and attend to urgent matters in the dairy that may arise after hours.

Typical Duties or Accountabilities:

People Resources

• Recruit, train, and effectively outline expectations to staff, provide coaching, and monitor staff performance to ensure success of direct reports
• Staff scheduling and overtime approval to ensure adequate coverage within budgetary guidelines
• Lead regular staff meetings and facilitate communication between staff and department leadership
• Develop and implement appropriate supervisory controls ensuring objective and consistent employee relations are met
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the Department Head, Faculty Advisor, Administration Coordinator, researchers, faculty, students, and other research unit managers

Financial and Resource Management

• Working with the Administration Coordinator, budget assessment and regular review of revenue and expenses to achieve a cost effective and well-maintained facility: assessment and approval of purchases in consultation with the Department Head, including the sale of animals and manure
• Working with the Faculty Advisor, assess needs, develop and implement, or revise management protocols for facility operation including a high standard of animal care, production and facility maintenance: nutrition and animal health protocols; facility upkeep; sanitation and manure handling; milk protocol and equipment maintenance

Facility Support Activities

• Regularly assess equipment and facility to ensure correct and timely maintenance, and coordinate service and repairs with vendors within university and budget guidelines
• Track feed inventory, order feed commodities and coordinate shipments from vendors
• Participate in dairy silage cropping activities, including crop planning, silage production and onsite packing
• Coordinate liquid waste removal from manure silo with staff, vendor and end user
• Participate in herd health activities and lead the breeding program
• Participate in nutrition group activities
• Other duties as assigned

Enable Research, Teaching and Scholarly Activity

• Understand experimental design and have the ability to ensure proper experimental protocols are followed
• Review and approve research Animal Use Protocols (AUPs)
• Ensure compliance with dairy industry regulatory bodies
• Ensure meticulous record keeping
• Collaborate with research staff to devise/assess and implement facility and research protocols that facilitate excellence in research and teaching
• Participate as a member of the unit manager team in monthly meetings

Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental standards
• Ensure practices are in adherence to Canadian Council of Animal Care as well as with leading standards established by industry, i.e., ProAction
• Manage risk in negotiations with vendors and suppliers
• Identify, assess and manage risk in planning projects and ongoing operations.

Education: A BSc. Degree in Animal Science is preferred but a combination of education and experience may also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of five years of experience relevant to this position: experience with dairy cattle production; experience safely operating equipment and machinery, and equipment maintenance in a dairy barn; good working knowledge of MS Office software and computer systems, proficiency using record keeping and data evaluation software relevant to the dairy industry (DairyComp, DelPro, In-Touch). A good understanding of Canadian Council of Animal Care guidelines as well as health, safety and environment protocols.

Skills:

• Excellent administrative, organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent team leadership and team building skills.
• The ability to communicate in a timely manner and relate effectively with faculty, research scientists, students, colleagues, and a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, manage, and evaluate employees.
• Ability to manage competing interests, projects and deadlines.
• Discretion, professionalism, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Tact, diplomacy, good judgment and demonstrated conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to conduct outreach and engagement activities with the dairy industry is an asset.

Department: Animal Science Farms
Status: Permanent

Employment Group: ASPA

Shift: Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and the Manager will be required to work evenings and weekends and attend to urgent matters in the dairy that may arise after hours.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0

Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $69,035.00 - 107,868.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Salary Family (if applicable): Managerial

Salary Phase/Band: Phase 2

Posted Date: 10/20/2025

Closing Date: 10/26/2025 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: On Campus

The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where 'Yes' is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php

Criminal Record Check: Not Applicable
Driver's License and Abstract Check: Yes
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable

The University of Saskatchewan aspires to be what the world needs and embraces equity, diversity and inclusion as foundational to excellence and innovation. We actively seek to create a welcoming environment where all individuals feel empowered to thrive, contribute, and grow. Applications from equity-deserving groups are encouraged as part of our ongoing efforts to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve: EDI Framework for Action**.**
We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and the Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation.
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