Production Health Technician

Christensen Farms is one of the largest, family-owned pork producers in the United States, marketing approximately 3.6 million hogs per year. Headquartered in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the company operates throughout the Midwest with facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, and South Dakota. Christensen Farms owns four feed mills, manages 145,000 sows on 44 farms, and oversees more than 350 nurseries and grow-finish sites. The company employs nearly 1,000 people and maintains 1,500 contract partnerships.

The company is vertically integrated with a strong presence across the pork value chain - from farm to fork. Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder of Triumph Foods LLC, a producer-owned primary pork processing plant in St. Joseph, Missouri. In turn, Triumph Foods members own 50 percent of Daily's Premium Meats, a specialty pork processor of bacon and other premium pork products. Triumph Foods also holds a 50 percent partnership in Seaboard Triumph Foods, LLC of Sioux City, Iowa, a primary pork processing plant.

Position Overview & Responsibilities

This position will be responsible for working under the direction and day-to-day supervisor of a company veterinarian. The setting is production and non-production based to ensure animal health objectives are being accomplished.

Major Areas of Accountability

Support veterinarians as needed to:

• Collect, submit, and help deliver live viral vaccines.
• Collect and submit tissues from disease outbreaks.
• Support organization and collection of flow-based diagnostics (blood, tissue, laryngeal, rope, swabs) used in flow monitoring.
• Work closely with Production Health Administrator to input, manage and summarize data into multiple designated systems and promptly communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Conduct inspections of manure, construction, site care or other equipment as required.
• Have a clear understanding of sanitation and biosecurity.
• Assist in biosecurity assessments and filtration testing upon request.
• Work with Logistics to facilitate schedules for routine sampling required by pig movements when requested.
• Management and facilitation of external resources required to meet regulatory farm visits as requested.
• Time will be spent in all phases of the production system, collecting samples, and working with animals. Physical agility is needed.

Key Competencies and Characteristics:

• Strong Multi-Tasking Ability: Demonstrate capability to manage multiple tasks efficiently, seamlessly transitioning between priorities while maintaining focus and accuracy.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in computer applications is required, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Excel.

Education, Training and Experience Requirements:

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical skills including post-mortem, ante-mortem sample collection and knowledge of common clinical symptoms preferred.
• Knowledge of CF system flow including gilt flow and sow farm downstream preferred.
• Knowledge of current system
• Livestock handling experience preferred.
• PQA Plus Certification preferred.
• Bi-lingual (Spanish) speaking is a plus.
• The ability to operate a trailer is a plus.

Other Skills:

• Follow a written protocol.
• Ability to manage multiple inputs and understand how they connect and effect decision making relative to biosecurity, pig movement and regulatory requirements.
• Must have a willingness to learn and develop, while remaining disciplined, consistent, structured and solution oriented. A successful individual will exercise sound judgement to appropriately identify and escalate issues to always ensure compliance.
• Exhibit strong communication skills, both verbal and written, to facilitate clear and concise exchange of information within the team and across departments, fostering collaboration and ensuring mutual understanding of tasks and objectives.
• Must have the ability to work within a team-oriented atmosphere.
• Individuals must possess personal organization and time management skills with the ability to adapt and function effectively in a fast paced, changing environment.

Benefits Package

Christensen Farms offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, a flexible spending account (FSA), life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, a 401(k) plan, paid holidays, paid time off bank, an employee assistance program (EAP), and more.

Specialized or Motorized Equipment and/or Tools:

This position will require operating a company vehicle. Any employment offer for this position is contingent upon the review of your motor vehicle record (MVR).

Travel Requirements:

Position requires rare overnight travel to accomplish departmental objectives.

Christensen Farms is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization. No employee of CF will discriminate against any applicant for employment or a fellow employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other prohibited basis under applicable local, state, or federal law.

Salary : $23 - $28