Director, Smart Farm Operations

About Olds College of Agriculture and Technology
Founded in 1913, Olds College has been offering quality hands-on education for over a century. Through our regular programming, continued education, and online and blended programming, we provide accessible educational opportunities within Alberta and beyond. We work closely with industry to advance and adapt our programming to ensure our graduates have the skills to succeed.
At Olds College we value our people and are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. Olds College provides quality education in an environment that is designed to promote academic excellence and student success. There are many reasons to join Olds College and build a meaningful career in a community that is innovative, diverse and welcoming. Everything we do at Olds College is done to advance all aspects of the agriculture and agri-food community. All of our programs and actions align to our social purpose, “Transforming agriculture for a better world”. Our mission is to ensure Alberta's agriculture community has the talent, knowledge, and thought leadership to lead globally.

The Opportunity:

The Olds College Smart Farm (OCSF) Director is responsible for overall leadership, strategic planning, safety and regulatory compliance, and oversight of the Smart Farm operations. OCSF is a 3,600 acre mixed crops and livestock (beef and sheep) enterprise in two provinces (Alberta and Saskatchewan) with additional assets that support equine and animal health technology programming. OCSF is a key component of the College’s Smart Ag Ecosystem that directly supports the College’s hands-on learning and applied research and demonstration activities as well as the College’s social purpose of Transforming Agriculture for a Better World.
The Smart Farm Director is responsible for ensuring the Smart Farm and team provides an exemplary level of measured customer service to all stakeholders, ensuring a high degree of collaboration with academic departments, continuing education, Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI), various clubs and user groups, external stakeholders, industry partners, and other customers. The Director will provide leadership that fosters the implementation of leading edge farm production practices and technologies and will make use of sensors, devices, controls, monitors, and software to gather data that will inform decision making within the farm entity with a focus on profitability, productivity, and sustainability.
Reporting to the VP, the Director will be responsible for ensuring the Smart Farm operations team is structured and resourced for success in a dynamic and continuously evolving environment. The Director will be responsible for and accountable to a team of approximately ten, an annual budget of approximately $2.5 million, and setting, monitoring, and achieving key performance indicators related to student and faculty integration within the Smart Farm, applied research projects supported by the Smart Farm, and overall productivity and sustainability of crop and livestock production on the Smart Farm.

Education/Experience/Skills/Knowledge Required:

1. Strategic, visionary, organized, detail-oriented professional with leadership and management experience and the desire to work in a dynamic and demanding environment.
2. Degree in Agricultural Production, Science, Management or a related area.
3. 10+ years of experience managing teams, systems, processes, and multiple stakeholders.
4. Background and understanding of the agriculture industry and primary production (both crops and livestock).
5. High performance standards with excellent work ethic.
6. Skilled in decision making, problem solving, stakeholder management, and prioritization.
7. High proficiency with Microsoft Office and the Google suite. Experience with farm data management systems is considered an asset.
8. Exemplary communication skills, both written and verbal and comfortable with different communication mediums such as briefing documents, reports, email, and Google Chat.
9. Curiosity and passion for advancing the agriculture sector and improving overall productivity, profitability, and sustainability of food production.

Conditions of Employment:
- Current Criminal Reference check that is free of any offenses.
- Must respect and actively promote health and safety policies.
Olds College offers a competitive benefit plan:
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan (LAPP)
- Extended Health, Dental, and Prescription Drugs benefits
- Health/Personal Spending Account
- Generous Vacation Leave
- Paid Holiday Closure
- ‘Olds College in the Community’ volunteer leave
- Professional development and opportunities for growth
Open until suitable candidate is found.
We thank all individuals for their interest in this position. We appreciate the time involved for candidates in the application process. At this time, please note only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
Olds College is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities and persons of any sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.