Job Information
Hord Family Farms Vice President of Hord Farms West in Pipestone, Minnesota
Hord Farms West (HFW) was founded in Fall of 2023 with the purchase of the former New Horizon Farms assets. HFW is a 16,000-sow breed to market swine system with 145 team members and 2 dozen growing partner families producing greater than 400,000 hogs annually. HFW is owned by the Hord Family, who are producers from Ohio with a family farming heritage of over 100 years and have significant swine and crop production operations in the Eastern Corn Belt. For more information, please visit our website at www.west.hordfarms.com .
The Role: The Vice President of Hord Farms West will lead the entire West team under the Hord Farms umbrella. This role requires a strategic leader with deep industry knowledge and proven experience in managing multi-faceted agribusiness operations, particularly in the swine industry. The VP will drive operational excellence, foster team engagement, and ensure the achievement of financial and production goals.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Strategy:
Serve as the primary leader of Hord Farms West, overseeing all operations and ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals and objectives. Total of four executive team direct reports.
Act as a key advisor to the President and contribute to the overall executive leadership team.
Develop and implement strategic plans to drive growth, profitability, and operational efficiency.
Foster a culture that embodies Hord Farms' vision, mission, and core values, emphasizing agricultural stewardship and the family’s focus on faith-based values.
Identify and act upon growth opportunities, market trends, and emerging technologies.
Operational Management:
Direct all aspects of breed to market swine production system, sow/nursery/finishing, feed milling, maintenance, safety, human resources, accounting, and project management.
Implement and delegate organizational policies and practices to ensure optimal performance across all departments.
Team Leadership and Development:
Build, mentor, and coach a high-performing team, fostering a motivated and engaged workforce.
Conduct regular meetings with direct reports to provide leadership, resolve issues, and build strong, authentic relationships.
Collaborate with human resources and the production team to ensure effective onboarding, training, development, and corrective actions implemented company wide.
Lead organizational change initiatives and foster a culture of Trust, Innovation, Care, Courage and Empowerment, the 5 core values of the Hord team.
Financial and Data-Driven Management:
Utilize financial acumen to manage budgets, monitor production costs, and drive profitability.
Collect and analyze data to track performance metrics, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement best practices.
Develop and manage budgets for operational activities and monitor performance against objectives using KPIs.
Compliance and Safety:
Ensure compliance with all local, state, and national regulatory and environmental regulations.
Lead safety initiatives across all divisions, promoting a culture of safety and adherence to standard operating procedures.
Relationship Management:
Maintain and build strong relationships with growing partners, packers, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
Engage with external consultants, industry associations, and the local community in a proactive and thoughtful manner.
Key Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's and/or master’s degree or greater in production animal agriculture, business, economics, or a related field.
Extensive background in pork production, with a minimum of 10 years in a managerial role within the swine industry.
Proven track record of success in a fast-paced, performance-driven organization.
Skills and Competencies:
Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to inspire and motivate others authentically and naturally.
Excellent organizational, problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Data-driven decision-maker with a keen understanding of financial statements and operational metrics.
Ability to work effectively with a family-owned enterprise, with remote supervision.
Personal Attributes:
High-energy, self-motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced, high-standards environment.
High level of emotional intelligence and maturity to be a caring, compassionate leader aware of the needs and desires of the team.
Strong appreciation for family-owned agribusiness and the ability to connect within the existing management and ownership culture of being a “hands-on, roll-up-the-sleeves, in-barn at slat-level” leader.
Honest, ethical, and able to build trust and respect within the team and community.
Working Conditions:
Primarily indoor work with some outdoor tasks.
Travel to various facilities, exposure to dust, minimal odors, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
This position offers a competitive compensation package, including base salary, performance bonuses, paid time off, health insurance, and retirement benefits. The Vice President will play a critical role in shaping the future of Hord Farms West and ensuring its continued success and growth.
Contact: Mary Kor, Director Team Member Services for Hord Farms West. (507)-825-5462, mary.kor@hordfarms.com
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