How to hire a sow farm manager

How to hire a sow farm manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sow farm manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sow farm manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sow farm manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The sow farm manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sow farm manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sow farm managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of sow farm manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Sow Farm Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Sow Farm Manager	Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers operate establishments that produce crops, livestock, and dairy products.	$9-40
   Farm Manager	Farm managers are professionals who manage a staff of farm professionals to handle various administrative tasks and monitor crops and domestic animals within a farm. These managers are required to work in growing cultivated plants that are harvested for food, clothing, and fuel while ensuring that the crops are properly stored and packaged for purchase... Show more	$16-39

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pigs
   • Production Targets
   • Farrow
   • Disciplinary Actions

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage pedigree cattle farm by; overseeing breeding production and certify artificial insemination program.
   • Prepare policy and procedure for ACA accreditation audit including writing and organizing policy and creating ACA standard folders with process indicators.
   • Schedule pig and cull sales to maximize wean age and gestation pressure.
   • Prepare policy and procedure for ACA accreditation audit including writing and organizing policy and creating ACA standard folders with process indicators.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sow farm manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A sow farm manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, sow farm managers' average salary in oregon is 56% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sow farm managers earn 76% less than senior-level sow farm managers.
   • Certifications. A sow farm manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a sow farm manager's salary.

   Average sow farm manager salary

   $41,973yearly

   $20.18 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level sow farm manager salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average sow farm manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Illinois	$40,611	$20
   2	North Carolina	$40,146	$19
   3	North Carolina	$39,992	$19
   4	North Carolina	$39,967	$19
   5	North Carolina	$39,825	$19
   6	Pennsylvania	$39,818	$19
   7	North Carolina	$39,739	$19
   8	North Carolina	$39,737	$19
   9	Pennsylvania	$39,665	$19
   10	North Carolina	$39,583	$19
   11	North Carolina	$39,378	$19
   12	North Carolina	$39,295	$19
   13	Pennsylvania	$39,210	$19
   14	Pennsylvania	$39,127	$19
   15	North Carolina	$38,943	$19
   16	North Carolina	$38,821	$19
   17	North Carolina	$38,596	$19
   18	North Carolina	$38,527	$19
   19	Illinois	$38,343	$18
   20	Indiana	$38,113	$18

   Average sow farm manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Murphy Family Ventures	$39,749	$19.11	11
   2	Christensen Farms	$37,910	$18.23
   3	Clemens Food Group	$37,503	$18.03
   4	Prestage Farms	$34,182	$16.43
   5	Hatfield Meats	$33,273	$16.00
   6	Smithfield Foods	$32,119	$15.44	14

4. Writing a sow farm manager job description

   A job description for a sow farm manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a sow farm manager job description:

   Sow farm manager job description example

   Your Opportunity
   
   The Sow Farm HOD directs the daily operation of the farm breeding or farrowing department. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, scheduling and assigning tasks to meet production goals, staff development/training, animal and human health and welfare. The HOD knows and performs all department functions/tasks personally and through subordinates. The Head of Department position will also provide for the care of all animals at the designated work site, particularly their health, growth, and breeding.
   
   Core Responsibilities
   
   * Abides by all company policies, procedures and guidelines as directed by farm leadership.
   * Ensures the day-to-day activities and processes are scheduled/performed according to standard procedures/policies in company technical manuals and relevant company documentation.
   * Trains and monitors subordinate performance and provides appropriate coaching.
   * Maintains equipment and the environment in all section barns, at all times. Identifies all inconsistencies and immediately rectifies them.
   * Manages, monitors and controls feed inventory at all times to satisfy animal requirements and to minimize waste. Manages day-to-day inventory procedures for the section and practices standard inventory control initiatives.
   * Maintains accurate production information and update all department records as required.
   * Treats sick animals with a variety of pharmaceuticals by injection, oral application, and/or other methods as required.
   * Follows the Standard Operating Procedures, Production Manuals, or Appropriate Training Guides as required.
   * Follows the Company's animal welfare policies and procedures including: providing a physical environment that meets the animal's needs, providing access to adequate water and high quality feed, providing humane treatment of the animals, providing identification and appropriate treatment of animals in need of health care and following the guidelines for euthanasia to include proper disposal of animals.
   * Responsible for complying with all environmental laws and procedures and report any issues immediately to the supervisor.
   * Responsible for understanding all safety requirements of the job and ensuring their employee's compliance
   
   The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.
   
   Qualifications
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.
   
   * High School diploma or GED preferred.
   * Previous livestock handling experience required
   * Ability to obtain certification in department
   * Ability to do hard physical labor.
   * Strong commitment to teamwork.
   * Willingness to shower daily in and out of facility
   * Ability to follow instructions and deal with standardized situations.
   * Must be able to work an average 48 hour week, which can vary frequently.
   * Weekend, evening, and holiday work required as needed.
   * Must be on call to work in emergency situations to include but not limited to, power outages or personnel shortages.
   * Must be able to tolerate and willing to learn and perform the following tasks: euthanasia, castration, vaccinations, piglet processing, ear tagging for identification, taking blood samples and other procedures normal to animal husbandry.
   * Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
   * Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
   
   Supervisory Responsibilities
   
   Provides leadership and guidance to personnel within their department with Manager oversight
   
   Work Environment & Physical Demands
   
   The work environment characteristics & physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   * Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
   * Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
   * Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
   * Must be able to tolerate blood, animal dander, manure, dust, odors, and frequently noisy conditions.
   
   Careers and Benefits
   
   To learn more about Smithfield's benefits, visit smithfieldfoods.com/careerbenefits.
   
   PEOPLE MATTER
   
   More than 63,000 employees globally drive our success. We strive to create a fair, ethical and rewarding work environment.
   
   GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
   
   Working at Smithfield isn't just a job - it's the foundation for a lifelong career with training designed to help you advance professionally.
   
   BENEFITS
   
   Our people matter. That's why we offer excellent, comprehensive benefits packages to our full-time employees.
   
   SUSTAINABILITY PLEDGE
   
   Sustainability is ingrained in our culture and guides how we operate. We believe in innovating for the future.
   
   About Smithfield Foods
   
   Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 43,000 U.S. team members and 16,000 European employees are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly. " and have made us one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our neighbors in need. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield , Eckrich and Nathan's Famous , among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
   
   EEO/AA Information
   
   Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status or status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job related characteristic as directed by law.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right sow farm manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sow farm manager job on Zippia to find and recruit sow farm manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting sow farm managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sow farm manager

   Once you've found the sow farm manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new sow farm manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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