Private
Farm & Livestock Operations Manager (Equine-Focused)
Greeneville, East Tennessee
Full-Time | Salary | Housing Provided
We are seeking an experienced Farm & Livestock Operations Manager to oversee a 180-acre equine-focused farm in Greeneville, Tennessee. The property includes fourteen horses, two donkeys, ten head of cattle (to be added this year), poultry, and full hay production capability. The land itself has rolling hills, and some flat land, it’s diverse with a good creek running through.
We are building our primary residence on the property (starting in April) and are committed to long-term land stewardship, operational excellence, and exceptional animal welfare. This is a working Western-style farm – no boarding, no competition program – focused on riding, training, and responsible livestock management.
This is not a clock-in/clock-out role. We are building something meaningful and expect leadership, ownership, and high standards.
Animal welfare is our highest priority.
Core Responsibilities
Land, Soil & Forage Management
- Develop and execute rotational grazing plans for horses and cattle appropriate to East Tennessee conditions
- Manage soil health including testing, fertilization, aeration, reseeding, and erosion control
- Monitor forage quality and implement seasonal field management strategies
- Oversee hay production from field preparation through cutting, baling, and storage
- Design and implement mud mitigation and drainage solutions in a high-rainfall environment
- Establish pasture rest and recovery cycles to ensure long-term sustainability
Equine & Livestock Care
- Oversee daily care of horses, donkeys, and cattle
- Maintain humane, communication-based horsemanship standards (we start horses; we do not break them)
- Enforce zero tolerance for mistreatment or heavy-handed handling
- Monitor herd health and identify issues early
- Administer medications and injections as needed
- Respond calmly and competently to livestock emergencies
- Coordinate with veterinarians and nutrition advisors
Leadership & Culture
- Lead and mentor existing staff
- Train team members in safe and effective equipment operation and property management
- Instill a culture of accountability, professionalism, and animal-first values
- Provide operational guidance and education to ownership as we continue learning and growing
Equipment & Infrastructure
- Operate and maintain tractors and heavy equipment (JCB mini-ex, JCB skid steer, Kubota & Massey Ferguson tractors, farm implements, etc.)
- Establish preventative maintenance systems
- Oversee fencing, water systems, barns, gates, and overall infrastructure upkeep
Qualifications
- Proven experience managing farm or ranch operations (references required)
- Strong knowledge of pasture management, soil health, and hay production
- Familiarity with Tennessee climate and seasonal agricultural cycles
- Experience managing mixed grazing (horses and cattle preferred)
- Deep respect for horses and humane training philosophy
- Confident administering injections and handling livestock emergencies
- Mechanical aptitude and heavy equipment experience
- Non-smoker
- Physically capable of demanding outdoor work
- Honest, dependable, and aligned with high animal welfare standards
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary (commensurate with experience)
- Housing if needed
- Health insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid vacation
- Performance-based bonuses
- $2,500 annual continuing education allowance (soil science, pasture management, horsemanship, livestock health, agricultural leadership programs)
- Potential relocation assistance
We bring nearly a decade of experience as horse owners and trainers and are deeply committed to humane, communication-based horsemanship. We believe in partnerships with our horses. While we are confident in our equine philosophy and training approach, we are at the beginning of our large-scale land management journey. The property is a blank slate in terms of pasture strategy, soil improvement, and long-term agricultural systems.
We are building this farm with generational longevity in mind and are seeking a knowledgeable professional who is excited to help design and implement those systems from the ground up. We are looking for someone with the depth of expertise – and the desire to share it – to counsel us on strategy, develop practical plans, and guide our team in executing them.
We value partnership. We are not seeking someone to replace ownership leadership, but a respected collaborator who can challenge ideas constructively and help us build something enduring.
We operate in a traditional, values-driven environment and seek someone who is comfortable in that setting.
Animal welfare is non-negotiable.
TO APPLY:
Forward cover letter & resume to our email address.
Email
[email protected]
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