Labor Relations Manager jobs in Madison, WI

Position Overview

This position is responsible for leading regional team of field service representatives, managing member-owner procurement programs, ensuring a high-quality milk supply to fulfill cooperative production/sales requirements, building/maintaining positive relationships with member-owners and other key internal and external industry stakeholders, enhancing the external reputation of Foremost Farms, and implementing cooperative policies relating to member programs.

Key Accountabilities:

Leading team of regional field representatives:

·         Ensure key organizational and individual role responsibilities are fulfilled

·         Holding field representatives accountable for creating and achieving individual, team, and departmental goals

·         Ensure use of internal software, such as Salesforce, MyFarms, MPIS, BI Launchpad, etc. for reporting and retrieval of member services data

·         Develop strategies to optimize farm visits – “working smarter” and leveraging technology to reduce miles and provide real-time feedback to member-owners.

·         Ensure timely completion and accuracy of all required paperwork, records and documentation, including those in electronic systems

·         Work with assigned field representative and FARM Program Advisors to achieve FFUSA goals for the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program 

·         Coordinate with LMS and the Field Representatives to schedule the farm bulk tank calibration truck as needed across the entire cooperative

·         Influence positive relationship building between team members including planning, coordination, and execution of monthly team meetings, retreats, and educational opportunities

Acting as liaison between members and cooperative:

·      Influence positive relationships and communication between field representatives and member-owners.

·      Providing updates on milk quality, cooperative, market & policy and overall customer service to management and cooperative stakeholders

·      Promoting Foremost Farms and educating members and prospective members on the benefits of cooperative membership

·      Coordinate with LMS and Field Representatives to schedule the farm bulk tank calibration truck as needed across the entire cooperative

Performing necessary membership compliance, customer quality specifications follow-up, and investigative tasks:

·      Assist in investigating and report in a timely manner, any instances of animal abuse or neglect

·      Monitor key reports to evaluate European Union compliance, Minimum Membership Program, customer specification compliance, milk quality trends, raw milk pound and component shrinkage, and milk supply trends.

·      Communicate with customers regarding member-owner milk quality, tracking quality to specific customers, resolving loads removed from customer supply – optimizing logistics

·      Act as a technical resource to field representatives with inquiries and problems related to quality, animal care, logistics, and regulatory compliance

·      Assist in disposal of rejected milk – negotiation of sales to calf raisers, veal farms; or disposal to digesters, manure pits, or other disposal firms

·      Maintain awareness of competitor prices and programs – including use and reporting of competitor pricing information/analytics

·      Maintain technical knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations regarding milk quality and farm inspection

·      Maintain appropriate licenses – Bulk Milk Weigher & Sampler; Weights & Measures (bulk tank calibration)

Assisting in the development and implementation of communication strategies, materials, and promotional event participation

·      Developing communications strategies and materials that will assist in retaining member milk supplies and support the procurement of new patrons including the Foremost Farms Base Program

·      Assisting in the development of communication strategies and materials related to retaining member milk supplies, procuring new patrons, and advancing all National Dairy FARM Program areas, including involvement in World Dairy Expo, Farm Technology Days, DBA functions, PDPW functions, Dairy Breakfasts, Community Influencer Meetings etc.

·      Participation at industry events promoting the cooperative – World Dairy Expo, WI Farm Technology Days, WPS Farm Show, Indiana Quality Milk Conference, etc.

  Acting as a liaison between Member Relations & business units/areas including Patron Payroll, Transportation & Logistics, Milk Merchandising, Sales, Quality Assurance, and other stakeholders as needed:

·      Monitoring the Milk Producer Information System (MPIS) to ensure needed updates/changes are completed in the system

·      Developing and coordinating cooperative policies related to member owner programs, in conjunction with appropriate management personnel

·      Enforcing customer specification – quality, animal care, pasture, Kosher, etc.

Position Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

      Bachelor’s degree in dairy production, agribusiness, dairy science, or related field of study

      3 years of job-related experience

      Bulk Milk Weigher & Sampler license

      Weights & Measures license (bulk tank calibration)

       Ability to drive personal motor vehicle and maintain a valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

           1.      National Dairy FARM Program Evaluator Certification (Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship, Workforce Development)

           2.      3 to 5 years of job-related experience

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Foremost Farms we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.