Foreperson, Ontario Dairy Research Centre (Ariss, ON, CA, N0B 1B0)

Perimeter Institute
Perimeter Institute

Ontario, Canada

Posted on Aug 22, 2026

Department: OMAFRA Research Facilities
This position is represented by the agreement between the Professional Staff Association and the University of Guelph

Temporary full-time from 09/01/2026 to 05/12/2029
Temporary Absence of the Regular Incumbent

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.

Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose
The Office of Research is seeking an experienced, proactive leader for the position of Foreperson at the state-of-the-art Ontario Dairy Research Centre (ODRC).
Reporting directly to the Manager of Elora-Ponsonby Livestock, you will act as a co-Foreperson providing front-line supervision and day-to-day management of livestock, personnel, and building infrastructure. This critical role balances commercial farm production standards with institutional health and safety requirements, seamlessly accommodating multiple complex university research trials.
Operating out of a highly complex, 175,000 square foot facility housing 460 cattle, you will share accountability for an operational budget of $2,340,000 and assets valued over $25 million.
Duties and Responsibilities
  • Dairy Herd Production & Animal Care: Oversee full-lifecycle dairy herd management for up to 220 milking cows and 240 replacement stock. Maintain exceptionally high animal welfare and health standards to satisfy Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC) and provincial regulations. Evaluate and maintain four separate high-tech milking configurations, including robotic systems.
  • Research Support & Integration: Partner with faculty, research technicians, and staff to seamlessly execute experimental designs and research protocols. Manage data integrity across computerized animal tracking systems and coordinate baseline research services, including specialized trial supplement rations, fecal/milk sampling, and precise feed-intake measurements.
  • Human Resources & Safety Supervision: Share supervisory responsibility for a team of approximately 22 full-time, part-time, and student agricultural assistants. Manage intensive scheduling demands covering 14.5 hours of daily barn operations. Enforce compliance across safety documents, collective bargaining agreements, and legislated training directives.
  • Infrastructure & Asset Management: Take full operational ownership of the 175,000 sq ft facility. Directly oversee and coordinate mechanical trade contractors managing complex off-grid building infrastructure (wells, sewage, HVAC, ventilation arrays, and backup generators) alongside specialized robotic milking and automated feeding machinery.
  • Financial Stewardship & Purchasing: Administer local procurement up to $5,000 independently for commodities, feed, and farm supplies. Help monitor the operational budget and maintain meticulous records supporting the center's multi-million dollar milk revenue generation.

Requirements

  • An Undergraduate Degree (Bachelors) in Agriculture, Animal Science, or a related discipline is required, though a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in a livestock research discipline is preferred.
  • Mandatory Professional Certifications (Held or obtained upon hire):
    • Supervisor Health & Safety Awareness
    • CPR/First Aid
    • WSIB Certified Worker status
    • a Valid Driver’s License
    • Livestock Medicine Course certification
    • CCAC Animal Care Training modules
    • Confined Space Training
    • WHMIS
Experience & Skills
  • 7 years of combined relevant agricultural experience with 5 years of in-depth operational experience within a commercial-scale dairy facility—including demonstrated leadership or personnel management.
  • Advanced technical literacy with automated/robotic milking configurations, calf feeders, and electronic recording software. Practical competence operating heavy farm equipment (tractors, loaders, skid steers, and feed mixers) is essential.

This position requires moderate-to-heavy physical exertion and frequent lifting up to 60 lbs within an active agricultural environment exposing the individual to dust, extreme temperatures, noise, and large livestock hazards.

Employee Type: Temporary covering regular incumbent
Position Number: 10447088
Classification: P&M FT- Band 04

Professional/Managerial Salary Bands

The target hiring salary for this position is minimum and up to 96% of midpoint for the salary grade.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 09/04/2026

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