Manitoba Beef Producers is getting a bit closer to the ground with an upcoming hire.
It’s on the hunt for a production specialist that will join the organization’s roster in the coming weeks. It’s a move the group says will give them better insight into on-the-ground issues when it comes to developing policy objectives.
MBP general manager Brian Lemon says the job grew from the old project co-ordinator position. The group’s previous co-ordinator recently left, opening the way for MBP to expand the post’s mandate.
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Previously the job had been focused on helping to manage and deliver projects where MBP was partnered with the Growing Forward 2 initiative or other organizations and on extension efforts.
“This gives us the opportunity to bring somebody in that hopefully has a little bit of a technical expertise in terms of production and (will) certainly assist in making sure that we have good, sound, policy advice in terms of questions around production-type issues,” Lemon said.
The group is asking for degrees in animal science or veterinary medicine, as well as three to five years’ experience in the beef industry.
All aspects of beef production will come under the new role, including cattle health and welfare, cattle and beef research, environmental stewardship and efficient cattle and beef production practices, the job listing states. Extension duties will also fall under the job’s purview.
“Applicants should have a basic knowledge of government regulations and policy processes, as well as some experience dealing with government officials,” the group said, among its list of requirements.
MBP policy and programming will get a strong second look from the new hire, the organization said. The new hire will work with MBP’s policy analyst and will be expected to help the board gauge the impact of new regulations, develop an official stance as issues emerge and will also spearhead events like committee or producer meetings.
At the same time, the new staff member will still oversee projects and help distribute study results. Extension duties, like collaborative projects with Manitoba Agriculture or other agencies, will also fall under the mandate.
MBP says the specialist will be a point of contact for a long list of people, ranging from producers and researchers to other industry groups like the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and different levels of government.
Lemon said the new hire will build on the in-field knowledge that directors already bring to the board.
“All the staff, part of our role is to provide advice to the board and to work with our board,” he said. “We’ve always had the production capacity at the board, obviously, because the board is all producers. This is an opportunity for us to bring some of that expertise and capacity to the staff and certainly add some more depth in terms of our bench strength, if you will, in terms of being able to talk to technical issues.”
Lemon said the issues he deals with have become increasingly technical, and that the expanded position reflects that shift.
Manitoba Beef Producers is accepting applications until Jan. 26.
