Do you enjoy working at the intersection of land management, ecology, and livestock systems? Are you someone who understands how grazing can be used as a tool to achieve real ecological outcomes? If you’re motivated by leading teams, managing field operations, and delivering high-quality restoration work, this role may be a great fit.
About Us
MNL is a full-service ecological restoration company dedicated to Healing the Earth. Our services include native seed and plant production, shoreline and wetland restoration, prescribed burns, restoration grazing, vegetation management, and ecological consulting. We also support solar and infrastructure projects with pollinator-friendly practices and land stewardship expertise.
MNL’s Grazing program uses prescribed grazing with sheep as a tool to manage vegetation, control invasive species, and support ecological restoration goals across a variety of project types and landscapes.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Grazing Operations Manager to lead and grow MNL’s conservation grazing program based out of our Otsego, MN location. This role is responsible for developing and executing grazing strategies that align with ecological restoration objectives, while overseeing daily operations, team performance, and project delivery.
This position blends ecological understanding, livestock management, and operational leadership. While this role oversees technicians who handle much of the day-to-day livestock care, the manager must maintain a strong working knowledge of grazing systems, animal handling, and field operations to ensure successful outcomes.
The Grazing Operations Manager also plays a key role in project planning, estimating, and client coordination, supporting the successful delivery and continued growth of MNL’s grazing program through strong execution and field leadership.
What You Will Do
- Program & Project Leadership
- Design and implement targeted grazing programs to support ecological restoration goals such as invasive species control, vegetation management, and soil health improvement.
- Apply adaptive management principles, using field observations and data to adjust grazing strategies over time.
- Support project estimating, scoping, and pricing from initial concept through execution.
- Operations Management
- Oversee daily grazing operations including scheduling, logistics, dispatching, and workflow coordination.
- Ensure grazing plans are executed effectively across multiple sites.
- Maintain organization, tracking, and documentation across all projects.
- Manage program budgets and ensure cost-effective operations.
- Team Leadership
- Supervise and support full-time and seasonal grazing staff.
- Provide training, direction, and performance feedback to ensure safe and effective work.
- Assist with hiring and workforce planning based on seasonal and project needs.
- Livestock & Field Oversight
- Oversee livestock movement, paddock rotations, fencing systems, water distribution, and overall herd management.
- Ensure animal health, safety, and welfare standards are consistently met.
- Maintain awareness of day-to-day field conditions and support troubleshooting as needed.
- Project Coordination & External Communication
- Communicate with clients, landowners, and partners to support project execution and ensure alignment on grazing plans and expectations.
- Represent MNL professionally in field settings and project-related interactions.
- Coordinate with internal teams, subcontractors, and collaborators to ensure work is completed safely and according to project requirements.
- Provide input and field insights to support future project opportunities and program improvements.
- Compliance & Systems
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to livestock grazing on conservation lands.
- Maintain accurate records of grazing activities, ecological monitoring, and operational performance.
- Oversee equipment, vehicles, and tools to ensure they are safe and ready for use.
What You Will Need To Be Successful
- Ability to connect grazing practices to ecological outcomes and land management goals.
- Experience leading teams and managing field-based operations.
- Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.
- Working knowledge of livestock operations, including fencing systems, water systems, and herd movement.
- 3+ years of experience working with or around livestock, grazing operations, or related agricultural environments.
- Familiarity with ecological restoration, invasive species management, and vegetation management practices.
- Strong understanding of rotational grazing, regenerative grazing principles, and adaptive land management.
- Ability to work in field environments and operate equipment such as UTVs/ATVs or similar tools.
The pay range for this role is:75,000 - 85,000 USD per year(Otsego Headquarters)
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