Betriebsleiter/Betriebsleiterin - landwirtschaftlich

Media related to this profession includes agrarheute, Agrarsysteme der Zukunft gemeinsam gestalten, B&B Agrar - Die Zeitschrift für Bildung und Beratung, Bildungsserver Agrar, Bundesinformationszentrum Landwirtschaft (BZL), Digitalisierung in der Landwirtschaft, German Journal of Agricultural Economics (GJAE), Journal of Crop Health, Modell- und Demonstrationsvorhaben (MuD) Tierschutz, Nutztierhaltungsstrategie. Zukunftsfähige Tierhaltung in Deutschland, OA Open Agrar, Ökologischer Landbau in Deutschland, Pig Report 2025, Tierschutz, and top agrar.

Current trends in agriculture include flexible and employee-oriented leadership styles, and climate change adaptation. Modern leadership styles focus on adaptability, collaboration, and empathy to address the challenges of a digital and globalized work environment. Approaches like Digital, Shared, Remote, Agile, Collaborative, and Empathic Leadership prioritize the needs and potential of employees, thereby increasing their motivation and satisfaction, and fostering efficiency and innovation. Climate change leads to altered soil and weather conditions, requiring agricultural workers to adapt, for example, by using water more efficiently or transitioning to ecological farming.

Agricultural operations managers usually work outdoors, in stables, and in offices. They may also work from home or remotely if necessary.

Core competencies required for this profession include arable farming, agricultural economics, agricultural law, work preparation, operational management, planning of operational resources, harvesting, grassland management, calculation, cost and performance accounting, tenancy law, personnel planning, plant protection, and animal husbandry/production. Additional relevant competencies may include forage crop cultivation, agroforestry systems, agrophotovoltaics, sowing (mechanical, manual), irrigation systems, biogas plants, biological plant protection, bonitur, fertilization, purchasing, farm management systems, feed analysis and production, vegetable cultivation, grain cultivation, herd management, climate change adaptation, customer consulting and support, agricultural trade, landscape maintenance, dairy farming/production, mulching, nature conservation, fruit growing, organic farming, paludiculture, biochar, precision agriculture, quality control and assurance, plant breeding, proof of expertise according to the Plant Protection Expertise Ordinance, and sales.

Agricultural operations managers plan, organize, and supervise work processes in agricultural businesses, flexibly switching between various tasks such as plant and animal breeding or administrative duties. They lead and motivate their employees and coordinate their collaboration. They typically work with subordinate managers, such as department heads, cellar masters, or shipping managers. Diligence and a sense of responsibility are essential when preparing calculations, managing accounting, or planning the cultivation, harvesting, and marketing of products. Strong communication skills, negotiation skills, and service orientation are important when dealing with customers and suppliers. Agricultural operations managers create employee deployment plans or maintain breeding records using computers in offices, but they also work in the field.

Agricultural operations managers can become self-employed, for example, by establishing their own agricultural business, working as an expert, or as a business consultant in the agricultural sector.

According to BERUFENET, an exemplary collective gross basic monthly salary is 3,238 Euros. This information is for orientation purposes only, and no claims can be derived from it. Please check BERUFENET for current salary information.

This profession operates in agriculture, mixed farming (with a focus on crop production, animal husbandry, or without a distinct focus), cultivation of cereals, legumes, oilseeds, potatoes, sugar cane, fiber crops, seed preparation, other annual and biennial plants, and cultivation of wine and table grapes. They can also work in various animal husbandry areas such as poultry, laying hens for egg production, dairy cows, other cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, insects, and hatcheries. The cultivation of vegetables, melons, spice plants, aromatic, narcotic, and pharmaceutical plants, other fruits and nuts, pome and stone fruits, and wine production are also within the scope of this profession.

Employers often expect a completed Studium (university degree) in agriculture or further business administration or technical training (Ausbildung) in agriculture.

Relevant Studium (university degree) fields for this profession include Agricultural Management (undergraduate and postgraduate), Agricultural Science (undergraduate and postgraduate), Viticulture, Oenology (undergraduate and postgraduate), and Horticulture (undergraduate and postgraduate).

Agricultural operations managers find employment in crop farming, plant breeding, or animal husbandry businesses, in vegetable or fruit growing businesses, and in wineries.

The common job title is 'Betriebsleiter/in - landwirtschaftlich', also known as 'Verwalter/in - Landwirtschaft'. The English job title is 'Farm Manager (m/f)'.

Proof of expertise according to the Plant Protection Expertise Ordinance may be required. For agricultural or forestry purposes, a license to operate tractors and self-propelled work machines may be necessary.

Agricultural operations managers are responsible for leading agricultural businesses or operational areas based on specifications from the owners.

AgroBrain, ajb Agrarjobbörse, Bildungsserver Agrarbiojobbörse, Karrero by top agrar, proplanta Agrar-Stellenmarkt, Stellenblatt.de are job and applicant exchanges.

Associations and organizations include the Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE), Bundesverband Agrarhandel e.V. BVA, Deutscher Bauernverband e.V. (DBV), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit (FLI), Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU), Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), Verband der Agrargewerblichen Wirtschaft e.V. (VdAW), Verband der Landwirtschaftskammern e.V.

This profession involves responsibility for people (e.g., instructing and leading employees), responsibility for assets (e.g., ensuring economic business management), production-oriented handling of animals (e.g., in farms producing milk, meat, or poultry), handling plants, frequently changing tasks and work situations (switching between tasks in investment and financing, controlling, auditing, quality assurance, customer care, and employee management), working with technical devices, machines, and systems (e.g., operating agricultural devices and machines themselves or instructing employees in their operation), screen work (e.g., creating organizational, economic, financial, and investment analyses), office work (e.g., handling work planning or accounting), outdoor work (e.g., actively participating in responsible, difficult production tasks), work in animal stables, and changing workplaces.

Work items and tools include products such as milk, meat, eggs; animals and plants such as livestock, crops; machines, devices, and technical systems such as tractors, plows, combine harvesters, global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS), monitoring systems; documents such as personnel deployment plans, accounting records, legal regulations, documents for economic efficiency checks, operational plans, breeding books; and office equipment such as PCs, internet access, and telephones.

Agricultural operations managers plan, organize, and control all tasks involved in the production and marketing of agricultural products or livestock. They are responsible for business organization and human resources, and they guide employees. They often also work practically themselves. They ensure consistent quality, sustainable bioeconomic management, and compliance with legal regulations. If necessary, they introduce new technologies. Agricultural operations managers also undertake commercial-business management activities, observe the market for agricultural products, and conduct profitability analyses.

Agricultural Service Master, Business Administrator (Fachschule) for Agricultural Business / Bachelor Professional in Agricultural Economics, State-certified Specialist for IT-supported Corporate Management, Master Gardener (Vegetable Cultivation), Master Gardener (Fruit Cultivation), Master Farmer, State-certified Technician in Agricultural Engineering / Bachelor Professional in Technology, State-certified Technician in Viticulture and Cellar Management / Bachelor Professional in Technology, Master Animal Husbandry (Poultry Farming), Master Animal Husbandry (Cattle Farming), Master Animal Husbandry (Sheep Farming), Master Animal Husbandry (Pig Farming), Master Vintner, State-certified Economist.

Adaptation training helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and adapt to new developments (e.g., in the areas of agriculture, animal breeding, or finance and accounting). Furthermore, trends towards digitalization and precision agriculture, as well as sustainability in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI), can become important further training topics for agricultural operations managers.

Further professional and career opportunities arise – depending on professional previous education – through an undergraduate or postgraduate Studium (university degree) (e.g., in the field of agricultural management). Under certain conditions, a Studium is also possible without a general higher education entrance qualification. More information: Access to higher education in the individual Bundesländer (federal states).

Plan all work processes in agricultural production or cellar management, possibly working practically. Ensure consistent product quality. Observe the market for agricultural products and conduct profitability analyses. Manage the budget. Plan and organize investments. If necessary, introduce new technologies of precision agriculture, e.g., GPS-controlled, autonomously driving tractors, soil sensors, drones, or geographical information systems (GIS). Ensure efficient business management, optimize work processes. Select, hire, instruct, and if necessary, qualify employees, create duty and occupancy schedules. Perform administrative tasks in financial planning and accounting. If necessary, develop new marketing opportunities for the business, e.g., in tourism or as an adventure and learning farm. Ensure compliance with legal regulations and pay attention to sustainable management.

Plant Protection Expert Ordinance (PflSchSachkV), amended by Article 376 of the law of 31.08.2015 (BGBl. I S. 1474).

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the initial profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider individuals from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the initial profession. Some alternative professions only cover partial activities of the initial profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length depending on the individual case. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Agricultural Operations Manager: Job and staffing alternatives for the overall activity (usually short induction period): Business Administrator (Fachschule - technical college) for Agricultural Business / Bachelor Professional in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Master, State-certified Economist specializing in Agriculture / Bachelor Professional in Agricultural Economics. For partial activities and professional...