WITH OUR EDUCATION TEAM...
Land’s Sake Farm, a nonprofit community farm in Weston MA, seeks a year-round Animal Care and Volunteer Coordinator. This position will work within our education team to manage our educational livestock (goats, ducks, chickens, quail and rabbits) and to recruit, train and work with volunteers in all areas of the farm. We have recently built an animal barn and education center, allowing us to expand an already robust education program (in 2023 we taught 360 programs to more than 7000 people). This is a new position for the farm, and successful candidates will be excited to teach people of all ages, get their hands dirty, and create systems to help the farm thrive as we transition into a more year-round model. This is a flexible position perfect for anyone who is passionate about connecting with people, the land, and animals at an agricultural non-profit.
Responsibilities will include:
- Livestock coordination: Manage education livestock, including goats, chickens, rabbits, ducks and quail
- Maintain, clean and repair enclosures and pasture space
- Coordinate daily care (including minor veterinary care: eg nail trimming), regular feeding schedules, and oversee animal volunteers.
- Create and pursue long-term livestock plans and acquire new animals
- Volunteer coordination: Work with staff to organize all volunteer activities on the farm.
- Communicate between departments to maintain a current list of volunteer needs and tasks for all aspects of our operation: including farming, farmstand, education, public events and administration
- Recruit, train, manage and communicate with individual volunteers
- Host on-farm workdays for members of the public
- Coordinate and host volunteer groups from local schools and corporations
- Education: Work with the education team to expand and run on-farm programming
- Teach livestock based programming to visitors of all ages
- Develop curriculum relating to animals, and help train new education staff on proper animal care and education
- Create and implement service learning programs
- Help with other aspects of on-farm education, including but not limited to working in the education garden and helping teach after school and summer programs
The ideal candidate will be:
- Able to juggle different tasks and priorities, stay organized in an ever-changing environment, and wear many hats.
- Experienced working with livestock or program animals
- Able to work and make decisions independently, but also excited to collaborate
- Able to communicate and work effectively with people of all backgrounds and ages.
- Flexible and reliable: able and willing to work some weekends as required by events and animal care.
- Eager to get your hands dirty and have fun!
Duration and Compensation:
- Ideal start date April or May 2024, but negotiable for the right candidate.
- Full time (35-40 hours/week), flexible schedule to be built with a successful applicant. Shifts may be half day or full day, some weekend availability is a must. Flexible and part time schedules will be considered.
- Starting at $18/hour, based on experience
- Free produce and flowers grown on the farm, discount on other items sold at the farmstand
- 50% of health care costs covered by Land’s Sake
- Two weeks paid vacation, plus paid holidays
- Paid sick time, in accordance with Massachusetts law
- Professional development opportunities including trainings in areas of job
related interests.
To apply:
Send a resume and cover letter explaining what you would bring to our department to Education Manager Katrina Goldowsky-Dill at katrina@landssake.org.
We will start interviewing for this position in February 2024.
Position Summary:
Land’s Sake Summer Educators work in a team to deliver high quality educational programming to groups of up to 14 elementary and/or middle schoolers of all genders, from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and diverse family structures. Our programs run for nine sessions, each a week long. Educators will be primarily responsible for one of the following groups: Farm and Forest (1st through 3rd grade), Junior Farmers (3rd through 5th grade), or Green Power (6th through 9th grade). Educators will be trained on activities relating to food, farming, and outdoor play, and will have the opportunity to bring their passions and interest to the program.
Successful candidates will have a love of working outdoors and with children, and will have childcare experience (through camps, babysitting, volunteer work, tutoring, etc). Enthusiasm for vegetables, silly songs, art, cooking, and tree climbing all encouraged.
This is a seasonal, full-time, at-will position and will be supervised by the Education Manager. The position starts on June 17th, 2023 and ends on August 23rd, 2024.
Responsibilities:
- Teach daily outdoor lessons related to farm education, including but not limited to: gardening, nutrition, plant science, local food systems, basic cooking, animal care, nature crafts, outdoor games, etc.
- Create physically and emotionally safe and inclusive opportunities for outdoor exploration and active play
- Communicate effectively with summer program participants, fellow staff members in all farm departments, farm visitors, and parents
- Assist with management of the Education Garden and a variety of livestock (chickens, rabbits, sheep, and goats)
- Assist with other related farm or education tasks as needed, including occasionally leading farm tours for visiting groups
Qualifications:
Above all, must enjoy working with kids and being outdoors! But also must:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Be able to work for all nine weeks of summer programming from Monday through Friday from June 24th - August 23rd, from 8:00AM-3:30PM, and additional hours for planning and clean-up as necessary for a total of 35-40 hours a week.
- Be able to attend:
- Staff training from 8:00am - 3:30pm the week of June 17th - June 21st, 2024
- Staff meeting once weekly from 3:00pm-4:00pm.
- Have experience working with children through camp, school, after school program, tutoring, babysitting or the like.
- Be comfortable working outdoors in all weather, with plants and farm animals.
- Have the ability to remain calm, patient, and upbeat around groups of energetic children for up to seven hours at a time.
- Pass CORI / SORI check
- Hold First Aid and CPR certifications that will be valid for the duration employment.
Essential Functions:
- Must be able to maintain visual and auditory awareness of a group
- Must be able to negotiate various types of terrain on the farm and in the forest
- Must be able to communicate (both written and verbally) clearly and effectively
with staff, participants, and other constituents - Must be able to lift and carry up to fifty pounds
Salary & Benefits:
- Salary: $17.00-$18.00/hr commensurate with experience
- Organic produce and flowers grown on the farm
- Paid sick time, in accordance with MA law
Equal Opportunity Policy:
Land’s Sake is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a multicultural organization. Diversity and inclusion is an ongoing organizational practice and a core value of Land’s Sake, with the goal of having culturally competent services, materials, resources and programs. Our hiring practices are informed by an appreciation of the strengths offered by differing cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, classes, sexual orientations, physical capacities, and age groups.
To Apply:
Email your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant skills, experience, and interests, and how you heard about this opportunity to Education Manager Katrina Goldowsky-Dill at education@landssake.org. Please include the job title in your subject line. We will accept applications on a rolling basis and will remove this job posting from the Land’s Sake website when all positions have been filled. If you have a strong preference for one of the groups (Farm and Forest, Junior Farmers or Green Power), or if you would be interested in part-time spring work as well, please make a note in your application.
ON THE FARM...
We are not currently hiring farm staff.
AT THE FARMSTAND...
We are not currently hiring for the farmstand.
AT THE OFFICE...
We are not currently hiring for office roles.
Equal Opportunity Policy
Land’s Sake is seeking to hire a staff that represents the racial and ethnic diversity of its constituents. Diversity and inclusion is an ongoing organizational practice and a core value of Land’s Sake with the goal of having culturally competent services, materials, resources and programs. Our hiring practices are informed by an appreciation of the strengths offered by differing cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, classes, sexual orientation, physical capacities, and age groups. Land’s Sake offers benefits including medical insurance, vacation, access to professional development and local organic food. Land’s Sake is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a multicultural organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for all positions.