Farmyard Assistant Seasonal

Job Title: Farmyard Assistant Seasonal

Department: Education

Location: 110 Valley Farm Road New Gloucester Maine

Reports To: Education Department Director

Status: Hourly- Non-Exempt

Wage/Salary: $16.50-$18.00

SUMMARY

Pineland Farms’ Family Farmyard sees thousands of visitors every year and farmyard assistants are an essential part of our staff. The goal of the Family Farmyard is to educate and connect visitors to agriculture in a safe, engaging, hands-on environment. Sheep, goats, Shetland ponies, rabbits, pigs, chickens and peafowl all live in our farmyard, and we are looking for their next primary care takers. To be successful in this position, you must enjoy working with animals, be comfortable interacting with our visitors and be willing to get your hands dirty. Prove your dedication here, and you will grow with our department.

This is a seasonal position that will be primarily Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons/early evenings and 1 weekend day(Saturday or Sunday) required. Additional shifts are often available.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Chores and tasks associated with the family farmyard animals, gardens and general farmyard maintenance upkeep
• Engage visitors in Pineland Farms’ mission, services, history and products
• Provide back up for formal programs and lead our less formal “meet and greet a farm animal” type of experiences
• Uphold excellent guest services during visitor engagement
• Communicate effectively with other staff and supervisors to create a respectful and open work environment
• Maintain a safe and organized work environment 
• Provide support during special events

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

None.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Previous farm experience a plus but not required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must be comfortable working with animals and the public
• Ability to collaborate with other staff and supervisors
• Able to work alone and as a team

CERTIFICATIONS 

N/A

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS 

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. 

REASONING ABILITY 

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to cleaning chemicals. This position is required to work outside in all weather conditions, summer heat and winter cold. This position is occasionally around moving equipment and occasional loud noises. Some task and job duties will require the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). 

BENEFITS

• Earned PTO
• 20% off Market purchases 
• Free farm visits and discounts on programs