Position Summary
The role of the Livestock Event Assistant is to help manage livestock and farm animals at small programs/events, assist with larger events, promote Trustees membership, and engage and excite visitors, program participants, and private lessees at Powisset Farm in Dover, MA. The position is also responsible for the care and feeding of barnyard animals on an as needed basis. The position is part time, year-round, often on weekends, evenings, and holidays. The Livestock Event Assistant is responsible for assisting with onsite execution of public programs and private events including childrens programs and private birthday parties throughout the farm property with a focus on handling farm livestock. Tasks may range from retrieving livestock from pastures, teaching guests how to safely interact with livestock, feeding and caring for livestock during event, event set up (moving tables and chairs), greeting/checking-in participants upon arrival, assisting with classes (material set-up and break-down), selling memberships, and providing membership information to visitors, accessing guest lists from Trustees software, and more. At all events and programs, the Livestock Event Assistant will educate and encourage visitors to support The Trustees through a variety of outlets. Events and programming are farm-based or nature-based; a significant amount of programming occurs outdoors.
Essential Functions:
Assist Engagement Manager or other managers with livestock care event set up such as moving livestock from pasture, teaching guests how to safely interact with livestock, monitor livestock needs during events, and providing Trustees marketing and educational material.
Lead smaller programs and events independently.
Assist instructors with public classes and workshops. Assist with private events – particularly for children and families
– and liaise with private lessees on site. Private events include childrens birthday parties.
Care for, feed and water barnyard animals to provide a clean, healthy environment.
Educate visitors about The Trustees mission and value of membership; sell memberships on site using Acme software.
Greet and/or check-in visitors upon arrival and orient them to the property; provide exceptional customer service by answering questions, problem solving, and directing visitors, as needed.
Be familiar with and enforce property rules and regulations.
Keep event areas organized, clean, and orderly to deliver a positive visitor experience.
Assist with managing social media postings before, during, and after events.
Perform opening and closing procedures during each shift and perform cash or credit sales transactions. Use basic computer skills when processing credit card transactions using Shopify and logging hours using Paycom.
Communicate regularly with staff to report safety concerns, incidents, maintenance needs, and program assessment.
Qualifications:
Educational background in farm or animal science or equivalent experience working hands-on with livestock and farm animals.
Outgoing, friendly, enthusiastic; must enjoy working with the public, including children and families.
Experience or a background working within natural or farm settings, nature education, and ecology preferred.
Experience working with children in educational settings a plus.
Responsible and committed, with exceptional attention to detail and safety.
Available to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings.
Articulate, confident, and calm when confronted by uncooperative visitors and when handling emergencies.
Ability to work independently.
CPR & First Aid certification desirable.
Committed to the mission of The Trustees.
Committed to a great visitor experience and sharing the excitement of Chestnut Hill Farm.
Other Requirements:
Other:
Background check required
Flexibility to work nights and weekends is required.
Working Conditions:
Variable outdoor weather conditions.
Ability to lift 40 pounds required.
Compensation:
This is a non-exempt, hourly paid position, with rolling start dates. This position is based at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough, MA.
The Trustees offers competitive compensation and the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team across the Commonwealth who love the outdoors, who love the distinctive charms of New England, and who believe in celebrating and protecting our special places, for everyone, forever.
About The Trustees:
The Trustees places are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in what we do. Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, we preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity. We have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. We are a non-profit conservation organization funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households
The Trustees offers competitive compensation, as well as the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team across the Commonwealth who love the outdoors and the distinctive charms of New England, and who believe in celebrating and protecting our special places, for everyone, forever.
The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.
Our commitment to advancing the organizations vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity