Children's Farm Manager

OVERVIEW

The Children’s Farm Manager (CFM) will bring a passion for connecting people to farm life and animals, where their food comes from, as well as sustainable farming. They will be responsible for all activities at the Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm including animal care, acquisition and training, and facilitation and interpretation. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with excellent relationship building skills and a strong understanding of animal training techniques and animal husbandry.

KEY FUNCTIONS

Animal Care and Training

• Responsible for the high-quality care (both directly and through delegation of staff and volunteers) of a variety of farm animals including, but not limited to, alpacas, cows, pigs, goats, chicken, peacocks, rabbits, turkeys and chickens
• Oversee feeding/watering schedule, administration of medication, vet/health checks and daily reports making notes on any changes in behavior, diet, illness, or body condition. Ensures all information is accurately recorded and stored
• Maintains cleanliness and upkeep of all enclosures per company standards. Including disinfecting, cleaning, repair and ordering of necessary bedding/supplies. Ensures adequate and correct storage of food, bedding, and supplies.
• Orders all necessary food and supplies
• Work with all animals on a regular schedule to ensure animals are calm and well behaved in a variety of scenarios. Ensure that we have a dedicated group of animal ambassadors that can be used for hands on programs
• Select and purchases animals that are suited for programming and high contact activities
• Responsible for making sure animals receive regular training, handling, exercise, and enrichment
• Oversee gardening and greenhouse area

Interpretation and Customer Service

• Engage the public through a variety of hands-on scheduled programs such as tours and birthday parties
• Create plans for public programming
• Work with the Outdoor Programs department to conduct curriculum relevant field trips and continuously communicates necessary changes and updates.
• Monitor daily foot traffic and interaction with animals to ensure policies are in place and being followed and that animals and guests are safe during interactions
• Enhance guest experience through educational interpretation
• Make sure all public facilities around the Children’s Farm are in good condition and presentable. Put in maintenance requests as necessary
• Ensures necessary sanitation measures are maintained for the public upon entering and leaving the farm as well as during their farm experience

Administration and Management

• Create and implement policies and procedures as they relate to the Children’s Farm
• Manage the Children’s Farm budget
• Maintain all necessary health records as digital files
• Manage the purchasing and selling of animals including necessary veterinary documents for transfer and bills of sales etc.
• Handle all communication related to the Children’s Farm including inquiries, bookings, complaints etc.
• Supervise all staff, volunteers and interns that work at the Children’s Farm. Train on feeding and care schedules
• Manage gardens related to the Children’s Farm through volunteers and staff

THE LSC WAY

Our Culture is a top priority. As part of our commitment to culture we have written several ‘Fundamentals’ called The LSC Way that are traits we value in our daily activities. The fundamentals that are critically important to this position are:

• Deliver legendary service
• Be vigilant about safety
• Collaborate
• Be relentless about improvement
• Take ownership

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Knowledge of how to run a farm and care for a variety of farm animals
• Excellent understanding of animal training techniques
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to interpret farm life for customers
• Above average presentation, verbal, and written communication skills
• Ability to evaluate a program and create and implement necessary policies and procedures
• Flexible work schedule with weekend, evening and holiday availability ‘
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of personalities and backgrounds as it relates to staff, volunteers and guests

MINIMUM 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.

• Degree in animal training, animal science, zoology or other relevant field preferred or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities
• Current CPR, First Aid, AED certifications and Child Protection training; will train
• Valid Driver’s License

REPORTING TO THIS POSITION

Children’s Farm Staff

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Some physical requirements could be endurance-related, including prolonged standing, some bending, stooping, walking long distances, and extensive horse riding. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity to manipulate outdoor equipment and activities; requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare, and communicate appropriate participant activities/programs. Ability to push/pull/lift up to 50lbs; exposure to inconsistent weather conditions such as sun, heat, or rain and animals such as bugs and snakes, etc.