Animal Care Team Member

Tomten Farm and Sanctuary is hiring for the Animal Care Team Member position in Haverhill, NH. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Feed, water, observe, move, and care for animals according to the farm's routines and welfare standards. • Clean and bed housing, maintain fences and water systems, and keep feed, tools, and care areas orderly. • Report changes in appetite, behavior, movement, injury, health, births, or facility condition immediately. • Handle horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules confidently through leading, grooming, blanketing, wrapping, trailering, and other assigned care across different ages, temperaments, health needs, and training levels. • Learn and follow each rescue animal's individualized routine, observe condition and behavior closely, and communicate changes or concerns so the team can coordinate with veterinarians, hoof-care providers, shearers, and other professionals. • Support the barns, paddocks, pastures, feed and water routines, care supplies, records, and shared farm spaces with the consistency required by animals who depend on the team every day and in every season. How the work fits together Animal checks set the order of the day. Feed, water, health, weather exposure, and secure housing are confirmed before lower-priority projects. The employee records or reports observations, completes assigned husbandry and facility work, and rechecks gates, animals, equipment, and supplies before the shift ends. At Tomten Farm and Sanctuary, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Handle horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules confidently through leading, grooming, blanketing, wrapping, trailering, and other assigned care across different ages, temperaments, health needs, and training levels. Learn and follow each rescue animal's individualized routine, observe condition and behavior closely, and communicate changes or concerns so the team can coordinate with veterinarians, hoof-care providers, shearers, and other professionals. Support the barns, paddocks, pastures, feed and water routines, care supplies, records, and shared farm spaces with the consistency required by animals who depend on the team every day and in every season. What the employer is looking for • Strong hands-on equine experience gained beyond personal ownership; this is not an entry-level horsemanship role, and candidates should already be capable of active, safe handling rather than only basic barn chores. • At least 18 years old, a valid driver's license and reliable all-season transportation, residence within approximately 45 minutes of the sanctuary, successful background and supervisor-reference checks, up to 14 weekend days per year, and preferably a 12-month commitment. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation The opening is full-time, with part-time considered for the right candidate. Starting compensation reflects experience and availability, but the employer does not publish a numeric range or standard weekly schedule. Tomten offers flexible scheduling, some paid main holidays, accrued paid time off, snacks during the day, role training, and a path toward Assistant Barn Manager responsibility and higher compensation as skill and reliability grow. The workplace is drug-free, smoke-free, and alcohol-free. Confirm the weekly hours, daily animal-care shifts, weekend rotation, starting pay, raise process, time-off accrual, and benefit eligibility during hiring. The employer does not publish a numeric wage range on this page, so no compensation has been estimated. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person agricultural and animal-care position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Email a resume and brief letter of interest to tomtenfarmandsanctuary@gmail.com with the subject Animal Care Team Member Application. Explain why sanctuary work appeals to you; where you gained hands-on equine experience and your responsibility level; experience with species beyond equines; your door-to-sanctuary commute time; and ideal start date. Include two supervisor references with each person's name, role, and phone number or email. Make the distinctions between ownership, volunteer, and professional animal-care work clear.