Farm Recreation Technician

As the Farm Technician at Kelsey Creek Farm, you’ll provide essential support to the Farm Recreation Program Coordinator in a hands-on role that blends hard work with meaningful impact. This position involves caring for livestock, maintaining barnyard and garden areas, and assisting with farm upkeep to keep the site safe, welcoming, and educational for all visitors. You’ll help lead volunteers and staff, support camps and tours and share the farm experience with people of all ages. As the first point of contact for drop-in visitors, you’ll play a key role in connecting the community to animals and agriculture. If you thrive on physical work, enjoy being outdoors, and want to make a difference in your community, this is the job for you! City Council Vision Statement: Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. Bellevue Parks & Community Services Vision: In Bellevue everyone can connect to each other and to nature through experiences that help them to live, grow, and thrive. Bellevue Parks & Community Services Mission: We build a healthy community through an integrated system of exceptional parks, natural areas, recreation, arts and culture, and a broad base of community services. Bellevue Parks & Community Services Equity Statement: A System of Fairness Equity acknowledges and removes disparities in opportunities, power, and resources so that everyone can reach their full potential to thrive. Bellevue Parks & Community Services practices equity, which is the responsibility of every individual in the department. Equitable access is a right, not a privilege, and is fundamental to our mission of serving all people. Through equitable policies and practices, we cultivate ties that connect people to the fabric of our community Essential Duties and Responsibilities Perform daily livestock care and barnyard maintenance, including: Feeding, cleaning, handling, grooming, training, and exercising animals Routine maintenance such as bathing, hoof care, nail trimming Monitoring animal health and reporting concerns promptly Implementing pasture rotation and maintaining farm facilities and gardens as directed Provide basic medical care and first aid for livestock, including bandaging, administering medications (orally, topically, and through subcutaneous injections), assisting with animal emergencies, and transporting animals to veterinary appointments as directed. Maintain animals’ health records in collaboration with the Farm Recreation Program Coordinator. Assist with ongoing training of Partially Benefitted Employees in animal care, handling, and safety as directed. Follow safety protocols and biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of disease. Lead, assist with, and instruct programs, volunteer activities, and special event activities, working directly with participants of all ages. Educate the public about animal care, horsemanship, Bellevue’s agricultural history, and farm life through both structured programs and informal interactions. Prepare program sites for specific programs, move equipment, supplies, and animals as needed for the day’s program schedule, set up farm spaces for meetings or activities. Provide outstanding customer service by greeting visitors, sharing farm information, directing farm users to their assigned area, and enforcing facility rules to ensure safe animal interactions. Assist with recordkeeping, rosters, forms, and office tasks, including creating social media content. Respond to emergencies and maintain awareness of safety risks. Additional duties as assigned. Supervision Received and Exercised Exercises independent judgement in routine decision-making. Works under general supervision of the Community Services Supervisor. Exercises leadership over partially benefitted employees, volunteers, and program participants, as assigned. Qualifications Knowledge, abilities, skills, and requirements Working knowledge of livestock care and handling for a variety of animals (horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, waterfowl, and cats). Basic veterinary care knowledge, including administering medications (oral, topical, injectable), first aid, and follow-up care. Knowledge of animal behavior, handling, and zoonotic disease prevention in a public setting. Strong observation, problem-solving, and time management skills. Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and a willingness to ask for clarification as needed. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize competing demands, and remain flexible while adapting to frequent interruptions and changing situations. Strong communication skills—clear, professional, and adaptable for diverse audiences. Ability to operate and maintain farm equipment and tools safely. Drive farm vehicles including trucks, tractors, utility vehicles, and manual transmission vehicles, in varying traffic, weather conditions, and on a public site. Ability to maintain accurate records and perform basic math. Proficiency in office software and willingness to learn new applications. Flexibility to work various schedules including mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Incumbent may also be required to work beyond normal shift hours for assistance and information in case of animal illness, accidents, or other site coverage needs. Education and Experience Previous hands-on experience working with a variety of farm animals is required. Education in animal sciences or a related field is desired but not required. Education and/or practical experience in gardening is preferred. Considerable previous work directly and regularly with the general public is required. Education and experience in recreation programming is desired. General office experience preferred. Must hold or obtain First Aid/CPR/AED certification. Must hold a valid driver’s license. Must pass criminal background check prior to being hired. Supplemental Information Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work involves strenuous and repetitive physical labor including fine motor skills, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, reaching above head with hands and arms, climbing, balancing, lifting, bending, stooping, crouching, crawling, walking on uneven surfaces, sitting and kneeling on the ground, climbing stairs and ladders, and ability to stand for extended periods. Candidate must be able to lead recreation programs and handle small and large animals (up to 2,000 pounds). Lift and carry 60 pounds, and push, pull, or wheelbarrow up to 300 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include near and distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. Work is performed outside and in a farm environment in varying weather conditions including temperature variation, exposure to sun, wind, rain, snow, dust, pollen, vegetation, feathers, animal fur, manure, hay, and grasses. Must be able to work outside for extended periods of time in all weather and environmental conditions. Noise level varies from quiet to very loud. Frequent communication with customers. Early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays required. Must be able to work in a dynamic, public-facing environment.