Animal Care Team Member (Assistant Barn Manager Growth Opportunity)

Animal Care Team Member

(Assistant Barn Manager Growth Opportunity)
Tomten Farm and Sanctuary – Haverhill, NH

Job Type: Full-time
Part-time position considered for the right candidate

Compensation:
Starting pay reflects your experience and availability. Raises follow skill growth, reliability, commitment, and deepening knowledge of Tomten’s Rescues and care systems.

About Us

Tomten Farm and Sanctuary is a well-established, mission-driven nonprofit providing lifelong sanctuary to more than 100 rescued animals, including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, chickens, geese, rabbits, and cats.

Every day, we provide peace, protection, and possibility while working closely with a trusted care network of veterinarians, farriers, hoof trimmers, and other professionals to deliver thoughtful, individualized, above-and-beyond care.

We are growing thoughtfully and adding to our team.

This is not just a job. It is an opportunity to build a meaningful career in animal care within a values-driven environment where your work truly matters.

Position Overview

We are hiring an Animal Care Team Member with strong hands-on equine experience who is confident handling horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules across a wide range of ages, personalities, and needs.

This role requires real horsemanship beyond basic barn chores, while also fully participating in daily physical barn work. The ideal candidate has worked with equines outside of personal ownership and brings experience leading, grooming, blanketing, wrapping, trailering, and safely handling animals in a variety of situations.

This is neither a training position nor an entry-level equine role. Applicants must already have a solid foundation in equine handling. Training in Tomten’s specific practices, principles, and approach to care is required to ensure consistent, thoughtful, and individualized animal care across the farm.

Applicants whose experience is limited to basic barn work without active animal handling responsibilities may not be a good fit for this role at this time. We appreciate your interest and encourage those candidates to check back for other openings in the future.

In addition to equine care, this role includes working with and caring for a variety of other species. An interest in multi-species care is essential, and prior experience with other animals is welcomed.

Minimum commitment: 12 months preferred. We invest heavily in training our team and seek candidates who want to grow long-term beside us.

Key Responsibilities

• Daily hands-on animal care, observation, and monitoring across species
• Feeding and watering routines for equines and other Rescues
• Feed preparation including hay, grain, and supplement preparation
• Stall cleaning, shed picking and pasture cleanup
• Assist with hay and grain deliveries, unloading and stacking, inventory tracking, and maintaining clean, organized feed and storage systems
• Hands-on animal handling including turnout, grooming, blanketing and more
• Working collaboratively with the care team to maintain consistent routines and high standards of care
• General farm upkeep including watering, weed-whacking, snow removal, and brush clearing
• Equipment use including work gator, mower, and related tools
• Working both independently and as part of a small, hardworking, coordinated team

What We’re Looking For

• A skilled, compassionate, and open-minded equine handler with demonstrated experience working hands-on with horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules beyond personal ownership
• Comfortable leading, grooming, blanketing, wrapping, trailering, and managing a range of temperaments and physical needs
• Experience in professional barns, rescues, sanctuaries, or training environments preferred
• Interest in and willingness to care for additional species, including pigs, goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, chickens, geese, rabbits, and cats
• Prior experience with other species is a plus and should be noted in your application
• Has a strong eye for detail and takes pride in high standards of care and presentation
• Demonstrates a deep respect for animals and commitment to their well-being
• Strong communication skills and comfort working within a small, coordinated team
• Hardworking, dependable, and able to keep pace with the daily rhythm and physical demands of a working sanctuary
• Open to natural horsemanship and low-stress, individualized handling methods

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Able to work on your feet for extended periods
• Work takes place both indoors and outdoors
• All-season, all-weather position including heat, cold, rain, snow, mud, and wind
• Comfortable working around animals of all sizes with all levels of education

Growth Opportunity

For the right candidate, this role may grow into an Assistant Barn Manager position, with increased responsibility and leadership within daily operations.

What We Offer

• Flexible scheduling
• On-the-job training in Tomten’s care philosophy and systems
• Room for advancement and increased compensation
• Supportive, mission-driven environment
• Work that is respected, growth that is supported, and compassion that is valued

Requirements

• Age 18
• Valid driver’s license and reliable, all-season transportation
• Must reside within approximately 45 minutes of the sanctuary
• Supervisor references and background check
• Commitment to a drug-free, smoke-free, alcohol-free workplace
• Willingness to work up to 12 Saturdays per year

How to Apply

Please email your resume and a brief letter of interest to:
tomtenfarmandsanctuary@gmail.com

Subject Line: Animal Care Team Member Application

Please include:

• Why sanctuary work appeals to you
• A brief description of your hands-on experience with equines (horses, ponies, donkeys, or mules), including where you gained that experience and your level of responsibility
• Any experience working with other species
• Your door-to-sanctuary commute time
• Your ideal start date
• Two supervisor references (name, role, phone/email)

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond individually to every applicant. We truly appreciate your interest and will reach out directly to candidates whose experience and availability best match our current needs.

We look forward to connecting with candidates who align with this role and our mission.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person