Primary Responsibilities
This job expired on January 12, 2021
Farm Co-Director (animal systems) Quail Springs
- Date Posted November 13, 2020
- Location Ventucopa, CA
- Category Agriculture / Nonprofit
- Job type Full-Time
Company description
Founded in 2004, Quail Springs is an educational non-profit that sits on a 450-acre permaculture demonstration site in the Cuyama Valley. Quail Springs is dedicated to exploring the possibilities of sustainable human community on land through teaching and demonstration. We believe that land health is human health, and that the lessons of simple living provide direction towards a thriving Earth and society.
Job description
The Farm Co-Director (animal systems) co-leads our farm team and takes care of the animals on the farm. We currently have 16 goats (5 being milked and 5 pregnant now!), about 80 chickens, and two great Pyrenees to protect them all from the coyotes! We sometime have rabbits and ducks as well. This is a great position if you want to live in community, like working with others as well as alone, love working with animals and are interested in milk, egg and meat (and vegetable!) production on a small community scale. We are both a community and a teaching site so a love of people and sharing your knowledge are important qualities for this role. The two Farm Directors (plant and animal) work together to grow food and run the work trade program along with our Hosting Director.
Before the pandemic we did a lot of in person teaching, but now we're moving our tours and classes online. We've been making fun short videos and tutorials and there's lots of space for creativity there.
This position is largely self-directed and the right candidate will be able to work independently as well as in collaboration with the community.
- Coordinate and develop livestock caretaking team capacities
- Manage farm work traders in conjunction with the Farm Co-Director (Plant Systems) and the Hosting Director
- Understand all livestock needs, including food, shelter, care, and their integration into the systems
- Design and carry out rotational grazing of goats.
- Take a significant part in chores including milking, nutrient cycling, pen cleaning, and more
- Set and work towards milk, egg, and meat goals
- Teach animal-based portions of workshops and courses
- Interface with programs for farm-specific courses
- Hold weekly farm-team meetings in conjunction with the Farm Co-Director (Plant Systems) and the Hosting Director to give and receive farm feedback, and to see that all farm needs are being met
- Assess and express farm needs to the community as needed
Qualities & Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate
- 1+ years of experience with farm animal systems
- Experience managing people
- Ability to create an inspiring and motivating work environment
- Clear and effective communication skills
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations
- Ability to create and manage your own schedule
- Flexibility with hours and projects
- Self-directed and takes initiative on work and projects
- Experience butchering animals or the willingness to learn
- Willingness to engage in community chores (laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc.)
- Ability to live in community and to work well in a team
- Cultural sensitivity & ability to adapt working style
- Strong work ethic and attention to detail
- Proficient computer skills
- Spanish proficiency is a plus
- LGBTQ+ folks and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply
- Couples welcome
- We value relevant life experiences that demonstrate qualifications as much as education
Location
Quail Springs is based near Ventucopa, California in the Cuyama Valley, about one hour from the nearest urban/suburban center (Ojai).
Residents and staff
The residents and staff of the Quail Springs site and non-profit are a group of makers and thinkers who work together to create regenerative land and community systems. The residents and staff of Quail Springs strive to create a vibrant community and balanced workplace through passion, collaboration, and celebration.
Structure
Prospective candidates will embrace simple, remote rural living in a community while working in a nonprofit organization. Quail Springs has recently adopted a new organizational structure with the aim of empowering all employees with decision-making power in their areas of work and supporting a more equitable, efficient and engaging work environment. We are excited about this new structure and a successful applicant will have an interest in non-hierarchical workplace structures and a commitment to grow with us.
About you
Successful applicants are flexible, willing to learn, and have an interest in equitable and resilient community structures. A good sense of humor, excellent communication skills, and an orientation towards leaning in during conflict instead of leaning out will serve the successful candidate in this position.
Working & Living Conditions
This position is approximately 30 hours per week, with some weeks being less, and others being more. The successful candidate is self-directed and thrives with a shifting workload. In addition to the 30 hours per week commitment, we all share in community responsibilities. The person hired for this position will live and work in the Quail Springs community setting, where there are anywhere from 10-25 other people living and working on the mission of the organization. The site is remote, with limited communications (cell phones do not work, and the internet and phone service are limited to the central area).
This job expired on January 12, 2021
DeadlineDecember 22, 2020