Barn Assistant

MCHS Family of Services•Mayville, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Barn Assistant is responsible for the care and maintenance of all animals and animal-related facilities owned by MCHS. This position also assists campers with barn animal activities. Key duties include maintaining weekly checklists for feed, supplements, medication, care, exercise, and training. The assistant will administer basic first aid and oral/IM medications, train new staff and volunteers in animal handling techniques, and work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends when necessary. Regular monitoring of animals for injury/illness, communication with the Lead Barn Assistant and/or Equestrian Program Supervisor, and managing health emergencies are critical. The role involves providing medical treatment, exercising animals, mixing food/liquid formulas/medications, feeding and watering livestock, and monitoring supplies. Additionally, the Barn Assistant is responsible for cleaning stalls, pens, and equipment, assisting with the inspection, maintenance, and repair of equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences. Daily and routine maintenance of animal care facilities, such as manure management, trough management, pasture rotation, and fence line management, is also required. The position includes maintaining the upkeep of various animal areas like stalls, tack room, pastures, indoor arena, paddocks, equipment sheds, and animal shelters. The incumbent must demonstrate commitment to the social sector with a passion for MCHS’s mission and vision and perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent required.
Maintain a valid driver’s license and driving record that is acceptable and meets requirements of the agency’s insurance carrier.
Must meet the State’s Moral Character standard.
Knowledge of storage/handling techniques of animal feed.
Basic animal handling knowledge and skills and comfortable handling animals independently.
Knowledge of appropriate use of tools including but not limited to saddles, reins, farrier equipment.
Familiar with safety measures including appropriate use of protective equipment, safe lifting, and animal handling.
Effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Manage time and multiple priorities, meet deadlines.
Exercise professional judgment in dealing with animals and visitors to the barn.
Complete assigned tasks in an efficient and effective manner.
Perform physically active work requiring frequent standing, reaching, walking, bending, shoveling, pulling, pushing, climbing and lifting in order to perform various animal and visitor care.
Able to push/pull weight of up to 150 pounds and lift weight of up to 75 pounds.
Possess an understanding of proper and safe use of cleaning equipment, chemicals, and products.
Adhere to all applicable safety and health policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

1 year of experience with horseback riding and animal care preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain the weekly feed, supplement, medication, care, exercise and training checklist.
Give animals basic first aid and oral and IM medications, as needed.
Welcome and train new staff and volunteers in animal handling techniques.
Work flexible hours, when needed, which may include some evenings and weekends.
Check animals regularly for possible injury/illness and communicate any issues of concern to the Lead Barn Assistant and/or Equestrian Program Supervisor and manage any health emergencies that arise.
Provide medical treatment to the animals, such as administering medications and vaccinations and update health records accordingly.
Exercise animals to maintain their physical and mental health.
Mix food, liquid formulas, medications, or food supplements according to instructions.
Feed and water livestock and monitor food and water supplies.
Clean stalls, pens, and equipment, using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, or pumps.
Assist Lead Barn Assistant with inspecting, maintaining, and repairing equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences as needed.
Daily and routine maintenance of animal care facilities such as manure management, trough management, pasture rotation management, fence line management, etc.
Maintain upkeep of animal areas including stalls, tack room, pastures, indoor arena, paddocks, equipment sheds, animal shelters, etc.
Demonstrate commitment to the social sector with a passion for MCHS’s mission and vision
Perform other duties as assigned.