Caretaker(s)/Farm Manager(s) for Living History Farm Museum - Kingsport, TN

This position is for a live-on-site Caretaker/Farm Manager for Exchange Place living history farm museum in Kingsport, TN.

Exchange Place is a non-profit, volunteer-run living history farm that seeks to preserve, protect, interpret, and manage the history, heritage, and artifacts of the Gaines and Preston families. It is an educational facility that endeavors to demonstrate the resourcefulness of mid-19th century agrarian life. It is a viable, working, 62-acre farm that continues to maintain the heritage breeds of animals* and heirloom plantings essential to life of this antebellum period. As such, it is a regional attraction that offers tours, traditional period demonstrations, and other public events designed to increase community awareness and showcase heritage arts, crafts, and skills of the Appalachian region.

The ideal candidate will be a person who has a combined love for history and farming. The Caretaker/Farm Manager is primarily responsible for:

• -- Caring for Exchange Place’s animals*

• -- Maintaining buildings and grounds

• -- Providing security for the property

• -- Representing Exchange Place in a positive manner to the general public, volunteers, educators, and all others who come in contact with Exchange Place

This person will work in cooperation with Exchange Place volunteers and will report to the Steering Committee. Strong communication skills are a must. Flexibility and willingness to work irregular hours on weekdays and weekends is required.

Compensation for the Caretaker/Farm Manager is the rent-free use of the Caretaker/Farm Manager’s house. This two bedroom historic farm house is provided for the Caretaker/Farm Manager and his/her immediate family. Within reasonable limits, water and electricity will be paid by Exchange Place. The Caretaker/Farm Manager is expected to properly maintain the house and yard of the Caretaker/Farm Manager house.

* As of 01/01/2014, Exchange Place has two Suffolk Punch draft horses, one riding horse, one Milking Shorthorn cow (that is not being milked), nine sheep (Cotswold and Tunis), two Mulefoot pigs, and two barn cats. A small flock of Dominique chickens is planned for spring of 2014.

And here are the duties the position entails:

SERVICES Animal Care Caring for the animals is the primary duty of the Caretaker/Farm Manager. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

•  Feeding and watering daily.
•  Purchasing feed as needed.
•  Conducting an "animal check” twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. This is basically a head count and quick health evaluation (is any animal acting oddly or differently, etc.?).
•  Letting the chickens out in the morning and putting them back in the coop at night (as necessary).
•  Monitoring pregnant animals (as necessary).
•  Rotating sheep between the sheep pastures.
•  Monitoring the grazing of the livestock; this may require walking them to the bottom pasture or opening gates to bottom pasture.
•  Making sure the bedding (where used) is cleaned out and replaced on a regular basis.
•  Scheduling routine farrier appointments (about once every 8 weeks).
•  Scheduling vet appointments for vaccinations (this is usually done twice yearly), and calling the vet for emergency situations.
•  Keeping an updated log of vet visits, wormings, vaccinations, etc., in the Animal Care notebook.
•  Worming on a regular basis (specifics to be provided).
•  Keeping the livestock fencing in good repair.
•  Ensuring that sufficient hay is put up in the barn.

Animal and site needs are to be met by:

Security

•  Examining and evaluating the safety and security needs of the property, including monitoring the alarm system.
•  Ensuring all buildings and gates are locked at the end of every day.

Maintenance

•  Monitoring Exchange Place buildings and grounds and communicating all findings and concerns to appropriate committee chairs.
•  Keeping Roseland clean and orderly.
•  Cleaning and stocking all bathrooms on site.
•  Maintaining proper care of Caretaker/Farm Manager’s home and yard.
•  Preparing facilities for meetings and special events, including cleaning and stocking all bathrooms and the kitchen (as necessary).
•  Regularly monitoring facilities during events and restocking supplies as needed.
•  Maintaining adequate inventories of consumable products, such as toilet paper, towels, soap, and light bulbs.
•  Ensuring that kitchen towels and wash cloths are cleaned as necessary.
•  Disposing of Exchange Place trash weekly on scheduled collection days.
•  Making minor repairs as needed, such as replacing light bulbs.

Communication

•  Maintaining positive working relationships with volunteers and committee chairs, assisting with program implementation if requested by the Steering Committee.
•  Collaborating with Steering Committee on:
•  Use of facilities.
•  Maintaining an up-to-date calendar.
•  Planning programs.
•  Working closely with festival chairs on preparing and maintaining the facility for special events.
•  Checking and responding to telephone and email messages in a timely manner.
•  Following Steering Committee guidelines for use of the facilities and resources.
•  Acquiring approval of Steering Committee for changes in activities, programs and/or events.
•  Securing substitute(s) to cover duties as defined in this Agreement when absent for any reason.
•  Presenting Caretaker/Farm Manager report at each Steering Committee meeting.