work with us at sanctuary at sho

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Sanctuary@SHO seeks A PART-TIME COMMUTER Duck Caretaker to assist with the day-to-day care and maintenance of our 100-plus flock of rescued domestic ducks.

We accept applications on a rolling basis, and will be happy to place your application on a wait-list if positions are filled

About Sanctuary at SHO

Sanctuary at SHO is a duck and wildlife refuge creating food systems that model a non-exploitive relationship with animals.
Sanctuary at SHO is a 501(c)(3) headquartered at SHO Farm, a 1300 acre permaculture forest farm located in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Our work is intended to model a life- positive way of stewarding large working landscapes in partnership with wildlife and our duck flock. In August 2016, we rescued over 100 ducklings from going to slaughter after being used by a rice grower for weed and insect control, and fertilization.

We are a working regenerative, plant-centered farm with duck partners whom we’ve committed to care for with respect, compassion and love for the duration of their lives.

In addition to providing our flock with a loving home, we are interested in researching and modeling how to
responsibly integrate the care of domestic animals into a working ecosystem instead of viewing them as commodities in the human food chain.

We hope to inspire other land stewards and farmers to partner with wildlife and domestic animals in a non-exploitive, respectful and compassionate way.

To Learn More About Us, Please Visit

  • www.sanctuaryatsho.org (this website)

  • www.livingfuture.org

  • www.shofarm-cbduck.com

  • www.earthasset.com

  • Facebook page for SHO Farm - under Melissa Hoffman, Member of SHO Farm, LLC - https://www.facebook.com/ tealfarm.vermont

duties


Please read the job description and application instructions carefully

  • Ensure safety, health and well-being of ducks at all times

  • Clean indoor and outdoor facilities (mucking pens will be the most significant duty each day)

  • Feed/water ducks that are kept inside barn and allowed outside for the day

  • Move ducks in and out of barn (weather-depending)

  • Maintenance and repair of indoor and outdoor facilities as needed

  • Assist with straw/hay storage

  • Assist with basic animal care procedures (nail clipping, leg banding, wound treating, etc.)

  • Assist with outdoor electric fence infrastructure installation, repair, maintenance, rotation

  • Assist in keeping food and supplies inventory

  • Monitor ducks for health and injuries

  • Observe, record and discuss animal observations

  • Egg management (collection, clean, store, data entry)

  • Inspect predator controls

  • Secure barn at end of day

  • Other tasks and duties as needed

    Qualifications

  • Trustworthy/honest

  • Reliable/dependable

  • Strong work ethic

  • Excellent attention to detail

  • Compassionate toward/patient with animals

  • Commitment to a farm/animal care-taking lifestyle (long irregular hours, physically demanding, emotionally

    challenging at times)

  • Quick learner

  • Ability to work in harsh/all weather conditions (extreme cold and hot/humid conditions)

  • Ability to perform strenuous physical labor and lifting, excellent stamina, no medical issues or limitations (must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs)

  • Ability to complete detailed tasks as assigned and within required timeframe

  • Ability to work independently

  • Strong animal behavior observation skills

  • Ability to multi-task

  • Thrive in a dynamic, ever-changing environment

  • Responsive to spontaneous needs

  • High level of initiative and a desire to excel

  • Clean, orderly

  • Ability to think on the fly, not operate purely by rote

  • Clear, respectful communicator

  • Professional in comportment and appearance

POSITIONS

 Commuter/Off-Farm—AVAILABLE

These positions require a commitment to working 2 days per week. This position can range anywhere from between 8 and 10 hours per day.

To APPLY Please send a letter of inquiry to melissa@livingfuture.org. Please include answers to the following questions as part of your letter of inquiry:

1. Why are you interested in working at our duck sanctuary?

2. Do you have any conditions that could interfere with the performance of the job?

3. Do you have reliable transportation (AWD/4WD)? We live 35 min from Burlington, VT, (hospital, shops, restaurants), 15 min from Richmond, VT, 5 min from Huntington Village.

Sanctuary at SHO | SHO Farm working style and environment

Employees and guests shall follow these guidelines while on the farm:

• Quiet and respectful presence
 • Please avoid using scented chemicals/perfumes while working at the farm.
• Maintain professional decorum with guests
• Tobacco and drug-free campus
• Meals - please do not bring meat or dairy products to the farm.
• COVID protocol: We ask that people take great care when in public, sanitize their hands upon arrival, and report any symptoms prior to entering the barn. If working in close contact with others, we will ask that commuters wear masks at those times.

PLEASE NOTE: Attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions are central to all duck caretaker positions, and therefore only complete applications containing all requested information and documents submitted by applicants meeting the requirements listed will be considered.  Positions are filled on an as-needed and rolling basis.  

 

In addition to the job qualifications set forth in each of the detailed job descriptions, the following requirements apply to all positions:

-Must be 18 years or older for salaried positions; internships may be awarded to applicants under 18 years of age on a case-by-case basis

-Must be legally employable in the US; we require all employees to complete Form I-9 and supply us with proper documentation (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents)

-Must complete Form W-4 for salaried positions; positions involving salaried compensation will be processed through payroll

-A note about positions requiring on-site/farm housing as compensation; per 26 US Code Section 119(a)(2), the value of lodging shall be excluded from gross income (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title26/pdf/USCODE-2011-title26-subtitleA-chap1-subchapB-partIII-sec119.pdf)

Applicants should seek their own legal and tax advice to ensure compliance with all relevant state and federal laws.