Facilities Manager & Animal Care Assistant

Duties

• Perform routine maintenance tasks including plumbing, electrical, propane gas, and carpentry work and repairs to appliances, fixtures, furniture, buildings, barns, coops, fencing, gates, doors, windows, and animal enclosures.
• Respond promptly to service requests and maintain a schedule for ongoing projects.
• Inspect and maintain cat rooms, dog areas, goat barns, and chicken coops to ensure they are safe, secure, and weather-tight.
• Conduct regular inspections of the fencing, gates, grounds and buildings and make needed repairs and address any facility-related hazards.
• Maintain tools and equipment (mowers, trimmers, hand tools, pressure washers) in good working condition and keep grounds mowed, trimmed, and free of debris.
• Assist with daily feeding and watering of cats, dogs, goats, and chickens following established routines.
• Clean and help maintain animal areas, including disinfecting enclosures, litter areas, and feeding/watering stations.
• Observe animals and promptly report any signs of illness or injury, and transport animals to and from the veterinarian as requested.
• Help prepare for and respond to weather events and emergencies (storms, power outages, flooding, etc.).

Requirements

• Practical experience in maintenance, construction, farming, landscaping, or similar work.
• Basic skills in at least two areas: carpentry, plumbing, electrical troubleshooting, fencing, and small-engine/equipment maintenance.
• Comfort working around cats, dogs, goats, and chickens in a noisy, muddy, and sometimes high-stress environment.
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds, work on your feet for extended periods, and work outdoors in all typical North Carolina weather.
• Reliability, good communication, and willingness to follow safety and animal-care protocols.
• Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail and ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
• Current driver's license.

Preferred

• Experience in an animal shelter, refuge, farm, or sanctuary.
• Familiarity with barn and pasture maintenance and predator-safe coop and fencing design.
• Basic understanding of animal behavior and low-stress handling.

Schedule and work environment

• Full-time schedule with some weekends and holidays required.
• Work is primarily outdoors or in barns and shelter buildings, with regular exposure to animal dander, dust, cleaning agents, and varying temperatures.
• Occasional on-call or after-hours work for urgent repairs or emergencies may be required.

Live-in option

For the right candidate, The Goathouse Refuge may offer an on-site or adjacent live-in housing arrangement, subject to availability and a separate written agreement. This arrangement may include additional responsibilities related to after-hours monitoring, emergency response, and property security.

Contact Information

Job Contact Details
Name: Karen Wade
Title: Treasurer
Telephone Number: 919-542-6815
Email Address: karen@goathouserefuge.org
Website: https://www.goathouserefuge.org

How to Apply

Please Send a Brief Resume Or Work History, References And a Short Email Explaining Your Maintenance Experience And Comfort Level With Animals To karen@goathouserefuge.org You may also include any photos/examples of past projects (e.g., fencing, carpentry, repairs) if available. This is a full time job.