Overview
Barn Manager — Farm Animal Retirement Sanctuary Jobs in Carrboro, NC at Petopia
Title: Barn Manager — Farm Animal Retirement Sanctuary
Company: Petopia
Location: Carrboro, NC
Location: Chapel Hill / Carrboro, NC; ON-SITE ONLY
Schedule: Part-time, 30 hours/week; Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
Do you want to put your animal-care skills to work for the animals who need it most? We’re looking for someone who cares about animal welfare and is eager to learn how to care for a wide range of species, including some they may never have worked with before.
About Us
We’re a farm animal rescue sanctuary providing lifelong care to a diverse population of rescued animals, including pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, poultry, dogs, cats, and reptiles. Every animal here has a story, and our job is to give each one a safe, healthy, and dignified life. We’re a caring community in a bucolic setting, and we take pride in both the animals we serve and the people who make that work possible.
This position works in partnership with Petopia.org, a nonprofit founded by Betsy Saul, founder of Petfinder.com and of Heal House Call Veterinarian. To learn more about the mission behind this work, visit www.petopia.org.
About the Role
This is a deliciously blended job for someone who values nature, variety, and relationships. It combines the physical labor of a farm hand, the judgment and autonomy of a barn or farm manager, and animal-care skills that edge into veterinary-technician territory. On any given day you might muck stalls, dispense medications, work alongside our farm vet and farrier, pound in a fence board, haul and order hay, run to the supply store, spread manure, groom, and feed. We welcome a range of backgrounds for this role. Whether your experience comes from years spent around horses and livestock, formal veterinary technician training, or a mix of both, what matters most is skill with animals and a willingness to keep learning. Certification is a welcome asset, and so is a lifetime of hands-on experience.
About You
You’ll work with a great deal of autonomy and responsibility, so a few things are essential:
- A learner’s mindset: You don’t need to have worked with every species we care for. You do need to be eager to learn, research, and get good at caring for animals that may be new to you. We’ll provide support; you bring the curiosity and drive to master species-specific care through reading, research, and close collaboration with our veterinary team.
- Dependability: Animals rely on routine. You take your responsibilities seriously: you’re where you need to be, when you need to be there, doing what needs to be done.
- Compassion: You treat every animal, teammate, and visitor with respect, patience, and kindness.
- A team spirit: You can work independently and as part of a team, and you pitch in wherever you’re needed.
- Passion for the work: You care about the animals and the mission, and it shows.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care & Welfare
- Oversee daily feeding, watering, grooming, turnout, and stall cleaning.
- Monitor animal health, behavior, and condition; identify issues and coordinate veterinary or farrier care.
- Order and dispense animal medications as directed.
- Maintain detailed records of vaccinations, treatments, diets, and general health.
- Schedule and maintain veterinary diagnostic and preventative care for all animals.
- Schedule cattle hoof trimming twice yearly.
- Ensure all animals receive proper handling in accordance with safety and welfare standards.
- Pursue ongoing education in species-specific care through independent research, veterinary consultation, and professional development.
Facility & Equipment Management
- Maintain cleanliness, safety, and functionality of barns, stalls, pastures, and storage areas.
- Coordinate repairs and routine maintenance of equipment, fencing, and structures.
- Order and haul hay; manage inventory and ordering of feed, bedding, supplements, and supplies.
- Handle manure management and spreading.
- Implement biosecurity protocols and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Staff Leadership & Scheduling
- Supervise barn staff, volunteers, or interns and provide training as needed.
- Monitor and enforce daily and weekly schedules to ensure efficient operations.
- Promote a positive, respectful, and safety-focused work environment.
Operational Management
- Develop and follow best practices and standard operating procedures for animal care and facility use.
- Communicate with veterinarians, farriers, staff, and partners as appropriate.
- Assist with budgeting, expense tracking, and cost-effective resource management.
Qualifications
- Experience in barn, farm, or livestock management (equestrian experience strongly preferred).
- Veterinary technician certification is a plus but not required; equivalent hands-on animal experience is equally valued.
- Strong knowledge of animal care, nutrition, and stable safety practices.
- Commitment to multi-species animal welfare; experience with all sanctuary species is not required, but candidates must be self-motivated learners willing to master unfamiliar species care.
- Ability to lead and coordinate a team effectively.
- Physically capable of performing manual labor and working in various weather conditions.
- Excellent communication and organizational skills.
- Ability to operate farm equipment (tractors, ATVs, grooming tools) is a plus.
Compensation & Schedule
- $22–$28 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications. This range is designed to meet or exceed a living wage for our area.
- Part-time, 30 hours per week, Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM.
- This is a part-time position and does not include health or retirement benefits.
- Four weeks (24 days) of paid time off per year, inclusive of vacation, holidays, and sick days. Because the animals need daily care, arranging qualified substitute coverage during your time off is part of the role.
- Meaningful opportunities to build connections in animal welfare and veterinary medicine through our work with Petopia, Heal House Call Veterinarian, and the broader network.
Work Environment
- Physical, hands-on work.
- Early mornings, weekends, and holidays may be required.
- Possible emergency overnight and after-hours work for animal care.
- Combination of indoor and outdoor work in variable weather conditions.
