Job Description

Job Advert

Scope of Job:

Godstone Farm is a visitor attraction that welcomes over 250,000 visitors each year. We always ensure every guest visiting is welcomed, entertained, and receives the best quality of customer experience in an environment where health and safety is paramount. Our team are required to be energetic, enthusiastic, responsible, trustworthy, hardworking, reliable and have a passion for customer service.


The livestock assistant is responsible for ensuring that every visitor passing through Godstone Farm enjoys the highest standard of customer experience whilst supporting the Livestock Manager in the day-to-day care of the animals. As a priority the livestock assistant will oversee the welfare of the animals, and the safety and cleanliness of all working areas.


This is a proactive position with responsibility for identifying improvements to the customer experience for or to welfare standards for our animals.

Key Attributes:

An obvious lover of animals, with the ability to excite children by providing hands on experiences whilst educating about their care. Confident in handling large and small animals including horses, ponies & reptiles Awareness of customers' perceptions and expectations. Taking feedback and continuously improving the offer we provide. A pro-active individual with a friendly outgoing personality and excellent communication skills who is confident interacting with children and talking to groups. Flexibility and willingness to work hard and have fun at the same time.

Main Responsibilities:

Animals*
To ensure the highest level of cleanliness in all animal areas including mucking out on a daily basis. Confident driving and operating farm machinery e.g. tractor & trailer. Ensure the animals dietary requirements are met daily. Take an active role in supporting the animal health programs and complete all relevant paperwork & tasks to a high standard. Confident in moving livestock around the farm including pigs, cows, and sheep. Confident in working with and caring for a variety of exotic animals. The ability to manage field maintenance both manual and with machinery e.g. harrow. Being vigilant when working with the animals and bringing any potential illness or unwanted behaviours to the livestock manager's attention. Manual handling and other physically demanding tasks.

2.

Customer

Act as a role model and lead by example to ensure the highest level of service delivery to both internal and external customers. Share facts and knowledge about the animals to both customers and team members, ensure the experience of meeting our animals is memorable and informative. Ensure any maintenance issues are rectified quickly, or clearly communicated and planned for resolution. Adopt a hands-on approach in order to rectify minor issues and liaise with the Livestock Manager (or Duty Manager) for larger or emergency tasks. Play an active role out on the farm, deliver ad-hoc animal experiences, talks, farmer experiences, school groups and birthday parties. Help other teams, when necessary, in other duties around the farm, either on an ad-hoc or rota basis to cover holiday or other absence. Ensure all communication is within Godstone Farm brand guidelines, for example temporary signage and own behaviour.

3.

Financial

Communicate all ordering requirements with the Livestock Manager, ensuring the animals have everything they need cost effectively. Be proactive in finding ways to reduce waste, maximise use of time and minimise spend.

4. Health & Safety

Demonstrate an understanding of the Farm Park and Department Health and Safety policies and procedures. Understand and adhere to the NFAN code of practice. Work within guidelines laid out in safe systems of work and departmental risk assessments. Create a culture where "Near Misses" are reported immediately and relevant maintenance action is taken to rectify problems. Maintain a safe environment relating to any infectious diseases both relating to humans and animals (zoonoses).

Experience & Qualifications:

A good level of education is a must, the successful candidate must be numerate and literate with at least Grade A-C in English and Maths. Relevant Animal Management qualification. Full driving licence. Experience working with a wide variety of animals. Experience of driving large vehicles and farm machinery. Experience of tractor driving essential, with trailer is advantageous. Ability to keep calm under pressure.

The role involves significant weekend and bank holiday working and the job holder is required to be flexible with their working hours in line with the demands of the business.

HEALTH AND SAFETY STATEMENT

MANAGERS/SUPERVISORS

Managers/supervisors are responsible for all aspects of Health, Safety within their team. In particular, they must ensure that risk assessments have been carried out, that safe working procedures are in place for all work activities and that all employees in their teams operate in a safe manner. They must ensure that safe working practices are monitored, and that risk assessments and procedures are reviewed regularly. Where incidents do occur, they must ensure that they are investigated appropriately and that where necessary, corrective action is taken to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.

EMPLOYEES

Employees are responsible for the safety of themselves, their colleagues, and visitors (where appropriate). In particular, they must ensure that they follow safe working procedures for all work activities that they undertake, and they must not use any tools or equipment for which they have not been trained. Where incidents do occur, they must ensure that they are reported to their line manager and must cooperate with any investigation as appropriate.