Work at the farm
Careers
Sanborn Mills Farm runs on a small staff who work across the fields, the mills, the dining hall, the studios, and the office.
Open positions
Now hiring
We are not a museum. We are a place where work is the archive and use is preservation.
Farm team
Horse Teamster and Farm Hand
We are looking for an experienced horse teamster who brings their own well-trained draft team. The team works the farm’s fields and woodlot with horse-drawn equipment in support of our agricultural, forestry, and teaching programs: field preparation, logging, hauling, wagon and sleigh rides, and special events.
The teamster is a core member of the Farm Team, helping with the garden, fencing, animal chores, and seasonal projects, and teaches students, interns, and visitors the skills of horse-powered work. The right person is committed to animal welfare and reads and responds to a horse’s needs as the work happens.
What you will do
- Feed, water, and groom the horses daily.
- Drive draft horses for farm work, logging, wagon and sleigh rides, and special events.
- Keep tack and draft equipment in safe working order.
- Give students, visitors, and workshop participants a safe and educational experience.
- Follow safety practices for animal handling and work around the public.
- Help the Farm Team with animal chores, garden upkeep, fencing, and hay production.
- Take on grounds and seasonal maintenance, and support other departments as needed.
What you bring
- Proven experience training and safely driving draft horses.
- Working knowledge of conventional and historical farming practices.
- Experience with tractors, chainsaws, and other farm and logging equipment.
- Husbandry experience with several species, such as chickens, sheep, pigs, and cattle.
- Experience teaching or working with the public through workshops, demonstrations, or outreach.
- Willingness to share rotating weekend coverage and to work outdoors in all weather.
- A driver’s license. Mechanical and carpentry skills are a plus.
The work
Mostly outdoor, year-round physical work on a historic farm, around draft horses, equipment, and uneven ground. Hours shift with the season and can include early mornings, some evenings, and rotating weekends. Haying, logging, and public events may need extra hours.
Your team’s care
The farm provides stall or paddock housing for your team, hay and grain to farm standards, routine veterinary and farrier care, and bedding. Horse housing and care depend on active employment and the Draft Horse Use & Liability Addendum.
The Position
Type
Full-time or seasonal
Reports to
Ray Ramsey, Farm Manager
Pay
$55,000 a year
Benefits
Health insurance, 401(k) with match, paid time off and sick time, flexible schedule, professional development
Start
As soon as possible
Deadline
Open until filled
Leadership
Director of Development
The Director of Development is a key leadership role. Working with the Executive Director, staff leadership, and the Board, the director builds the fundraising program that sustains the farm through individual giving, major gifts, annual appeals, grants, and events.
We are looking for a builder: someone who forms real relationships, can show donors what their gifts do on the farm, and can run the daily work of a growing development office. Sanborn Mills Farm is moving from founder support to community support, and this role leads that change.
What you will do
- Write and carry out an annual development plan tied to the farm’s strategic goals.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, major gift prospects, and corporate partners, and lead the major gifts program.
- Plan and run annual campaigns across mail, email, and online giving, and grow giving circles and monthly donors.
- Research, write, and submit grant proposals; keep the grant calendar, reports, and compliance on time.
- Work with staff to bring development goals into farm events, open houses, and workshops, and host donor events.
- Keep donor records and acknowledgments in Little Green Light, and report progress and forecasts to the Executive Director and Board.
- Coordinate development communications with the communications team.
What you bring
- Three to five years of nonprofit fundraising or advancement experience, ideally in arts, culture, education, or the environment.
- A record of closing major gifts or growing annual fund revenue.
- Strong writing and speaking, and the ability to tell the farm’s story to different audiences.
- Organization enough to manage several projects, pipelines, and deadlines at once.
- Familiarity with donor databases and online fundraising tools.
- A real appreciation for the farm’s mission, its working landscape, and traditional craft.
If you do not meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.
The Position
Type
Full-time, on site
Reports to
Mike Molla, Executive Director
Pay
$85,000–$90,000
Benefits
Health insurance, retirement, paid time off
Start
As soon as possible
Deadline
Open until filled
Working here
What to expect
One team
Staff help each other across departments. A gardener may help with haying, and a carpenter may run the sawmill.
Real work, in all weather
Most roles are hands-on, and many are outdoors through the seasons. The schedule follows the farm.
Learning on the job
Staff work beside visiting instructors and can take part in professional development.
Sanborn Mills Farm is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any basis protected by federal or New Hampshire law.
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