Facilities Manager & Animal Care Assistant
The Goathouse Refuge, Inc.
Job Description
Facilities Manager & Animal Care Assistant
The Goathouse Refuge, Inc. – Pittsboro, NC
$18–$25 per hour, depending on experience
Full-time, non-exempt
Possible on-site live-in arrangement for qualified candidate
Seeking a hands-on facilities manager and animal care assistant to keep our buildings, barns, coops, and grounds in safe working order while helping care for the animals. If you have experience with general repairs and maintenance and are comfortable working with animals, we encourage you to apply.
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/water 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.).
Required
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.
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
Contact Information
Job Contact Details
Closing Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Posting Date:
Closing Date:
