Farm Coordinator (Full-time)

Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) is seeking a Farm Coordinator for Coggeshall Farm Museum (CFM) to develop and manage the museum’s Agriculture and Horticulture program. Key responsibilities include day-to-day management and oversight of the museum’s animal program, fields, pasture, and gardens.

The Farm Coordinator will lead a growing agriculture program, including farm-based education. Regular work will include the demonstration, maintenance, and interpretation of historical agricultural practice—such as cultivating crops, livestock, and the historical landscape—while adhering to modern standards of care for livestock and the health and safety of visitors. The Farm Coordinator will work directly with CFM visitors, including K-12 students This role will ensure Coggeshall Farm Museum’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Set on 48 acres of coastal farmland in Bristol, Rhode Island, Coggeshall Farm recreates the daily experience of tenant farmers on a salt marsh farm in the late 18th century. With a new, innovative partnership with Old Sturbridge Village, Coggeshall will expand and enhance the visitor experience through live interpretation, new programming, historic structures, heirloom plants and gardens, and heritage-breed animals.

Coggeshall Farm Museum is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. We are passionate about developing and maintaining an inclusive, equitable and accessible working and learning environment for all visitors, staff and CFM community members. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to different ways of understanding and engaging the world around us.

The Farm Manager reports to the Director of CFM and works closely with the Agriculture Coordinator at OSV.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A) in Agriculture/Horticulture or equivalent from four-year College.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in animal husbandry practices.
• 3 to 5 years interpreting/education experience.
• One year or more experience managing, training and mentoring staff.
• Proven ability to manage and deliver farm based programs including but not limited to, day-to-day management of staff, volunteers and interns; daily and seasonal activities, care and upkeep of all farm spaces, buying and organizing supplies.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Bring the Agriculture and Horticulture program to life through interpretation, teaching, facilitation, and/or performance programs.
• Oversee farm based programs throughout the museum and assist in the supervision of farm staff, including employees, volunteers, and interns.
• Manage all animal husbandry functions of the museum, including feed schedule, wellness checks, vet visits, breeding, buying and selling of appropriate animals.
• Oversee site management and upkeep, including field management, mowing, and fence work.
• With the Director, develop and lead interpretive programs that show a complete story of late 18th-century coastal farming life.
• With the Director, plan, develop, and implement immersive educational programs for school audiences.
• Preserve the historic buildings, gardens, landscapes, artifacts and reproductions at CFM.
• Ensure the safety, security and cleanliness of work areas and safeguard visitors and staff by being alert to foreseeable health and safety hazards.
• Promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• Understand and observe all OSV policies and federal, state and local laws
• Work evening programs such as but not limited to Halloween and Christmas programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

Skills & Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Individuals in this position are subject to a Criminal Conviction Record check upon hire and every other year thereafter.

• Proven knowledge and passion for the subject and activities of historic farm based education.
• Demonstrates commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Successfully balance face-to-face communication with use of technology in order to ensure clarity of communication with colleagues.
• Understand, identify and appropriately respond to the multiple learning styles of a diverse audience that includes students, families and other life-long learners; actively engage these audiences using a range of interpretation techniques including hands-on, participation, tours, immersion, demonstration, recreation, orientation, role-play, performance, lecture and others.
• Ability to establish own work plan and priorities, using established procedures to assure timely completion of assigned work in conformance with departmental policies and practices; problems lacking clear precedent are reviewed with supervisor prior to taking action.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse groups.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be outside for long periods of time and stand, walk, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, manage and motivate a diverse workforce.
• Be honest, reliable, and demonstrate a passionate commitment to the interpretation/education field.
• Attention to detail, organization, quality of guest experience and customer service.
• Able to communicate ideas and information clearly both verbally and in written format.
• Strive to build and maintain productive and respectful relationships with all team members and guests.
• Must be a team player and flexible to assist in other divisions when the need arises.
• Effective problem solver – anticipating, preventing and managing issues as they arise.
• Must be an effective listener and be able to understand and clarify concerns and issues.
• Must be able to work varied shifts and hours including weekends, nights, early mornings and holidays.

Old Sturbridge Village is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Old Sturbridge Village to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or membership in the uniformed services.

Applicants should apply to jobs@osv.org.

Click Here to Learn More About Volunteer Areas & Opportunities

Coggeshall Farm Museum has two volunteer levels. The first level is a non-costumed volunteer. All volunteers will start as Level 1 volunteers. Level 1 volunteer work does not require a historic costume, but will require the volunteer to wear a CFM shirt (provided) while on site. Level 1 volunteers do not require a time commitment. The next level is a Level 2 volunteer. This is a costumed, interpretation role on the CFM site. In order to reach this level, volunteers must complete 50 hours of volunteer work before being outfitted for the role. They must also commit to a minimum of one day a week and year-round availability.

Volunteer Areas

Agriculture: Coggeshall’s agriculture program encompasses our historic barn and animal program. Volunteers in this group help with things like fence building, mucking, and field maintenance. This can be Level 1 or Level 2 work.

Behind the Scenes: Behind the scenes is almost exclusively Level 1 work. Action items in this area include helping make take-home craft kits for programming, cleaning and maintenance of exhibition areas, costume production under the supervision of OSV’s costume department, and miscellaneous administrative tasks.

 Events: Event Volunteers are mostly Level 1. These are volunteers who assist with many aspects on the day of the event. Tasks include helping guide parking, helping visitors with wayfinding, and ensuring all vendors are organized. Level 2 Event Volunteers assist with interpretive aspects of the event while in costume.

Horticulture (Garden): Garden Volunteers can be Level 1 or Level 2. Volunteers in the garden help with everything from planting and harvesting to weeding and watering.

Interpretive: The heart of Coggeshall’s mission comes back to history through interpretation. Volunteers who wish to interpret will start in one station or area of expertise to learn the history and gain experience while shadowing Coggeshall Staff. Level 2 volunteers who may wish to spend time interpreting the farmhouse once they are costumed will conduct a variety of tasks including activities such as textile work, foodways interpretation, and candle dipping.

Special Project Volunteers: Throughout the year, Coggeshall has Volunteer Days, where we request many hands at once to complete a larger project, such as site clean-up or fence building. Special Project Volunteers might not be able to commit to regular volunteer hours, but want to be notified of these opportunities as they come up through our email list.

Youth Volunteers: Youth Volunteers are our teens 14-18 years old who want to participate on the farm. Volunteers under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.