Ranch Hand

Job Title: Ranch Hand

Department: Programming & Experience - Animal Care and Agriculture

Position Type: Seasonal

Hourly Rate: $16.50               

Contract Start Date: Based on availability to start

Contract End Date: September 23, 2025

Hours: Various shifts, including weekdays, weekends, and statutory holidays

What we offer:

• Flexible work arrangements where no one day is similar
• Working in a beautiful park setting
• Free entrance to the Park, including to our many public special events
• Employee discounts on food and retail items and free parking

Who We Are:

Heritage Park is Canada's largest living history museum and offers visitors a chance to experience life in Western Canada from the 1860s to the early 1950s. The Park features historical buildings, costumed interpreters, working antiques, and various exhibits that provide insight into the region's past.

Job Overview:

Under the direction of the Sr. Ranch Hand, the Ranch Hand is responsible for keeping livestock and all animals fed, watered, healthy, enriched, and their environments cleaned. Work areas and relevant equipment are clean and properly maintained. This individual will generally assist in the overall operation of a mixed farm as well as aiding in specialized programming, such as assisting with camps and other hands-on programming during the Heritage Park operating season.

Responsibilities:

Operational Support and Visitor Engagement

• Ensure all livestock are fed and tended to daily, maintaining their health and well-being 
  
• Keep relevant pens and areas associated with Agriculture Programming clean and organized 
• Support other Agriculture Programming Staff by assisting with camps or programs as required 
• Conduct repairs on fences, gates, and buildings as needed to maintain operational integrity
• Collect eggs as necessary to support farm operations 
• Interacts directly with guests while handling and showcasing animals, providing educational experiences and fostering engagement
• Assist in farming operations at Heritage Park, including plowing, seeding, harvesting, haying and threshing if required 
• Ensure guests, staff, and volunteers have a positive experience by being friendly and courteous, greeting guests warmly, and handling situations with positivity
• Create a welcoming environment for visitors, answering questions and providing information to enhance their visit
• Perform other duties as required

Organizational Excellence and Wellbeing

• Contribute to inspiring and immersive experiences at the Park through your roles and responsibilities by engaging in Heritage Park initiatives that align with the overall mission and vision of the Park
• Demonstrate commitment to workplace health and safety by complying with Heritage Park's Health, Safety and Environment Management System (HSEMS), following safe work practices, reporting work-related incidents, injuries and hazards, participating in employer training, and adhering policies including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy
• Actively support a positive work environment by creating an atmosphere of inclusion, engagement and fulfillment in line with Heritage Park values
• Demonstrate responsible stewardship of our people, collections and financial assets by ensuring that they are handled with integrity, sustainability, and a focus on long-term benefits for the organization and its stakeholders

Required Qualifications:

• Enrolment or completion of secondary education is required; post-secondary education in a field related to agriculture is an asset.
  
• Previous experience working on a farm or ranch is considered an asset
• Familiarity with livestock, their care and how to properly maintain the ranch/farm area
• Organized and alert while working around livestock
• Ability to learn new methods or procedures
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and communication skills in a client-faced setting
• All successful candidates (over the age of 18) will be required to go through a Police Information Check as a condition of employment. 

Special Clothing and Equipment:

• Appropriate costuming and safety equipment will be provided by Heritage Park; 
• Footwear, as designated by the Heritage Park Costume Department, will be provided by the employee.

 Special Working Conditions:

• This position involves consistent physical labour, and lifting upwards of 50-75 lbs regularly is not uncommon. Working with livestock also implies a degree of unpredictability.
  
• Must be prepared to walk and/or stand outdoors and work in various weather conditions, including working in unheated and non-air-conditioned buildings for extended periods.

Hours of Work:

• The schedule varies and will include weekdays, weekends, statutory holidays, and fluctuating hours as required.

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