Program Supervisor, Livestock & Draft Animals,Oliver Kelley Farm at Minnesota Historical Society

JOB TITLE: Program Supervisor, Livestock & Draft Animals

LOCATION: Oliver H. Kelley Farm 15788 Kelley Farm Road, Elk River, MN 55330

COMPENSATION: Typical starting range $63,336.00 - $79,152.00 annually

STATUS & HOURS: Full-time, regular (approximately 2,080 annual hours) position. Typical schedule is 40 hours a week, Tuesday through Saturday.

BENEFITS:  Eligible to participate in State Employee Group Insurance Program and a retirement program with employer contribution. Generous vacation and sick time accruals with additional paid holidays.

DESIGNATION: Supervisory

POSTING DATE: October 7, 2025

DEADLINE DATE: October 21, 2025

TO APPLY: Interested applicants must apply online at the Minnesota Historical Society’s career center at www.mnhs.org/jobs and include a resume and cover letter by the application deadline date.

DESCRIPTION:  This position exists to develop site public programming specifically focusing on livestock and draft animals (horses and oxen), provide direct supervision for site interpretive staff, and collaborate with Program Supervisor - General Farm & Site Manager II to coordinate daily program operations. 

SUMMARY OF WORK:  1) Oversee the daily operations, care, and management of the Oliver Kelley Farm’s livestock and draft animals (horses and oxen). Ensure the well-being of the animals and compliance with safety and animal welfare regulations; 2) Plan and implement programs focusing on livestock and draft animals, including research, format selection, scheduling, publicity, delivery, and evaluation in collaboration with staff; 3) Supervise interpretive program staff; 4) Perform administrative tasks related to the implementation of public programs in the Kelley Farm’s programming areas in conjunction with the Program Supervisor– General Farm; 5) Oversee the site operations as part of a site leadership team; and 6) Provide for the safe and secure daily operation of the site.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Four years of practical hands-on experience caring for livestock (large and small animals).

• Four years of practical hands-on experience working with draft animals, such as horses, oxen, or mules.

• Two years of experience supervising or managing other workers.

• Must be able to work nonstandard hours, including evenings and weekends.

• Ability to stand for extended periods of time. 

• Ability to bend, crouch, kneel, reach, push, and pull.

• Ability to perform physical tasks required when working with livestock and draft animals.

• Experience managing pastures and hay fields.

• Experience maintaining draft animal equipment: wagons, trollies, sleighs, mowers, plows, discs, harrows, cultivators, hay rakes, etc.

• Experience transporting livestock and draft animals in trailers.

• Experience driving tractors and operating farm equipment.

• Experience in building and maintaining fences and animal enclosures.

• Ability to conduct programs and oversee operations; to organize work plans, prepare budgets, spend within approved budgets, use the financial software, and keep records.  

• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel.

• Strong human relations, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

• Strong customer service background.

DEMONSTRATED SKILLS IN OR KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Demonstrated ability to plan for short and long-term development of programs.  

• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and to cooperate with other professionals.  

• Demonstrated ability to conduct multiple concurrent projects. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in animal science, livestock science, equine science, or related field

• Farrier’s diploma or certificate: horse trimming and/or shoeing; cattle trimming

• Draft animal driving training certificates: horses, mules, oxen

• Livestock and draft animal first aid training

• CDL Driver’s License

• Experience driving a truck and pulling a horse or livestock trailer

• Ability to meet changing expectations and priorities at a seasonal site that requires year round management, care, and planning.

• Good knowledge of Minnesota agricultural history.

Should you have questions with the application process, email [email protected] or call MNHS Job Line at 651-259-3181.   

At MNHS, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on diversity for the benefit of our employees, our products and services, and our community. The Minnesota Historical Society believes that an inclusive culture among our team members is critical to our success as a historical society and museum, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The Minnesota Historical Society is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and employer.