Dandelion Neurorelational Family Services Farm & Facilities Technician (Animals + Property Maintenance) Fort Ripley, MN · Full time Company website

Apply for Farm & Facilities Technician (Animals + Property Maintenance)

Please visit www.dandelion-family.com to learn more about careers at Dandelion Neurorelational Family Services.

WHO ARE WE?

Dandelion NeuroRelational Family Services, a behavioral health and mental wellness agency, is a sanctuary nestled within a serene 15-acre therapeutic farm in Fort Ripley, Minnesota. Our dedicated team provides nervous systems based, relationship-focused support, employing a holistic approach to guide individuals, children, and families through the challenges of trauma and toxic stress. In addition to our individual and group services, we offer an intensive family program that places a special emphasis on parents, providing them with education, support, and a sense of community. We believe in leading by example, cultivating an organizational culture rooted in healthy, authentic connections. At Dandelion we're not just about working for an organization; we're about working with it, fostering a paradigm shift towards workplace relationships built on mutual respect and genuine collaboration.

OUR MISSION:

We're on a mission to foster personal growth and empowerment, providing a space where individuals can uncover new insights, cultivate meaningful connections, and carry the essence of connection and wisdom into their daily lives. At the heart of our mission lies a dedication to fostering nervous system wellness, recognizing its profound impact on fostering connected and meaningful relationships. We prioritize nervous system education and wellness, equipping everyone we serve with the knowledge and tools needed to understand and nurture their own nervous system health. Safety, authenticity, collaboration, and trust are the cornerstones of our approach to building intentional relationships. We envision a world where everyone experiences a deep sense of belonging, security, and self-awareness, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with clarity and resilience.

PARADIGM SHIFT COMMITMENT:

At Dandelion NeuroRelational Family Services, you will be participating in revolutionizing youth and family services in Minnesota. We are pioneering a transformative approach that fundamentally challenges traditional mental health and behavioral intervention models. This is an opportunity to be part of groundbreaking work that is reshaping how Minnesota approaches family services.

This transformative environment requires openness to examining and shifting existing belief systems and practices. We seek individuals ready to embrace relationship-focused care grounded in attachment science and nervous system understanding that goes deeper than surface-level behavioral observations. Our methods prioritize attachment and nervous system understanding over behavioral compliance, viewing behaviors as nervous system communications rather than problems to be fixed.

Part of this transformation involves elevating families by giving them a voice and supporting their personal agency. Our work puts parents in the driver's seat of their care, recognizing the genuine meaning of person-centered care where families are partners in decision-making. Our nuanced understanding of consent honors nervous system states and genuine choice-making capacity.

Dandelion does not recognize a division between the professional and the personal. You are your whole self moving through all spaces, and because relationships are central to our work, personal growth and self-reflection are ongoing job expectations. Who we are as human beings is one of our greatest interventions. We maintain professional boundaries through scaffolding human development rather than rigid external rules, training boundaries that come from within while remaining compassionate, connected, clear, and ethical.

If you are ready to help create new standards rather than simply follow established protocols, then you are prepared to contribute to this transformative work at Dandelion.

WHO ARE YOU?

The Farm & Facilities Technician keeps Dandelion’s 15-acre therapeutic farm safe, functional, and ready. You’ll split your time between:

1. Knowing animal chores so well that you can step in and ensure every need is met, and
2. Owning day-to-day property and facility maintenance, including basic equipment and vehicle care.

You’ll work alongside two part-time farm hands who handle most daily chores. This is not a management or “horse job.” There is no riding, training, or lesson-giving. You are caring for their basic, everyday needs and the environment they live in.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for maintaining Dandelion's multi-building/15-acre farm property, animal care, equipment, and farm-related supplies.
• Daily considers client calendar, weather, seasonal responsibilities, and daily tasks when planning and prioritizing tasks for self.
• Completes other duties as assigned.
• Provide each animal with a loving, structured, and safe environment based in connection. 
• Maintain a safe, clean and organized environment within the facility, on the farm and in commercial vehicles.
• Commit to learning the difference between compliance and cooperation and with a willingness to build relationships focused on consent and cooperation.
• Must communicate effectively with staff and be able to work within the confines of Dandelion’s busy client schedule.
• Maintains compliance with state and federal laws governing the work of DH, including but not limited to HIPAA compliance and state waiver programs.
• Regularly attends related compliance trainings as required.
• Actively seek opportunities for learning and development. 
• Practices humility & self-awareness, recognizing feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow.
• This position will work, in person, with hours that range from standard business hours to evening and/or weekend hours.
• Responsible for building trusted and connected relationships with fellow team members, resident animals and clients.
• Practices accountability in all organizational and programmatic policies, procedures, safety protocols & community agreements.
• Participate in staff meetings, training sessions, and continuing education opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrate sensitivity, empathy, and professionalism when interacting with clients and their families.
• Promotes consistency and predictability in animal care routines.
• Records and escalates any unusual animal observation.
• Ability to anticipate and prioritize activities and work safely within an equine environment is critical.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks for extended periods, such as standing, walking, bending, stooping, and kneeling.
• Endurance to work long hours, especially during peak seasons, and to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Skill in using hands and arms to operate tools and equipment, such as shovels, rakes, pitchforks, and machinery.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as feeding animals, cleaning stalls, and handling tools
• Preferred competence in operating farm equipment, such as tractors, mowers, and other machinery, which may involve sitting, standing, or moving in confined spaces.
• Ability to move quickly and safely around the farm, including navigating uneven terrain, climbing ladders, and working in tight or elevated spaces.
• Capacity to adjust to varying work schedules, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Physical stamina to work in harsh weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, and wind.
• Ability to handle livestock, which may include restraining animals, moving them between locations, and performing tasks like grooming.
• Good eyesight and hearing for monitoring animal health, detecting signs of illness, and safely operating equipment.
• Steady balance and coordination for climbing ladders, scaffolding, or uneven surfaces, and for performing tasks that require precise movements.
• Must be able to pass a background study with the MN department of Human Services. 
• Must successfully complete and pass a pre-employment physical examination.
• Must have a clean driving record
• Flexibility to work varying hours, including early mornings, weekends, and holidays, as needed to support farm operations.
• Due to the unpredictable nature of the needs of the farm, this role is expected to be available to work outside of the typical working hours to accommodate weather-related needs (ex. snow removal), staff shortages, and farm events, among other occasions.
• Submits expense reports in a timely fashion.

ROLE SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Animal Care (coverage + quality control)

• Learn and fully understand all daily chore systems for horses and goats (feeding, watering, turnout, shelters, manure management).
• Step in to complete chore blocks when farmhands are out or capacity is low.
• Help maintain predictable, regulation-supportive routines for animals.
• Notice and report changes in animal behavior or health.
• Respect the relationships we have with the animals; work in ways that protect their sense of safety and connection.

Property & Facilities Maintenance (primary focus)

• Mowing, trimming, weed control, snow removal, and seasonal grounds work.
• Fence inspection and basic repair.
• Basic construction and repair tasks (e.g., minor carpentry, gate repair, fixing latches, patching).
• Respond to maintenance requests from staff and management using our systems.
• Operate and care for farm equipment (Bobcat, zero‑turn mower, four‑wheeler, small trailers, etc.).
• Perform basic engine/vehicle maintenance (oil changes, filters, simple troubleshooting) and coordinate with external vendors for bigger repairs.
• Complete vehicle safety inspections weekly for all commercial vehicles and report findings via Google Forms

Admin, Tools & Communication

• Use Asana to receive, organize, and complete tasks; keep statuses accurate.
• Use Marco Polo to communicate with the team (updates, quick videos, questions).
• Use Google Docs, email, and calendar basics to track checklists, logs, and appointments.
• Use a company card within guidelines; keep receipts and simple records up to date.
• Love unpredictability: adjust calmly to weather shifts, emergent maintenance, and last‑minute coverage needs.

Physical & Safety Requirements

• Work outdoors in all seasons and weather.
• Lift 50–65 lbs repeatedly; bend, carry, climb ladders, navigate uneven ground.
• Pass DHS background study; maintain insurable driving record.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION 

•  High school diploma or equivalent

EXPERIENCE

•  Experience around horses or livestock and willingness to learn our way of relating to them.
• Comfortable with tools/equipment and basic mechanical tasks (or demonstrably fast learner).
• Tech-comfortable: willing to learn Asana, Marco Polo, and Google Workspace tools.

SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITION

This position is deemed as a “Safety Sensitive Position.” Company employees occupying a position considered “Safety Sensitive” under Minnesota law, in which, in the opinion of management, impairment caused by drug, cannabis, or alcohol usage would threaten the health of safety of any other person may be subject to testing on a random selection basis, at the discretion of management or based on the requirements of a client.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We are passionate and committed to our people and go beyond the rhetoric of diversity and inclusion. You will be working in an inclusive environment and be encouraged to bring your whole self to work. We will do all that we can to help you successfully balance your work and homelife. As a growing business we will encourage you to develop your professional and personal aspirations, enjoy new experiences, and learn from the talented people you will be working with. It’s talent that matters to us and we encourage applications from people irrespective of their gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability status or caring responsibilities.

Dandelion strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of age (40 and over), ancestry, color, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), family and medical care leave or the denial of family and medical care leave, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), marital status, domestic partner status, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veteran status, political affiliation, national origin (including language use restrictions), citizenship, race, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, and gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law, rule, ordinance or regulation.

We also afford equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. For this reason, Dandelion will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant consistent with its legal obligations to do so, including reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy in accordance with applicable local, state and / or federal law. As part of its commitment to make reasonable accommodations, Dandelion also wishes to participate in a timely, good faith, interactive process with a disabled applicant to determine effective reasonable accommodations, if any, which can be made in response to a request for accommodations. Applicants are invited to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made to assist them to perform the essential functions of the position they seek. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should contact Dandelion to request the opportunity to participate in a timely interactive process. Dandelion will also provide reasonable religious accommodations on a case-by-case basis.