Facilities Maintenance Lead

Job Description:The Site Operations team is a crucial, valued part of Farm Sanctuary’s staff and is tasked not only with ensuring our Sanctuary residents have safe and healthy living environments on our 275-acre site, but also with maintaining all buildings, vehicles, and equipment for our staff, guests, and volunteers. The Site Operations Specialist plays an important leadership role on the sanctuary team, independently managing large projects and performing hands‑on maintenance and repairs for buildings and equipment at our Watkins Glen location.

Responsibilities:

• Independently assess assigned maintenance, repair, installation, construction, and site-improvement needs, including diagnosing the underlying problem and determining the desired outcome.
• Develop project plans that identify the recommended approach, scope of work, estimated costs, materials, labor, timeline, safety considerations, and need for contractor or additional staff support.
• Research repair methods, replacement options, materials, equipment, and qualified contractors as needed, and present recommendations to the Senior Manager, Site Operations for approval.
• Independently organize and complete approved projects with limited day‑to‑day oversight, including obtaining materials, coordinating schedules and site access, and performing advanced hands‑on work.
• Request assistance when additional labor or complementary skills are needed and provide project‑specific direction to assisting employees without assuming supervisory or performance‑management responsibilities.
• Monitor project progress, costs, and changing conditions; communicate delays or concerns; and obtain additional approval before making material changes to the approved scope, cost, timeline, or outcome.
• Inspect and test completed work, correct deficiencies, restore the work area, close applicable work orders, and document the work performed, final costs, and recommended follow‑up.

• Perform advanced maintenance, repair, fabrication, installation, construction, and troubleshooting across multiple Site Operations skill categories, including buildings, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, vehicles, farm equipment, metal fabrication, fencing, animal enclosures, and site infrastructure.
• Diagnose complex or recurring problems, evaluate repair and replacement options, and recommend practical solutions that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, or durability.
• Conduct preventive‑maintenance inspections, identify emerging repair or replacement needs, and maintain accurate equipment, facility, service, and project records.

• Perform work in accordance with organizational safety procedures, manufacturer specifications, and applicable requirements, and identify work requiring permits, inspections, licensed professionals, or specialized certifications.
• Maintain safe and secure work areas; coordinate with affected teams when projects may disrupt operations or animal care; and promptly correct or elevate unsafe conditions.

• Participate in assigned on‑call coverage, respond to urgent facilities and infrastructure needs, coordinate appropriate internal or outside support, and assist with other Site Operations responsibilities – including animal movement or transportation – when trained, authorized, and operationally necessary.

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking throughout sanctuary grounds.
• Must be able to perform strenuous physical labor and lifting (up to 50 lbs regularly; team-lift heavier amounts regularly)
• Must be able to bend, lift, push, stoop, stretch, climb, and crawl and other strenuous physical activities
• Must be able to regularly perform job…