PEGASUS ANIMAL SANCTUARY
Barn Operations Supervisor
One hundred acres of rolling, wooded farmland south of Port Perry, Ontario. A pair of donkeys who finally get to just be donkeys. Pigs, cows, ducks, chickens, and miniature horses who were once abused, neglected, or abandoned, and who now get to live out their lives cared for, loved, and safe.
That's the world Jack and Rita Hurst built when they founded Pegasus Animal Sanctuary in 2017 - driven by one simple conviction: every animal matters and every animal deserves a second chance. Today that mission is carried forward by a devoted team of 50-55 volunteers, and Pegasus is growing - with plans to welcome more animals and a newly built education and community centre where the public can experience this work firsthand.
Rita and Jack are looking for the right candidate who shares their passion and love of animal welfare.
If you have a passion for animals, people, and the great outdoors - and you're looking for work that means something the moment you wake up - we may have the opportunity of a lifetime for you.
Location
2090 Scugog Line 3, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B3 - 5 minutes south of Port Perry
Type
Full-Time | 25-35 hours/week (flexible schedule)
Compensation
$18 per hour, plus the use (when required) of a company farm vehicle for work duties & Looking ahead -we are developing plans to offer live-in accommodations for this role.
Status
New position within the organization
Website
www.pegasussanctuary.com
Meet the Residents You'll Care For
Right now, Pegasus is home to two pigs, two cows, seven ducks, four chickens, two miniature horses, and two donkeys - each with their own story, their own routine, and their own place in this community. As the sanctuary grows, so will this family.
Why This Role Matters
This is a hands-on, boots-in-the-mud role supporting everything that happens at Pegasus day to day. You'll help set the daily rhythm for animal care, coordinate a large and passionate volunteer team, and support a sanctuary that's actively growing - including the newly built education and community centre. It's a rare chance to be part of something meaningful from the ground up, working closely with and reporting directly to the owners who started it all.
A Day in the Life
Your day starts with the animals - checking on health, behaviour, and comfort, making sure feeding and watering routines run like clockwork. From there, it might mean mucking out stalls and paddocks, coordinating a farrier visit, walking a new volunteer through orientation, fixing a stretch of fencing, or fielding a call about a hay delivery. You may occasionally help host a visiting donor group alongside Jack and Rita. You may occasionally fill in for a volunteer that is unable to be here for their morning or late afternoon shift. No two days look exactly the same - but every day ends knowing you made life better for animals who needed someone in their corner.
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care
- Daily monitoring of all animals including diet, health, physical condition, and behaviour
- Establish and oversee a daily routine that makes sense and evolves with changing conditions
- Determine appropriate nutritional programs for all animals; ensure feeding and watering schedules are followed
- Arrange, consult, and be present for veterinary, farrier, and other professional consultant visits
- Provide medical care and administer medications as directed by our veterinarian
Barn & Facilities Maintenance
- Ensure routine cleaning, sweeping, mucking out, and general maintenance of the barn, barnyard, shelters, and paddocks meets required standards
- Manage general facilities maintenance and repairs (fencing, structures)
- Coordinate delivery and storage of hay, straw, shavings, equipment, and other supplies - working with donor organizations and suppliers
- Develop and maintain good pasture management practices: manure spreading, harrowing, mowing weeds, pasture rotation, and more
- Help carry out facility improvements or changes, as directed by the Owners, in collaboration with skilled volunteers
Volunteer Coordination
- Continually evaluate volunteer coverage and collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure every shift is covered
- Assist with new volunteer orientation and training, including policy review and sign-offs
- Reinforce standard, consistent messaging across the team
- Ensure all staff and volunteers work in the safest possible manner - for their own well-being and the animals'
Administration & Support
- Follow established policies and procedures, and flag suggested updates to Jack & Rita
- Maintain daily logs and animal care records
- Assist in building a yearly schedule of animal care activities
- Provide input on barn operations, community days, group visits, and worker health and safety
- Occasionally help with barn and animal updates during donor visits, alongside Jack and Rita
- Provide updates to the communications team for volunteer emails as needed
- Help spread the word about Pegasus's work to attract sponsors and volunteers
The Ideal Candidate
Education & Experience
- Post-secondary education in Animal Science, Agriculture, Veterinary Technology, Equine Studies, or a related field - or an equivalent combination of education and hands-on experience
- Minimum 2-4 years of practical experience working with farm animals (horses, donkeys, livestock, poultry), preferably in a sanctuary, farm, or rescue environment
- Some experience overseeing or assisting with daily barn operations, animal care routines, and facility maintenance
- Experience working with veterinarians, farriers, and other animal health professionals
- Previous experience supervising, training, or coordinating volunteers or staff is a strong asset
Skills & Competencies
- Strong working knowledge of animal health, nutrition, behaviour, and welfare best practices
- Ability to recognize signs of illness, injury, or distress and take appropriate action
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills; comfortable managing competing priorities in a hands-on environment
- Confident communicator who can give clear, consistent direction to volunteers and fellow team members
- Comfortable maintaining records, logs, and schedules related to animal care and operations
- Practical problem-solver with sound judgment and the ability to work independently on day-to-day tasks
- Mechanically inclined, able to perform or coordinate basic repairs and maintenance with skilled volunteers
- Comfortable engaging with the public and donors during visits, as needed
Personal Attributes
- Deep compassion for animals and genuine alignment with the mission and values of Pegasus Animal Sanctuary
- Calm, patient, and dependable - especially in high-pressure or emotionally sensitive situations
- Physically resilient, adaptable, and comfortable working outdoors in all weather
- Team-oriented, collaborative, and respectful with volunteers of all experience levels
- Flexible and committed, recognizing that animal care doesn't stop at 5pm
- Valid and clear driver's license
- Legally eligible to work in Canada
Why You'll Love Working Here
- Work that matters - every single day gives an animal a better life than the one they had before
- A flexible schedule built around real farm life, not a rigid corporate clock
- A close-knit, mission-driven community of 50-55 dedicated volunteers
- 100 acres of beautiful land to call your workplace
- A front-row seat - and a real voice - in Pegasus's continued growth, including programming in the newly built education and community centre
- A second dwelling on the property to be constructed shortly, available to discuss as part of this role
- Direct partnership with the founders, Jack and Rita, who built this from the ground up
How to Apply
We welcome applicants who are passionate about animals, and we'd love to understand why you'd be the perfect fit for this role. Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted within legislated timelines.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment process.
We do not use artificial intelligence systems to screen, assess, or select applicants - all hiring decisions are made through human review.
Please note that the successful candidate will be required to undergo a vulnerable sector screening as well as a criminal background check.
Pay: $18.00 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
