If you enjoy working hard in a beautiful outdoor environment with a group of like-minded people, we invite you to apply for the position of Farm Maintenance Worker at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen). Enjoy the outdoors while performing general maintenance and construction tasks and assisting with daily farm operations. Farm Maintenance Workers also have frequent contact with the public and provide visitor information as necessary.  

About Midpen: Midpen helps plants, animals and people thrive throughout the greater Santa Cruz Mountains region by preserving a greenbelt of more than 70,000 acres of public open space with 250 miles of trails in 27 extraordinary preserves, permanently protected for natural resource conservation and ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. Midpen is a public agency with a focused mission that guides our work, and where every employee makes an impact.  If you are looking for an outstanding opportunity to contribute to the legacy of open space protection, natural resource restoration and outdoor recreation, working with an incredible team of like-minded colleagues, we invite you to apply for this position!  Check out the Working for Midpen video on our Employment Opportunities page.

About the Position:  The Farm Maintenance Worker performs general maintenance and construction tasks at Deer Hollow Farm in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and reports to the Maintenance Supervisor. Deer Hollow Farm is an educational, working farm with cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, and other livestock.  Duties include performing maintenance and construction tasks using hand and power tools, operating and maintaining Farm vehicles, and assisting with daily Farm operations. The Farm Maintenance Worker will also assist with animal husbandry; greet visitors and provide information to the public; and work with volunteers on farm-related projects. The start date for this position is late-May 2025. This position is based out of the Foothills Field Office in Cupertino (Address: 22500 Cristo Rey Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014). See the Job Description for additional information.

A Few Reasons Why You May Love This Job

• Collaborative work that directly supports Midpen’s mission to protect and restore the natural environment
• You’ll be part of a talented and dynamic team whose work contributes to providing nature’s benefits to everyone
• Excellent employee benefits, including medical, dental, vision, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement pension through California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• ‘Joint Resource Workdays’ allow all district staff to get involved and work together on a variety of maintenance, resource management, habitat restoration and capital improvement projects. 

Working Conditions:

This full-time position is part of the Land and Facilities Servies Department and assigned to Deer Hollow Farm.  In addition, this position may be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events. There may be an option to be on a 9/80 schedule after an initial training period.

Must wear prescribed District uniform and adhere to strict safety procedures and work habits. Depending on the exposure, employee is required to wear head, hearing, eye, foot, face, hand, and full protection equipment. Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, hazardous physical substances and fumes, and poison oak.

Midpen reserves the right to limit or deny off-duty employment or business ownership which creates a conflict of interest or an incompatibility with District employment. Additional information can be found in the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual Section 4.13 Off-Duty Employment and Business Ownership.  

Education & Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by college-level coursework in facilities management, construction project management, or a related field, and three (3) years of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of farm properties and related facilities and caring for farm animals.

Licenses & Certifications Required:  

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, Basic First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification within six (6) months of employment.

Benefits:
Midpen provides a competitive benefits package including health, life and disability insurance, CalPERS pension and paid leaves.

Recruitment Timeline: We recommend applicants be available for interviews on the following dates for panel interviews (we are unable to accommodate individual schedules):

First interview (virtual):  Thursday, April 10, 2025

Skills Assessment (in-person): Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Final interview (in-person):  Thursday, April 24, 2025

A note to applicants who currently live outside of the San Francisco Bay Area: before committing to the application process, and if you haven’t done so already, we suggest evaluating the feasibility of relocation. We recommend researching the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the cost to relocate, and typical commute times to Los Altos from outlying areas.

At Midpen, we believe open space is for all. Our public lands are shared spaces provided for the community by the community. All people, regardless of background, deserve respect, dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. Midpen welcomes all people to enjoy the public open space preserves we hold in trust, supporting the mental, physical, and social well-being of our region.

Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation by contacting the Human Resources department at

(650) 691-1200 or via email at hr@openspace.org. 

Put your passion for Open Space to work!