Maintenance Technician

Alaqua Animal Refuge, Inc.; Freeport (FL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Florida is seeking a dependable Maintenance Technician to keep our campus safe, functional, clean, and ready for the animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors who rely on it.

This hands-on role performs day-to-day repairs and preventive maintenance across buildings, animal habitats, fencing, utilities, grounds, roads, and equipment, and requires practical carpentry, plumbing, basic electrical work, and basic HVAC know-how.

Qualifications

• Hands-on maintenance or construction experience.
• Practical ability in carpentry, plumbing, basic electrical systems, and basic HVAC.
• Experience operating a farm tractor is required.
• Comfortable working around farm animals and coordinating with animal-care staff.

Responsibilities

• Perform day-to-day repairs and preventive maintenance across buildings, animal habitats, fencing, gates, utilities, grounds, roads, and equipment.
• Operate a farm tractor, utility vehicles, trailers, hand tools, and power tools.
• Support grounds maintenance, trail work, events, light construction, and other operational needs.

Skills

Hands-on maintenance

Carpentry

Plumbing

Electrical basics

HVAC basics

Safety awareness

Problem solving

Forklift/tractor operation

Tools

Power tools

Farm tractor operation

Job description

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

Alaqua Animal Refuge | Freeport, Florida

Reports to: Maintenance Supervisor

Schedule: Full-time; partial weekend and event support required

Alaqua Animal Refuge is seeking a dependable, resourceful Maintenance Technician to help keep our campus safe, functional, clean, and ready for the animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors who rely on it. This is a hands-on position for someone who takes ownership, solves problems, and understands that maintenance priorities are driven by mission needs.

The Maintenance Technician will perform day-to-day repairs and preventive maintenance across Alaqua’s buildings, animal habitats, fencing, gates, utilities, grounds, roads, and equipment. The position requires practical experience in carpentry, plumbing, basic electrical work, and basic HVAC troubleshooting. The technician must recognize when a repair exceeds their training or authority and requires a licensed contractor.

Additional responsibilities include safely operating a farm tractor, utility vehicles, trailers, hand tools, and power tools. The technician will also support grounds maintenance, trail work, events, light construction, and other operational needs. The position is responsible for maintaining tools, parts, work areas, and basic work-order records.

Maintenance priorities must reflect Alaqua’s mission. Life-safety, employee-safety, and animal-welfare needs come first, followed by work that protects continuity of operations and prevents larger problems. The technician must be able to adjust priorities quickly, work independently, and communicate hazards, delays, material requirements, and completed work to the Maintenance Supervisor.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated hands-on maintenance or construction experience and practical ability in carpentry, plumbing, basic electrical systems, and basic HVAC. Experience operating a farm tractor is required. The candidate must be comfortable working around farm animals and coordinating with animal-care staff without disrupting care or creating avoidable stress.

This position works primarily outdoors and may involve heat, rain, mud, uneven terrain, and active animal-care areas. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and be able to safely lift and carry up to 50 pounds, climb ladders, bend, kneel, and remain physically active throughout the workday.

Success in this position means high-priority needs are handled first, preventive maintenance is not neglected, hazards are reported immediately, and each work area is left cleaner, safer, and better organized.

Alaqua Animal Refuge is an equal opportunity employer.