Agricultural Specialist II - Dairy Farm

Iowa State University • Ames, IA

9d

About The Position

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is seeking an Agricultural Specialist II to serve as a Night Crew Team Lead at the ISU Dairy Farm. This position plays a key role in supporting the university’s teaching, research, and extension missions by ensuring high-quality animal care, coordinating dairy production activities, and supporting on-farm research. The Night Crew Team Lead will oversee the daily operations of the evening crew, including tasking of staff and student workers, implementation of research protocols, and proper operation of equipment and facilities. The role requires strong leadership, technical knowledge of cattle production, and the ability to effectively communicate with farm staff, faculty, and researchers. If you enjoy working with cattle and thrive in a hands-on environment that offers something new every day, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of a research and teaching farm. You will have the chance to support student organizations like the Dairy Science and Veterinary Medicine clubs, as well as interact with researchers conducting cutting-edge work in animal science. This job offers meaningful challenges and variety. With a unique blend of production and academic activities, this role provides opportunities to grow, lead, and contribute to the advancement of dairy science at a land-grant university. Night Crew hours are Monday – Friday from 5 pm to 2 am, with a 1-hr dinner break. The position has rotating weekend coverage. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with milking procedures and equipment
• Experience working with livestock or large animals and familiarity with animal health monitoring and treatment
• Familiarity with general agricultural equipment operation and maintenance
• Leadership or team lead experience

Responsibilities

• Oversee night crew staff and student employees to ensure timely and accurate completion of milking, herd care, sanitation, and daily operations
• Train team members in dairy production, animal handling, safety procedures, and research protocols
• Coordinate with daytime crew and farm management to maintain consistent animal care and farm operations
• Monitor animal health, respond to emergencies, and resolve operational issues as they arise
• Support research projects
• Collaborate with faculty, veterinarians, and researchers on project design, troubleshooting, and herd management
• Maintain detailed records of animal health, production data, equipment maintenance, and research results
• Operate and maintain farm equipment and facilities, including tractors, skid steers, and milking systems
• Utilize herd management software and Microsoft Office tools for data tracking and reporting
• Assist with budgeting, inventory, and procurement related to cattle, feed, and supplies

Benefits

• Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees