Animal Attendant S07 - Teaching Dairy Barn
About The Position
Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking an experienced and dependable Animal Attendant to support the Teaching Dairy team. The role provides daily care for a 175-cow dairy herd and approximately 25 calves, combining animal care, facility maintenance, and farm equipment operation to support a safe, clean, and productive environment for animals, students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The position requires attention to detail, sound judgment, high-quality animal care, and teamwork. This is an onsite position in Ithaca, New York. Regular business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but schedules may change to meet business needs and may include early mornings, evenings, weekends, University holidays, and scheduled breaks. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available. Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent, with at least 6 months of experience in an agricultural or animal care setting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience driving farm equipment, specifically a skid steer and ATV.
- Basic reading, writing, and computer skills.
- Excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail.
- Ability to meet physical demands, including lifting 100 pounds and regularly pushing, pulling, carrying, stretching, and reaching.
- Must pass a pre-employment drug test and be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.
- Must possess a New York State Class B CDL with air brake endorsement, or be willing to obtain one within 6 months of hire.
- Must complete and maintain an updated Driver Qualification File.
Responsibilities
- Provide daily care for adult cattle and calves, including milking, feeding, monitoring animal health and well-being, and assisting with calving and basic treatments.
- Maintain clean, safe, and sanitary facilities and equipment, including barns, stalls, feeding areas, milking equipment, and calf housing.
- Safely operate farm equipment, including a feed truck, ATV, and skid steer, while maintaining required CDL and DOT standards.
- Operate and monitor sand separation equipment.
- Support manure and bedding management, troubleshoot issues, and coordinate processing activities.
Benefits
- Three weeks of paid vacation.
- 13 additional holiday days and 2 floating holidays.
- Employer-provided benefits program.
- Comprehensive health care options.
- Access to wellness programs.
- Employee discounts with local and national retail brands.
- Generous retirement contributions.
- Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program.
- Tuition aid for external education.
- Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
