Animal Caretaker I

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

About The Position

Join Iowa State University’s Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) as an Animal Caretaker, supporting research through hands-on care of animals including mice, rabbits, pigs, cows, and horses. This role involves both indoor and outdoor responsibilities, such as feeding, handling, and maintaining clean, safe environments. Whether you're just starting out or already have hands-on experience with animals, we’ll provide the training you need to succeed. You’ll work under direct supervision and follow federal, state, and university guidelines to ensure high standards of animal welfare. If you're dependable and eager to learn or grow your skills, we’d love to have you on our team. Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00 PM, rotating weekend schedule, no on call. Under direct supervision, performs the work necessary in handling, feeding, and caring for animals and animal facilities in compliance with federal, state, and/or university regulations.

Requirements

Ability to read, write, and follow instructions.
Possession of a valid state or commercial driver's license, as required.
Knowledge of standard operating procedures for laboratory animal care or livestock care, as applicable.
Ability to learn and apply federal, state, and/or university regulations regarding animal care and use in research and teaching.
Ability to understand, communicate, and execute oral and written instructions.
Ability to keep accurate records.
Ability to recognize changes in conditions of animals and animal room environment, malfunctioning equipment, and unsafe conditions.
Ability to construct and maintain related equipment and facilities.
Ability to lift and/or move 50-100 pounds.
Ability to perform physical labor such as restraining animals, loading and unloading supplies and animals, and standing for prolonged periods of time.
Ability to work around noise, dust, odors, fumes, and extremes in temperature.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a farm/agricultural or related setting.
Experience working with small or large animals.
Experience restraining large or small animals.
Experience cleaning in a farm/agricultural or related setting.
Experience with farm machinery.

Responsibilities

Feeds and waters animals including the mixing and preparing of feed for standard or special diets.
Weighs animals, keeping records on weights of feed and animal in coordination with the feeding program.
Grooms, handles, and restrains animals.
Checks newly purchased animals for conformance to order specifications.
Cleans and disinfects animal enclosures, isolation rooms, buildings, and equipment, adhering to established policies for maintaining pathogen free environments and containment of animals exposed to infectious diseases.
Operates mechanical equipment, such as autoclaves, ventilated racks, and cage washers.
Checks for and reports failures in heating and ventilation systems to supervisor.
Observes animals for signs of phenotype, illness, injury, or stress.
Reports observations to supervisor.
Assists in routine veterinary treatments or restraint of animals for experimental purposes.
Maintains and performs minor repairs to animal equipment, enclosures, and animal facility.
Reports major building repairs or malfunctions to facility supervisor.
Transports animals, equipment, and supplies using carts or motorized vehicles.
In agricultural setting, may operate farm machinery such as tractors, manure loaders and spreaders, feed grinders, and related equipment as required.
In animal facility, may use ventilated racks and biological safety cabinets for isolation and containment activities.
Under direction of properly trained personnel, may euthanize animals in accordance to standard procedures.
Under direction of principal investigator and with adequate training may be responsible for maintaining breeding colonies.
Maintains the following records: feed, animal inventory numbers, veterinary treatment, animal health status observations, animal room environment observations and other record keeping duties as assigned.

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
Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.