Animal Caretaker - Temporary

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a temporary appointment for an Animal Caretaker position. The role involves a variety of duties related to the care and maintenance of animal facilities and the animals within them. Responsibilities include cleaning and sanitizing enclosures, preparing and monitoring feed and water, weighing animals, maintaining records, handling and restraining animals, observing for signs of illness or stress, assisting with veterinary treatments, performing minor repairs to equipment and facilities, and transporting animals and supplies. In an agricultural setting, the role may also involve operating farm machinery. The position requires the ability to euthanize animals under direction if properly trained.

Requirements

Ability to read and write
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Animal Caretaker experience

Responsibilities

Clean/sanitize/disinfect animal enclosures and general animal facilities using equipment including but not limited to water hoses, high pressure and/or high-temperature water sprayers, and other cleaning tools such as pitchforks, shovels, mops, squeegees, and brushes adhering to established policies for maintaining pathogen free environments.
Provide and monitor the intake/use of feed, water, and enrichment including the preparation of specialized feed, water, or enrichment.
Weigh animals, keeping records on weights of feed and animals in coordination with the feeding program.
Maintain records: feed, animal census numbers, veterinary treatment, animal health status observations, animal room environment observations, and other record keeping duties as assigned.
Safely handle and restrain animals.
Check for and report failures in heating and ventilation systems to supervisor.
Observe animals for signs of phenotype, illness, injury, or stress.
Report observations to supervisor.
Assist in routine veterinary treatments or restraint of animals.
Maintain and perform minor repairs to animal equipment, enclosures, and animal facility.
Report major building repairs or malfunctions to facility supervisor.
Transport animals using truck with gooseneck livestock trailer and supplies using motorized vehicles.
In an agricultural setting, operate farm machinery such as tractors with front end loaders and other implements such as a 3-point mower and manure spreader, and other related equipment as required.
Handle and restrain animals.
Under direction of properly trained personnel, may euthanize animals in accordance to standard procedures.