Assistant Agricultural Research Technician (Dixon Springs, IL)

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Agricultural Research Technician works in a team-based environment to support agricultural animal research, teaching, demonstration, and production. The position performs a wide range of basic animal-care, research, farm-operation, and facility-maintenance duties at the assigned unit. Work includes preparing and delivering animal feed; following research protocols and collecting data; maintaining animal, health, breeding, and operational records; cleaning, bedding, and repairing pens and facilities; maintaining equipment; and safely handling, moving, restraining, and providing approved care to animals. The technician may also assist with breeding, prepare livestock for teaching and research, and perform crop production, tillage, harvesting, and forage or feed processing for other departmental units as needed. The role requires regular animal observation, prompt reporting of changes in behavior or health, safe operation of farm equipment, and maintaining a clean and safe environment for animals, coworkers, university personnel, and the public. Schedules may vary with production needs and may include overtime, weekends, and holidays. The position is a 100% full-time Civil Service appointment on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible. The position is not eligible for work-authorization sponsorship.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid Illinois vehicle operator's license(s).
Two years (24 months) total from coursework in agriculture, animal science, crop science, environmental science, or a closely related field, and/or appropriate general agricultural experience performing animal, livestock, or related farming duties.
Knowledge and competency in caring for and safely handling agricultural animals or in performing agricultural crop production and research procedures.
Knowledge of pesticide applications for crops and animals.
Flexibility, patience, attentiveness, willingness to cooperate, persistence, and reliability.
Ability to remain calm and respond quickly in stressful situations involving animals.
Ability to meet strict research and production deadlines and follow applicable departmental, university, state, and federal laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.

Responsibilities

Prepare animal diets and feed animals, including receiving, processing, mixing, storing, and delivering food.
Carry out research protocols and data-collection procedures, including maintaining records for experimental and herd animals and collecting data or specimens as needed.
Clean, bed, and repair animal pens and other facilities.
Perform routine and periodic maintenance on mechanized equipment, tools, and facilities.
Remove waste and animals from pens and facilities as required.
Regularly observe animals and recognize and report changes in eating or drinking habits, behavior, health, or appearance.
Handle, move, and restrain animals and provide approved health care and husbandry, including administering medications and treatments as appropriate.
Observe animals for estrus, breed or assist in breeding as required, and maintain breeding records.
Record or maintain animal health, breeding, production, operational, and husbandry records.
Prepare livestock for teaching, research, and demonstration, including moving animals by walking or approved mechanized transport.
Maintain a clean, safe, and professional environment for animals, employees, the department, and the university.
Safely operate farm equipment, including tractors, loaders, power take-off vehicles, post drivers, and chainsaws, including in confined spaces or near overhead electrical lines.
Perform agricultural tillage, crop production, harvesting, and forage or feed processing for other departmental units as needed.
Interact professionally and politely with faculty, students, university personnel, and the public.
Perform other related duties as required or assigned.