Herdsperson Trainee/Laborer

Smithfield Foods • Sheldon, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Smithfield is seeking a Herdsperson Trainee/Laborer to join their team. This role involves assisting Herd Technicians with routine animal care and general farm tasks to ensure animal welfare. The position may involve training for an advanced Herd Technician designation and includes responsibilities for the health, growth, and breeding of all animals at the designated work site. Smithfield is a company committed to sustainably feeding people, operating with respect for people, animals, communities, and the planet. They offer challenging and rewarding careers with a culture grounded in core values and a commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous livestock handling helpful.
• Ability to do hard physical labor.
• Strong commitment to teamwork.
• Willingness to shower daily in and out of facility.
• Ability to follow instructions and deal with standardized situations.
• Must be able to work an average 48-hour work week, which can vary frequently.
• Weekend, evening, and holiday work required as needed.
• Must be on call for emergency situations to include but not limit to, power outages or personnel shortages.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Vision abilities include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Must be able to work with and around a wide range of antibiotics (i.e. penicillin).
• Must be able to tolerate blood, animal dander, manure, dust, odors, and frequently noisy conditions.

Responsibilities

• Feeds, waters, vaccinates, and performs general animal husbandry tasks including basic veterinary procedures.
• Maintains flexibility with a willingness to change plans according to the direction of farm leadership.
• Assists in moving animals and maintaining efficient animal flows.
• Sanitizes and washes multiple areas on the farm using high pressure equipment.
• Processes piglets, which includes: Injecting medications, castrating, docking tails, and ear notching.
• Maintains accurate production information and update all department records as required.
• Treats sick animals with a variety of pharmaceuticals by injection, oral application, and/or other methods as required.
• Follows the Standard Operation Procedures, Production Manuals, or Appropriate Training Guides as required.
• Assists with facility and equipment maintenance.
• Assists with maintaining barn, office cleanliness, and laundry duties.
• Follows the Company’s animal welfare policies and procedures including: providing a physical environment that meets the animal’s needs, providing access to adequate water and high quality feed, providing humane treatment of the animals, providing identification and appropriate treatment of animals in need of health care and following the guidelines for euthanasia.
• Responsible for complying with all environmental, safety and biosecurity laws and procedures.

Benefits

• Robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs
• Medical plans with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers
• Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance quality of life
• Support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management
• Comprehensive training and professional development programs
• LinkedIn Learning access to on-demand courses, professional certificates, and skill-based training
• Tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs through partnership with Guild
• Leadership development initiatives
• Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED