Agricultural Assistant

University of Guelph; Guelph; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Guelph is seeking a Temporary part-time Animal Care Attendant at the Large Animal Hospital within the Health Sciences Centre. You will provide husbandry care for teaching animals and support clinicians, RVTs and students in the DVM program.

Responsibilities include feeding, monitoring, and handling a variety of large animals, recording intake/output, and maintaining equipment logs. The role requires flexibility across shifts and adherence to safety and confidentiality guidelines.

Qualifications

• 2-year College Diploma in a related program plus 1 year of related experience in a Small/Large Animal Clinic setting.
• Animal Care Certificate or additional courses such as Equine Management or Large Animal Husbandry preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in customer service as well as effective organizational and communication skills.
• Flexibility in scheduling including days, afternoons, nights and weekends; valid Class G license.

Responsibilities

• Provide husbandry care of patient and teaching animals under supervision.
• Track patient intake/output and provide specialized feedings.
• Walk and handle animals including IV fluids and critical cases.
• Maintain safety protocols and confidentiality; operate equipment as needed.
• Handle and transport equipment such as forklift, trucks, trailers, winches and hoists.

Skills

Customer service

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Team interaction

Education

Two-year College Diploma in related program

Animal Care Certificate

Tools

Forklift operation

Electronic monitoring equipment

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Primary Category Page: Staff and Management

Division: Health Sciences Centre

Department:Large Animal Hospital
Temporary part-time from 11/02/2026to04/30/2027
(Less than 24 hours a week)

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant.
Career Opportunities (sapsf.com)

General Purpose

Reporting to the Manager, Patient Care and Service Delivery the incumbent provides husbandry care of patient and teaching animals at the OVC HSC and supports the Clinicians, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and students of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program. The incumbent will be cross trained in other areas of the Health Sciences Centre as they may need to support other units in times of operational need. Animal Housing positions at OVC HSC include Animal Care Attendants (Companion Animal Wards) and Agricultural Assistants (Large Animal Clinic).

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ability to work in fast paced and high stress environment.
• This is a client facing role requiring excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Interacting with students, interns, residents, faculty.
• Working primarily with large animals including horses (mares with foals, stallions, yearlings) cows, goats, pigs, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and other species.
• Tracking and recording patient intake/output and specialized feedings.
• Walking animals, handling patients on IV fluids, CRIs and working with critical cases.
• Patient restraint for procedures on large animals; loading and unloading of trailers.
• Caring for our herd of dry cows, horses, and sheep for teaching and research.
• Providing animal care inclusive of cleaning, grooming, feeding and exercising patients.
• Monitor changes in animal behavior/health and report concerns.
• Inventory control and maintaining equipment logs.
• Adhering to safety regulations, isolation protocols, and confidentiality.
• Tasks are carried out in both interior and exterior locations, in all weather conditions.
• This position requires heavy lifting, push/pull and working with high-stress animals.
• This position involves the handling and transport of deadstock.
• Utilizing equipment such as forklift, truck and trailer, winches, hoists, and chute systems.

Requirements

• 2-year College Diploma in a related program plus 1 year of related experience in a Small/Large Animal Clinic setting.
• Animal Care Certificate or additional courses such as Equine Management or Large Animal Husbandry will be given preference.
• Demonstrated proficiency in customer service as well as effective organizational and communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of computers and electronic monitoring equipment would be a benefit.
• Flexibility in scheduling availability is required. The incumbent will be required to work a variety of shifts including days, afternoons, nights and weekends.
• A valid Class G Driver's license is required.

The successful applicant will be required to provide proof of rabies titre.

Employee Type: Temporary
Hourly rate: Enter $28.73 - $32.10 per hour

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date:11/02/2026
Close Date:11/30/2026