Animal Care Technician III

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dairy Cattle Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison supports teaching, research, and outreach with 84 lactating cows on campus. The role involves milking, feeding, cleaning, animal health observations, and coordinating research data collection under established SOPs.

As a lead worker in the absence of management, you will supervise student employees, help with daily farm operations, and ensure accurate sample collection for research while maintaining safety and record-keeping

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of milking procedures and milk quality standards.
• Experience recognizing changes in dairy cattle health and behavior.
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel to log data and maintain records.
• Experience following detailed protocols in a research or agricultural setting (collecting samples, recording observations).
• Experience leading others and training staff or students.
• Ability to perform essential functions including standing, lifting, and working in barn environments.

Responsibilities

• Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to schedules.
• Tracks inventory levels of animal supplies and places replenishment orders.
• Cleans and maintains organization of animal holding spaces.
• Observes animal behavior and reports concerns to support animal health and the research mission.
• Collects samples and administers medications/procedures per protocols for diagnostics/research.
• Maintains records of work unit procedures.
• Leads day-to-day animal care operations and trains staff as needed.
• Inspects and maintains equipment for safe operation.

Skills

Milking procedures

Milk quality standards

Animal health observation

Leadership / training others

Data collection / recording

Communication with stakeholders

Standing, lifting, barn work

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

University Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Animal Care Technician III

Job Summary:

The Dairy Cattle Center is part of the Integrated Dairy Facilities for the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at UW-Madison. This industry leading facility is located in the heart of the UW-Madison campus and is home to 84 lactating cows. This facility plays a critical role in supporting the teaching, research, and outreach missions of the university. The capacity for unique, individualized nutrition based research, as well as research on mammary and reproductive physiology, and transition cow management. In addition, the ability for intensive hands‑on learning opportunities makes this facility one of a kind.

This position is involved in all aspects of research dairy operations, including but not limited to, milking, feeding, cleaning, handling, and animal health observations at the facility. This position is a lead worker in the absence of management must be able to maintain the operation with limited supervision. The incumbent in this position must be able to lead the collection and processing of composite milk samples as well as additional research data collections according to established standard operating procedures. The person in this position will also work closely with student employees by leading, training, and assisting them with normal daily farm operations.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications
• Tracks inventory levels of animal supplies and places replenishment orders
• Cleans and maintains organization of animal holding spaces
• Observes animal behavior, performs animal care, and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well‑being of animals in support of research and instruction
• Collects samples from animals and administers medications, injections, and treatments according to established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic and research
• Maintains organization of and updates records related to work unit procedures
• Leads the day‑to‑day operational activities of an animal care work unit and facilitates staff training as needed
• Inspects, maintains, and initiates complex repairs to equipment to ensure optimal and safe operation

Department:

ARS - Dairy Cattle Center, Madison, WI

Compensation:

The minimum salary for this position is $22.00 per hour, however, final salary will depend on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Additional benefits information can be found at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/univstaff.pdf

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of milking procedures and milk quality standards (e.g., preparing cows for milking, identifying abnormal milk, and following sanitation protocols)
• Experience maintaining responsibility for recognizing changes in dairy cattle health and behavior (e.g., signs of illness, lameness, reduced milk production, decreased feed intake, etc.)
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel to log data, send emails, and maintain digital records.
• Experience following detailed written protocols and verbal instructions in a research or agricultural setting (e.g., collecting samples, recording observations, and completing assigned tasks)
• Experience leading others and working with a variety of stakeholders (e.g., training employees, assisting students, collaborating with faculty, interacting with visitors, etc.)
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, including extended periods of standing, lifting and moving supplies, and working in varying weather conditions and barn environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience handling and restraining dairy cattle (e.g., moving animals through milking facilities, sorting cattle, and assisting with routine procedures)
• Experience collecting and recording animal or research‑related data (e.g., milk samples, body weights, health observations, and treatment records)
• Experience operating and performing minor maintenance on farm equipment (e.g., milking equipment, tractors, skid steers, and utility vehicles)
• Experience involving dairy cattle reproduction, lactation, or performing advanced animal care procedures (e.g., administering treatments, assisting with artificial insemination, and neonatal calf care)

Education:

H.S. Diploma Preferred Minimum

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Contact Information:

Andrew Vaudt, HR Generalist ([e-mail])

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin‑Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy‑related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre‑employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on‑campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW‑Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.