Animal Care Technician III - Feeder

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a dedicated Animal Care Technician III to join their innovative team at a leading dairy research center. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with animals and contribute to vital research in animal health and nutrition. The role requires a blend of technical skills and effective communication, as you'll lead a team, operate essential equipment, and ensure the well-being of the herd. If you are passionate about animal care and eager to make a difference in the dairy industry, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Generous vacation and holidays

Paid time off

Competitive insurances

Retirement benefits

Qualifications

• Full training provided during the first year on the job.
• Skills in operating equipment to perform farm work.
• Ability to recognize variations in feed intake and milk yield.

Responsibilities

• Leads daily operational activities and facilitates staff training.
• Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to schedules.
• Inspects, maintains, and repairs equipment for safe operation.

Skills

Effective Communication Skills

Ability to interpret and follow instructions

Willingness to learn

Animal care procedures

Equipment operation skills

Education

H.S. Diploma

Tools

Tractors

Vertical mixers

Skidloaders

Job description

Job Summary:

The Emmons Blaine Arlington Dairy Research Center is part of the Integrated Dairy Facilities for the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at UW-Madison. This industry leading facility was built in 2008, and is home to 500 milking cows, roughly 100 dry cows, and 100 neo-natal calves. This sand bedded freestall dairy facility, in the heart of the Arlington Ag Research Station just 20 miles north of Madison, allows for the completion of pen-based nutrition work, mammary and reproductive physiology research, welfare and behavioral sciences studies, calf growth research, transition cow management projects, and individual animal intake information.

This Animal Care Technician III - Feeder position is a lead worker position at Blaine Dairy. The individual filling this position will work independently to accurately prepare, blend, and deliver cow rations with strict attention to detail and weight measurements. Doing this will require the operation of large equipment including, but not limited to, tractors, vertical mixers, commodity bins, and skidloaders. In addition, this lead position requires this incumbent to properly train other employees on the operation and safety of large equipment they may be asked to utilize. This individual will also be responsible for taking the lead on maintaining the day-to-day operation of the sand reclamation system to ensure high quality recycled bedding material is available for use. The sand reclamation system does require routine maintenance scheduled by this lead worker and also may require emergency response during outages. The individual in this position will need to be prepared to respond to sand building emergencies as they arise or work directly with the management team on coordinating the response in this person's absence. The individual in this position may be asked to assist the herd health team when operational need calls for it. The incumbent must be skilled at following written and oral instructions as directed by management and research protocols. The individual in this role must be able to work independently, and communicate effectively with fellow lead workers, the management team, researcher conducting experiments on site, and veterinary staff on the current happenings of their area, and provide their impressions of overall feed quality, nutritional status, and general animal health and well-being as needed.

Responsibilities:

Serves as a resource and lead to other technicians and student employees; collects samples, administers medication and treatments, and performs feeding and maintenance responsibilities to ensure compliance with animal care regulations and in support of research and instruction.

• 10% Leads the day-to day operational activities of an animal care work unit and facilitates staff training as needed
• 5% Collects samples from animals and administers medications, injections, and treatments according to established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic and research
• 5% Cleans and maintains organization of animal holding spaces
• 10% Tracks inventory levels of animal supplies and places replenishment orders
• 40% Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications
• 15% Inspects, maintains, and initiates complex repairs to equipment to ensure optimal and safe operation
• 5% Maintains organization of and updates records related to work unit procedures
• 10% 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

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.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Preferred
H.S. Diploma

Qualifications:

Required Knowledge & Skills:
-Full training provided during the first year on the job
-Willingness to learn, work hard and contribute positively to the work team
-Effective Communication Skills
-Ability to interpret and follow written and oral instructions

Preferred Knowledge & Skills:
-Basic techniques and principles involved in milking dairy cows
-Skills in operating equipment to perform farm work
-Clear understanding of the physiology of reproduction and lactation in dairy cattle
-Ability to recognize and interpret daily variations in feed intake, milk yield, and body weights
-Knowledge of the nutrient requirements of dairy cattle and neo-natal calves
-Understanding of the regulations related to the sanitation procedures required in the production of milk for human consumption
-Skills in advanced animal care procedures and techniques such as administration of various animal health related drugs, artificial insemination, transition cow management, and neo-natal calf care
-Ability to effectively lead others, along with the capacity to work and interact with students, faculty, and the public in a professional manner

Work Schedule:

This position will work a rotating schedule to maintain 40 hours per week, with four 10 hour work days each week. An every other weekend rotation will be required, and some holiday assignments. General shift schedule will be from 4:30 AM - 3:00 PM. This lead position will require some on-call after hour duties as needed for emergencies.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated work location in Arlington, Wisconsin (W6723 Badger Lane, Arlington, WI 53911).

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Salary:

Minimum $22.00 HOURLY
Depending on Qualifications
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

Additional Information:

Must be able to lift 50 pounds. Position requires frequent bending and twisting, along with repetitive motions of hands, wrists, and arms. Must be able to respond quickly to actions of 300-1400 pound animals to prevent being stepped on and/or pinned against a gate.

How to Apply:

Please click "Apply Now" to start the application process. You will be required to submit a resume for consideration. If you would like, you may also upload a cover letter. Your resume or cover letter should highlight your experience and skills as they relate to the listed qualifications for maximum consideration.

Contact:

Jessica Cederquist
[e-mail]
608-265-8957
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Animal Care Technician III(AN010)

Department(s):

A07-COL OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES/AG RES STA/IC/BLAINEDAIRY

Employment Class:

University Staff-Ongoing

Job Number:

312376-CP

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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 through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here

If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require you and your references to answer questions regarding 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).

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