ANIMAL CARETAKER I

JBS Foods; Lamar (CO); On-site; USD 52,349,000 - 57,859,000; Full time

Job summary

JBS Foods in Lamar, CO seeks an entry-level Animal Care Technician to join a rural farm team. You will learn to care for pigs, handle sows and piglets, and assist with farrowing and breeding tasks, all while following safety and biosecurity rules.

You will work 8–10 hour shifts with rotating weekends. Prior animal care is not required, but reliability and the ability to learn are essential.

Qualifications

• No prior animal care required; experience preferred.
• Ability to work in a team and maintain reliability.
• Willingness to learn technology like handheld devices.
• Willing to work weekends/holidays on a rotating schedule.

Responsibilities

• Learn and develop skills in the designated work area.
• Work in a cohesive team to provide essential care to the animals.
• Perform basic sow/gilt handling: feeding/watering/moving.
• Assist with farrowing and breeding tasks.
• Handle and use chemicals safely and vaccinate/medicate as needed.
• Maintain farm cleanliness and biosecurity standards.
• Operate basic machinery and equipment as required.

Skills

Team oriented

Self-motivated

Positive attitude

Written communication

Verbal communication

Tools

Hand-held devices

Electronic wands

Office equipment

Job description

Description

Essential Functions:

• Learn and develop individual skills based on work requirements in the employees designated work area.
• Work in a cohesive team environment to provide essential care to the animals.
• Expect 100% supervision for the first 30 days of employment followed. Determination of Animal Care Technician 2 to be made at 90 days of employment.
• Basic sow/gilt handling: feeding/watering/moving.
• Operating machinery and equipment.
• Assisting with farrowing (birth).
• Assist with breeding (artificial insemination).
• Handling and using chemicals.
• Vaccinating and medicating sows and piglets.
• Cleaning, afterbirth, dead pigs, scraping.
• Ability to use computer equipment: hand held devices and electronic wands.
• Loading and unloading pigs as scheduled.
• Maintaining farm cleanliness.
• Adhere to all biosecurity standards including showering in and out of facilities.

Success Factors:

• At 90 days of employment, if supervision level is 30% or less, a move to Animal Care Technician 2 will be warranted. If 100% supervision is mandated, continue at Animal Care Technician 1 with further 30 day reviews. THIS IS A SKILLS BASED ASSESSMENT BASED ON A TIMEFRAME OF DISCUSSION!!
• Able to act in solving problems while exhibiting judgment and a systematic approach to decision making.
• Able to react to a work environment that will change day to day as unexpected things occur in the production system.
• Reliable transportation to get to and from work, located in a rural area.

Job Qualifications:

• Previous animal care experience preferred but not required.
• Be a team oriented, self-motivated and positive individual with strong work ethic.
• Ability to learn or already have technology knowledge: hand held devices/wand sows, and other equipment as necessary
• Work weekend and holiday hours as required on a rotational basis.

Working Conditions:

• Standing, walking and the ability to be on feet 8 to 10 hours per day.
• Frequent bending, reaching, squatting and kneeling.
• Frequent use of one or both arms to grasp or pull.
• Frequent lifting of objects weighing 3 - 20 pounds.
• Occasional bending wile pulling or lifting objects weighing up to 50 pounds or requiring up to 50 pounds of force to move.
• Occasional bending wile pulling or lifting objects weighing up to 100 pounds or requiring up to 100 pounds of force to move.
• Ability to print and or write legibly
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work with all office equipment is required.
• Ability to work in animal confinement conditions
• Extended hours are required as needed.
• Ability to work a schedule of 12 days on and 2 days off.

Pay Rate $18.35

EOE, including Vets and Disability