Temporary Milker - Teaching Dairy Barn

Cornell University; Ithaca (GA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornell University’s Teaching Dairy Barn seeks a Temporary Animal Technician to oversee a 24/7 dairy operation, caring for about 200 adult cattle and 30 calves, milking twice daily, and assisting with daily farm tasks.

The role requires operating a skid steer, cleaning equipment, feeding stock, monitoring animal health, and reporting concerns; onsite in Ithaca, NY, with a 40-hour week on a six-month appointment and no visa sponsorship.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience milking in a dairy milking parlor.
• Exceptional animal handling skills.
• Experience operating skid steers & ATV.
• Basic reading, writing and computer skills.
• Ability to lift 100 lbs and perform physical tasks.
• Excellent communication and attention to detail.
• NYS CDL Class B license with air brake endorsement.
• Pass pre-employment drug test and random testing.
• Willingness to work in seasonal and challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a 24/7 dairy operation with ~200 adult cattle and 30 calves.
• Milk cows twice daily and operate a skid steer.
• Clean equipment and facilities; feed youngstock and cattle.
• Observe, report, and manage health events as needed.
• Travel with a feed truck to collect feed and transport livestock.
• Assist with maintaining facilities and equipment; lift bales of hay.
• Interact with students, researchers, faculty, and visitors.

Skills

Milking experience

Animal handling

Farm equipment operation

Reading & writing

Computer skills

Ability to lift 100 lbs

Communication skills

CDL Class B w/ air brake

Drug test compliance

Seasonal work tolerance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

The Teaching Dairy Barn is a 24-hour/7-days a 7-day-a-week operation. This position involves direct oversight of approximately 200 adult cattle and 30 calves. Primary duties are typical of a commercial dairy operation and include milking cows twice daily, operating a skid steer, manual cleaning of equipment, feeding youngstock and mature cattle, as well as observing, reporting, and managing health events as needed.

Additional responsibilities are typical of commercial dairy operations, and include, but are not limited to:

• Traveling with a commercial feed truck to collect feed daily

• Traveling with truck and trailer to transport livestock

• Cleaning and maintaining Teaching Dairy Facilities and equipment (manually cleaning manure and soiled bedding from cow stalls, box stalls, tie stalls, bedded pack, and calf hutch areas and washing and disinfecting facilities with manual scrubbing and/or pressure washer)

• Lifting bales of hay/ bagged feed/ etc., and adhering to written protocols.

Exceptional animal handling skills are required. Our employees have frequent interactions with students, researchers, faculty, and visitors. Professional and courteous conduct is necessary at all times.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Experience milking in a dairy milking parlor

• Exceptional animal handling skills

• Experience driving farm equipment, specifically skid steers & ATV

• Basic reading, writing, and computer skills

• Ability to lift 100 lbs. and be able to push, pull, carry, stretch, and reach on a regular basis.

• Excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail

• Must possess a NYS CDL CLASS B license with air brake endorsement

• Must pass a pre-employment drug test and be subject to random drug and alcohol testing.

• Willingness and ability to work in unfavorable seasonal conditions (summer/winter temperatures), unfavorable environmental conditions (eg., dusty straw or hay), and in unpredictable animal environments. The possibility of being kicked or bitten by an animal is always present.

Important Details about the Position

• This is a full-time (40 hours), 6-month temporary position with potential to extend based on funding and performance.

• This is an onsite position located in Ithaca, NY.

• We are unable to provide Visa sponsorship, now or in the future, for this position.

• Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

What We Offer:

Great benefits! Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health. Follow this link for more information: https://hr.cornell.edu/understand-your-benefits

Questions?

Gabriel Gonzalez - [e-mail]

University Job Title:

Temporary Animal Technician

Job Family:

Temporary Health

Level:

No Grade - Hourly

Pay Rate Type:

Hourly

Pay Range:

Refer to Posting Language

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Contact Name:

Gabriel Gonzalez

Contact Email:

[e-mail]

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• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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2026-09-18