Temporary Milker - Teaching Dairy Barn

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great benefits

Onsite in Ithaca, NY

Job summary

Cornell University seeks a Temporary Animal Technician to oversee a Teaching Dairy Barn operation, directly handling ~200 cattle and 30 calves. Responsibilities include milking, equipment operation, feeding, and health event management.

The role requires CDL-B with air brake endorsement and the ability to lift 100 lbs, in a 40-hour weekly on-site schedule in Ithaca, NY. This temporary, 6-month position offers intensive animal care experience, interaction with students and researchers, and strong

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience milking in a dairy milking parlor.
• Exceptional animal handling skills.
• Experience driving farm equipment (skid steers & ATV).
• Able to lift 100 lbs and perform physical tasks.
• Must possess a NYS CDL CLASS B license with air brake endorsement.
• Pre-employment drug test and random drug/alcohol testing required.
• Willingness to work in seasonal and challenging animal environments.

Responsibilities

• Milking cows twice daily.
• Operate a skid steer.
• Clean equipment and facilities.
• Feed youngstock and mature cattle.
• Observe, report, and manage health events as needed.
• Travel with a commercial feed truck to collect feed daily.
• Travel with truck and trailer to transport livestock.
• Lift bales of hay and bagged feed, following written protocols.

Skills

Animal handling

Milking experience

Equipment operation

Communication skills

Physical ability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Skid steer

ATV

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

Contact Name: Gabriel Gonzalez

Contact Email: [e-mail]

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• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

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2026-09-18