Horse Farm Assistant

Job Summary

This is an eight-year limited term appointment. Continuation of employment is contingent upon availability of funds. The College of Veterinary Medicine seeks candidates for a Horse Farm Assistant to perform general construction and maintenance of farm equipment and facilities that support routine care for animals. This position is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who enjoy working outdoors, being around farm animals, and all the tough jobs involved in farm work. This position requires frequent manual labor. The successful candidate should have experience working with horses (either professionally or personally) and have knowledge of farm equipment operation. Experience and comfort with handling horses as well as an understanding of horse behavior is critical to success in this role.

What does a typical day in this position look like? Each morning, the farm assistant will gather horses to get them ready for plasma collection. The horses are taken into a room for prep and the farm assistant secures the horse while the techs work. Horses are then returned to the pasture so prep for the next day's treatment can be done. Afternoons are all about farm maintenance, including operating a tractor, bushhog, and mower. Other afternoon duties include repairing fences, gates, troughs, and unloading hay and other supplies.

Why work as a Farm Assistant?

• You'll get to work outside on the "Loveliest Village on the Plains"
• You'll make an impact supporting the care of animals and the work the College of Veterinary Medicine performs!
• Built-in promotional opportunities based on performance (progressing through job levels I, II, III, and IV)!
• Tuition benefits for yourself and your dependents after a year of employment!
• Steady employment, state benefits, and a place you can build a career!

Essential Functions

• Daily horse handling is a major component of this position including but not limited to catching, haltering, leading, and releasing.
• Performs general construction and maintenance of farm equipment, structures, and grounds to include, but not limited to, fences, stalls, barns, roads, ponds, farm buildings, and lawn/field care.
• Provides routine animal care such as daily feeding, watering, cleaning/sanitation of stalls and barns, rotational grazing, monitoring health and safety of animals, and transportation of animals to proper location.
• May handle pesticides, herbicides, and hazardous chemicals on a team or alone.

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence: We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We're Here for You: Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama: The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Minimum Qualifications

Level II: High school diploma or equivalent plus 1 year of relevant experience. Level III: High school diploma or equivalent plus 4 years of relevant experience. Level IV: High school diploma or equivalent plus 6 years of relevant experience. Substitutions allowed for Experience: When a candidate has the required education, but lacks the required experience, they may normally apply additional appropriate education toward the experience requirement, at a rate of one (1) year relevant education per year of required experience.

Minimum Skills and Abilities

Working with equine species is physically demanding and requires working in the elements, as well as risk of injury with caution required. Regularly involves lifting, bending or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., with one often to the point of being objectionable. Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonal and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immediate supervisor. Job frequently requires standing, walking, reaching, talking, hearing, handling objects with hands, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Job occasionally requires sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting more than 100 pounds. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Minimum License and Certifications

Possession of a valid in state driver's license.

Desired Qualifications

Equine experience and the ability to obtain a pesticide license may be required in specific positions.

Salary Range

$31,200 - $46,840

Job Category

Agricultural/Veterinary Medicine

Working Hours if Non-Traditional

Typical hours of 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (includes weekends and holidays)

City position is located in

Auburn

State position is located

Alabama