Overview

This is a three-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!

Formal AU title: Tech, Ag-Vet Med

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• Level I: High school diploma or equivalent.
• 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.