Position Title:Animal Caretaker PRN (Temp)
Job Group:Merit
Required Minimum Qualifications:- Ability to read, write, and follow instructions. – Possession of a valid state or commercial driver’s license, as required.
Preferred Qualifications:Previous experience with small animals, ideally in a veterinary hospital or shelter setting
Veterinary technician experience or knowledge of animal husbandry and restraint techniques
Familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel
Fear Free certification (or willingness to obtain)
Ability to perform basic math calculations, including non-metric unit
Job Description:
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) within the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is looking for you!
Join our team as a temporary, part-time Animal Caretaker , supporting doctors and technical staff in our Surgery, Anesthesia, and Community Outreach program! You’ll play a vital role in animal husbandry for dogs and cats, assist with patient care and medical treatments, and help set up student laboratories. Your efforts will ensure a clean, well-maintained laboratory environment through tasks like stocking, cleaning, laundry, and equipment maintenance.
You’ll collaborate with a dynamic team, using your excellent communication skills and animal handling expertise. If not already certified, you will become Fear Free certified, enhancing your commitment to animal welfare.
This position offers a valuable chance to apply your skills in a supportive and regulated environment while making a meaningful contribution to the well-being of animals and the success of our programs. Under direct supervision, you will perform the work necessary for handling, feeding, and caring for animals and maintaining animal facilities in compliance with federal, state, and university regulations.
Weekly hours will average 21, with shifts scheduled Monday through Friday, based on need and season; availability is not expected during holidays and student breaks.
Work Schedule
Monday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM – 1 PM
Thursday: 8 AM – 12 PM
Friday: 11 AM – 3 PM
This is a temporary with-term (fixed term) position with a term end date of one year from the start of the position.
Applications will be reviewed as received, and interviews may be scheduled prior to the job closing date.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
– Feeds and waters animals including the mixing and preparing of feed for standard or special diets.
– Weighs animals, keeping records on weights of feed and animal in coordination with the feeding program.
– Grooms, handles, and restrains animals.
– Checks newly purchased animals for conformance to order specifications.
– Cleans and disinfects animal enclosures, isolation rooms, buildings, and equipment, adhering to established policies for maintaining pathogen free environments and containment of animals exposed to infectious diseases.
– Operates mechanical equipment, such as autoclaves, ventilated racks, and cage washers.
– Checks for and reports failures in heating and ventilation systems to supervisor.
– Observes animals for signs of phenotype, illness, injury, or stress.
– Reports observations to supervisor.
– Assists in routine veterinary treatments or restraint of animals for experimental purposes.
– Maintains and performs minor repairs to animal equipment, enclosures, and animal facility.
– Reports major building repairs or malfunctions to facility supervisor.
– Transports animals, equipment, and supplies using carts or motorized vehicles.
– In agricultural setting, may operate farm machinery such as tractors, manure loaders and spreaders, feed grinders, and related equipment as required.
– In animal facility, may use ventilated racks and biological safety cabinets for isolation and containment activities.
– Under direction of properly trained personnel, may euthanize animals in accordance to standard procedures.
– Under direction of principal investigator and with adequate training may be responsible for maintaining breeding colonies.
– Maintains the following records: feed, animal inventory numbers, veterinary treatment, animal health status observations, animal room environment observations and other record keeping duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
– Knowledge of standard operating procedures for laboratory animal care or livestock care, as applicable.
– Ability to learn and apply federal, state, and/or university regulations regarding animal care and use in research and teaching.
– Ability to understand, communicate, and execute oral and written instructions.
– Ability to keep accurate records.
– Ability to recognize changes in conditions of animals and animal room environment, malfunctioning equipment, and unsafe conditions.
– Ability to construct and maintain related equipment and facilities.
– Ability to lift and/or move 50-100 pounds.
– Ability to perform physical labor such as restraining animals, loading and unloading supplies and animals, and standing for prolonged periods of time.
– Ability to work around noise, dust, odors, fumes, and extremes in temperature.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.
Appointment Type:Temporary (Fixed Term)
Proposed End Date or Length of Term:November 18, 2025
Number of Months Employed Per Year:12 Month Work Period
Time Type:Part time
Pay Grade:7611a
Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application.
Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.Why Choose ISU?Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
– Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans- Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans- Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)- Life insurance and long-term disability- Flexible Spending Accounts- Various voluntary benefits and discounts- Employee Assistance Program- Wellbeing program
Original Posting Date: August 20, 2024
Posting Close Date:October 25, 2024
Job Requisition Number:R15352
By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive?land-grant?mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State , we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.
Iowa State University is a welcoming, global, and culturally diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university’s Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/diversity-and-inclusion/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.
All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.
Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu .
If you have questions about the application process please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485 . Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email employment@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485 . TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942 .
General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.
