Agricultural Assistant II - ISU Dairy

Position Overview Agricultural Assistant II at the Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, supports daily herd management, animal care, milking operations, and research activities on the university's teaching and research dairy farm. Responsibilities Perform daily feeding, milking, and care of dairy cattle while following animal welfare and biosecurity practices. Monitor animal health and behavior, report concerns, and assist with treatments, calving, and herd health activities. Clean, sanitize, and maintain milking equipment, feeding systems, and livestock facilities. Safely handle and move cattle using low‑stress livestock handling techniques. Operate and maintain farm equipment, including tractors, skid steers, loaders, mixers, and trucks. Maintain records related to animal health, production, and equipment maintenance. Train and assist student employees and work closely with farm staff, faculty, and industry partners. Support research, teaching, seasonal farm operations, grounds maintenance, and other related duties. Contribute to special projects and other responsibilities based on operational needs and the candidate’s skills and interests. Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent and 3 years of related experience. Dependable, safety‑minded, and comfortable working in a physically demanding agricultural environment. Able to work around large animals, operate farm equipment safely, and work independently or as part of a team. Adaptive to changing farm priorities and able to manage changing responsibilities. Preferred Qualifications Milking experience. Experience caring for and supporting dairy cattle. General knowledge of farm labor, equipment, and machinery. Benefits Health insurance. Retirement benefits. Paid leave. Professional development opportunities. Vacation, holiday, and sick time. Onsite childcare and other voluntary benefits. Work Schedule Primarily daytime work with some early‑morning duties; staff share responsibility for a rotating weekend schedule. Equal Employment Opportunity Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. #J-18808-Ljbffr