Job Description
The Animal Science General Livestock Manager reports directly to the Department Head and works closely with the Faculty Management Teams for the Swine, Sheep, and Beef facilities on campus and the Beef Center at Rosemount Research and Outreach Center (RROC). This position is responsible for a variety of animal care and production and operations functions designed to support the Departmentâ™s teaching, research and extension missions. The manager supervises the undergraduate student employees, coordinates use of the facilities with faculty and attends to the operation and basic maintenance of equipment in the animal units. The manager coordinates with the supervisors of the other St. Paul Animal Units for shared use of equipment and facilities. As an essential employee, a portion of the managerâ™s time may be spent feeding livestock and caring for calves, sows and piglets, ewes and lambs and beef steers on the St. Paul Campus and RROC Beef Center.
Responsibilities These examples do not include all possible tasks of this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this class. Percentages may vary based on time of year and needs of the livestock facilities. All tasks require appropriate use and operation of farm machinery and equipment, including operating a skid-steer loader and driving a truck with livestock trailer. Documentation of activities and observations is required for most tasks, especially in the livestock barns, to ensure animals receive appropriate and timely care (health observations and treatments, etc.) and to identify factors that could explain potential problems (decreased performance, failure to conceive, etc.).
25% Supervision
- Full supervisory and training responsibility of undergraduate student employees.
- Responsible for the development, performance management, and setting of expectations and priorities.
- Recruit, hire, schedule, assign work, train, educate and discipline student employees.
- Ensure student employees obtain required and ongoing occupational health, first aid, safety, and care and use of animal (IACUC) training.
- Ensure that a well-written set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety procedures for all jobs in the animal units is written and maintained.
- Supervise and manage animal care duties as they relate to general handling, moving, restraining, health care and general husbandry of the animals.
- Supervise and manage duties related to research and teaching protocols and data collection procedures.
- Ensure student employees obtain required occupational health, safety, and care and use of animals training and stay current with university requirements.
50% Operational Management
- Report and be accountable to the DAS Head on all aspects (budgets, animal usage certification/documentation and animal unit personnel) of animal operations and usage.
- Develop operating budgets and work with DAS Head, Finance Manager, CFANS administration, and faculty management team to ensure animal units are fiscally solvent.
- With faculty advisors, develop Standard Operating Procedures for animal care, maintenance, biosecurity, and other needed areas and ensure adherence to them.
- Assist in purchasing, leasing, and maintaining equipment.
- Manage routine cleaning of animal facilities and Animal Science Livestock Arena.
- Provide for periodic maintenance and repair of equipment, tools, and facilities, including establishing a productive working relationship with Facilities Maintenance personnel.
- Observe animals for general wellbeing, health, and behavior on a routine basis and adjust procedures and administer treatments as required.
- Secure veterinary assistance for animals when needed.
- Maintain records on animals, inventory, sales, and animal performance.
- Monitor animal facilities to ensure regulatory compliance with all university requirements.
- In coordination with Dairy Manager, manage storage and inventory of feed and other supplies necessary for feeding and care of animals.
- Communicate and interact with faculty, students, veterinarians, other university personnel, and the general public.
- Assist in preparation for and delivery of class laboratory sessions and Extension events utilizing beef cattle, goats, pigs, and sheep.
- Assist faculty in utilizing the St. Paul Campus Beef Barn and Livestock Arena with preparation, set up, animal movement, and clean up.
20% Animal Health and Care
- Observe animals daily for abnormalities. Treat and care for animals and/or contact veterinarian for assistance according to site procedures. Assist veterinarian in treatment of injuries and ailments and administer treatments, including intravenous therapies, as prescribed by veterinarian or supervisor. Record observations and all therapies administered.
- Ear-tag, tattoo, or attach unique identifiers to livestock for identifications. Perform artificial insemination, castration, and collect blood samples for animals as required. Assist animals during calving, lambing and farrowing. Record breeding, birth, and birthing information.
- Prepare and deliver daily feed allotment to livestock by hand, tractor, or feed mixer/feed wagon. Evaluate clean water supply for livestock. Clean and maintain watering system as needed.
- Move cattle and livestock within and between animal facilities.
5% Other Duties as Assigned
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS degree with at least two (2) years of experience OR a combination of related work experience to equal 6 years.
- Moderate physical capability (ability to lift and carry at least 50 pounds repeatedly)
- A valid Driverâ™s License
- Experience in record keeping
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience should include time in a university livestock teaching or research facility or livestock facility.
- Experience in large animal research and/or animal research facility management
- Experience in sheep, goat, beef, and swine production, equipment repair, and maintenance
- Operational experience with skid steer, tractor and livestock trailer
- Experience moving, handling and transporting livestock
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to interact well with people from diverse backgrounds
Special/Physical Requirements
- Moderate physical capability (ability to lift and carry at least 50 pounds repeatedly)
About University of Minnesota Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.
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Job Tags
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