Assistant Herd Caretaker, East TN AgResearch & Education Center: UTIA
University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department
The Assistant Herd Caretaker supports field operations of the Research Center with a focus on livestock care, farm labor, equipment/machinery operation, and raising crops. This position also supports staff and faculty with the upkeep of Research Center grounds, equipment, and facilities. This position also supports outreach and educational activities including classes and events.
The Assistant Herd Caretaker supports field operations of the Research Center with a focus on livestock care, farm labor, equipment/machinery operation, and raising crops. This position also supports staff and faculty with the upkeep of Research Center grounds, equipment, and facilities. This position also supports outreach and educational activities including classes and events.
Required Qualifications
- Experience:
- One year farm or other agricultural experience.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Knowledge of livestock and agricultural operations.
Ability to work with large farm animals/livestock.
Ability to assist in gathering samples and minor medical procedures.
Safe heavy equipment operation skills including tractors, backhoes, and skid steers
Ability to work in adverse outdoor conditions for long periods of time
Ability to follow instructions and work both independently as well as part of a team
Preferred Qualifications
- Education:
- High School Diploma
- Experience:
- Three years farm or other agricultural experience.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Knowledge of milking and feeding dairy cows.
- Skills to operate and maintain farm equipment.
Work Location:
- Location: Little River Dairy – Walland, TN
- Position is onsite, with regular overtime, and regular weekend and occasional holiday work.
- Position will have opportunity for free on-site housing.
Compensation and Benefits:
- UT market range: MR04
- Anticipated hiring range: $18/hr
- Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
- Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions:
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.
- Resume
- List of 3 Professional References
About The Department:
One of ten AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee, the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center serves as a field laboratory providing experimental plots, lands, livestock, orchards, equipment, and other types of support for research programs developed by AgResearch scientists. The Center was established on land purchased by the university in 1869. Since that time, six units have been added, increasing the Center’s land to nearly 2,000 acres.
- Primary responsibilities include putting out feed and mineral, maintaining water boxes, assist with animal delivery, cleaning animal enclosures, and milking animals.
- Assists facility leadership and researchers with harvesting grains, grass, and other forage species.
- Operates various pieces of agricultural equipment including, but not limited to: tractors, skid steer loaders, tillage implements, planters, sprayers, hay equipment, rotary mower, lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.
- Maintains records associated with animal care and regulations
- Assists in day-to-day activities for the maintenance of grounds and infrastructure of the Research Center
- Acts as support staff for mowing, spraying, irrigation, fertilization, and upkeep of landscaped areas and areas around/within research plots
- Assists maintenance staff with carpentry work, painting, road grading, equipment maintenance and other general grounds keeping tasks
- Other duties as assigned by the Facility Manager or Director