Position Title:

Animal Caretaker I - Large Animal Float

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:

Experience handling large animals such as horses, cattle, or sheep.

Experience working in a veterinary setting.

Experience cleaning or familiarity with biosecurity.

Experience handling or restraining large animals.

Job Description:

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University is seeking a Large Animal Caretaker to support the daily operations of our large animal facilities. This position is key to ensuring our facilities remain clean, safe, and fully supportive of teaching, research, and clinical activities. You will work with a variety of large animals, including horses, cattle, swine, and small ruminants such as sheep and goats.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide care for large animals, including feeding, watering, grooming, and monitoring health through daily observation.
• Assist with veterinary procedures and animal restraint during clinical treatments and educational demonstrations.
• Maintain animal facilities, ensuring enclosures, equipment, and environments are clean and sanitary while following biosecurity protocols.
• Transport animals and supplies within the facility and assist with facility upkeep and minor repairs.
• Monitor and report on animal health status, including any signs of illness, injury, or stress, to supervisors and veterinary staff.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Full-time position with rotating shifts. You’ll work on-site, caring for animals in various weather conditions and physical environments.
• Shift: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, 4 days a week, on call, rotating weekends
• Experience with livestock handling and biosecurity practices is preferred, but not required. Training will be provided as needed.

Why Join Us

• Be part of a team supporting teaching, research, and clinical care in veterinary medicine
• Gain hands-on experience working with large animals
• Contribute to a mission focused on animal health, safety, and welfare
• Training provided for candidates eager to learn

About the College of Veterinary Medicine:

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine is at the forefront of veterinary education, clinical care, and research. As part of our team, you’ll work in a cutting-edge environment where animal health, student education, and scientific advancements are prioritized. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the welfare of animals and the future of veterinary medicine.

Under direct supervision, performs the work necessary in handling, feeding, and caring for animals and animal facilities in compliance with federal, state, and/or university regulations.

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.

Appointment Type:

Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full 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 Vitae
2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

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:

April 1, 2026

Posting Close Date:

April 14, 2026

Job Requisition Number:

R18911