Caretaker - Large Animal (Temporary)

About This Role:

The Veterinary Health Center within the College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking applicants for a temporary Caretaker in Large Animal. This position exists to provide quality animal care to patient, teaching and research animals in the KSU-VHC.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Animal Care: Feed and water animals in mornings and evenings (cards on doors indicate feeding, watering, bedding, and special instructions). Check water throughout the day, making sure animals have clean water. Clean stalls in bovine, equine, and isolation areas. When cleaning isolation stalls where contagious diseases are suspected, wear gowns, gloves, and boots. Cleaning consists of sifting through shavings and/or straw looking for wet areas and manure and placing in large trash dumpsters for removal. Clean out water buckets replacing with fresh water daily. When stalls have to be cleaned, replace shavings and/or straw so that the animal is comfortable. Clean and disinfect tools used for cleaning in between each stall and when finished. Report to clinician or supervisor if animal is acting strangely or appears uncomfortable. May be asked to assist with catching, holding and restraining an animal for treatment.
• Facilities Cleanliness: After animals leave (a feed card thrown in the stall indicates the animal has been discharged) scoop out shavings and/or straw into dumpsters, then rinse the stall with water. Scrub stall, manger, and buckets with cleaning solution (and bleach if needed) and then disinfect. In isolation stalls when contagious disease is suspected, wear gloves and boots to scoop out, scrub and disinfect the stall. Clean extra used feed and water buckets with cleaning solution and/or bleach and disinfect. Make sure every stall has feed and water buckets and extras are returned to their proper places. Make sure that all empty stalls are kept free of dust and cobwebs. Sweep and rinse work and feed aisles daily making sure drains are clean and scrub with cleaning solution and/or bleach when needed. Scrubbing includes but is not limited to all livestock chutes, Aqua Cow, hoist stall mats and divider panels. Replenish all cleaning supplies as needed. When assigned to vehicles you will be responsible for the fueling, cleaning, minor services, mileage logs, and reporting maintenance needs.
• Assisting Others: Help catch and bring in teaching animals from facilities where they are housed with CMG. Go out to farms to pick up client animals. Help load and unload client animals at VHC. This may include loading or unloading animals from trucks and trailers. Also, instruct veterinary students on each rotation where feeds, buckets, feed pans, or any supplies are kept. Train and instruct student workers on cleaning and feeding procedures and where items are located. Assist supervisor in performing daily census, which consists of counting all animals in the Hospital, identifying case numbers and clinicians associated with each case. Make sure all paperwork is filled out properly, photo-copying the census and coordinating distribution to proper areas.
• Miscellaneous Duties:
  
  
  
  • Assist with taking vehicles to facilities for gas and university garage for maintenance and repairs when needed.
  • Go to local feed store to procure feed and supplies.
  • Use forklift, truck and/or trailer to load and unload shavings, hay and other items for transport to other feed and or/storage locations.
  • Drive a fork lift to load and unload heavy or bulky items and to take deceased animals to necropsy.
  • Wash dumpster room. Keep outside loading areas clean, including equine, bovine and isolation.
  • Assist with installation of heat lamps, IV hangers, ropes, buckets, divider panels, etc. in stall area. Sand and paint feed bunks as necessary.
  • Help clinicians and veterinary students. Get supplies needed or help with an animal. Help students on new rotations fill out feed cards and find supplies.
  • Pick up miscellaneous equipment in hallways and put away.
  • Change glue boards in fly traps as needed.
  • Shovel sand into stalls for lame or downer animals.
  • When needed, assist with sinks in all areas and the ICU cart. Make sure solution bottles are full and check supplies, obtain replacement supplies and replace as needed.
  • Clean tack rooms in equine and bovine areas.
  • Fill the six bandage boxes for bovine and equine, making sure they are stocked with supplies.
  • Vehicle cleaning, gassing up vehicles, and maintaining mileage logs.
  • Perform other duties assigned by supervisor or KSU-VHC administration.
  
  
  
  

Why Join Us:

Kansas State University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, paid time off - vacation, sick, and holidays. To see what benefits are available, please visit:

We Support Diversity and Inclusion:

Kansas State University embraces diversity and inclusion. The university actively seeks individuals who foster a collegial environment and cooperative interactions with coworkers, students, and others. The University is dedicated to promoting the

What You'll Need to Succeed:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer three years experience in caring for large animals (especially veterinary hospital experience).
• Ability to write and interpret written instructions.
• Ability to communicate orally with professional and subordinate personnel.
• Ability to supervise work of students and volunteer employees.
• Ability to transport feed sacks, hay and/or wood shaving bales.
• Knowledge of animal nutrition and the procedures used in feeding, watering, housing, identifying and handling research, teaching and client food and pleasure animals.
• May also include infrequent exotic animal species.

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment

How to Apply:

In order to receive full consideration, applicants should submit the following documents when completing the online application:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. List of three references with contact information

Screening of Applications Begins:

Screening begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range:

$15.25-$15.75 per hour plus shift differential

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Kansas State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran.

Background Screening Statement:

In connection with your application for employment, Kansas State University will procure a Background Screen on you as part of the process of considering your candidacy as an employee.