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Position Title:Animal Caretaker I

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 working in a farm/agricultural or related setting.

Experience working with small or large animals.

Experience restraining large or small animals.

Experience cleaning in a farm/agricultural or related setting.

Experience with farm machinery.

Job Description:

Join Iowa State University’s Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) as an Animal Caretaker, supporting research through hands-on care of animals including mice, rabbits, pigs, cows, and horses. This role involves both indoor and outdoor responsibilities, such as feeding, handling, and maintaining clean, safe environments.

Whether you're just starting out or already have hands-on experience with animals, we’ll provide the training you need to succeed. You’ll work under direct supervision and follow federal, state, and university guidelines to ensure high standards of animal welfare. If you're dependable and eager to learn or grow your skills, we’d love to have you on our team.

Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00 PM, rotating weekend schedule, no on call.

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:

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 Vitae2) Letter of Application/Cover LetterIf 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

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• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date: January 5, 2026

Posting Close Date:January 18, 2026

Job Requisition Number:R18421

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University (http://www.iastate.edu/) attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities.

Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community (https://www.iastate.edu/principles-community) . Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that fosters the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.

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. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email [email protected].

If you have questions about the application process please email [email protected] or call 515-294-4800 or Toll-Free at 1-877-477-7485. Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [email protected] or call (515) 294-4800 or Toll-Free: (877) 477-7485. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2942.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources (https://www.hr.iastate.edu/careers/compensation) website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.