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Position Title:Animal Caretaker

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 with small or large animals.

Experience safely restraining animals of various sizes.

Experience cleaning and sanitizing environments, preferably in an animal care setting.

Experience following established biosafety protocols.

Experience maintaining accurate records.

Job Description:

Are you passionate about animal care and supporting groundbreaking research? We’re looking for a dedicated Animal Caretaker I to help maintain the health and well-being of a variety of research animals. This role is essential to ensuring high-quality animal care and compliance with research standards.

What You’ll Do:

+ Provide daily husbandry for animals, including cleaning enclosures, preparing feed, and monitoring health.

+ Safely handle and transport animals ranging from rodents to large livestock.

+ Assist with administering medications and collecting biological samples under veterinary supervision.

+ Perform basic facility maintenance and operate vehicles and equipment for animal transport and care.

+ Maintain accurate records using electronic systems and Microsoft Office tools.

You’ll work closely with veterinary staff, facility managers, and research investigators to support animal health and research needs.

Position Details:

+ Term: This is a Full time, 6-month term position with opportunity for renewal.

+ Work Schedule: Offering two options: Sunday–Thursday, 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. or Tuesday–Saturday, 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

+ Application Deadline: We will accept applications until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by January 30th.

Benefits at Iowa State University:

As a merit employee, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:

+ Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

+ Retirement Plans with employer contributions

+ Paid Time Off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays)

+ Life and Disability Insurance

+ Employee Assistance Program

+ Professional Development Opportunities

+ Discounted access to campus amenities such as recreation facilities and cultural events

About Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR):

LAR provides comprehensive animal care and veterinary services to support Iowa State University’s research community. Our team is committed to the highest standards of animal welfare and regulatory compliance, ensuring that research animals receive exceptional care in a safe and secure environment.

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 with Term Appointment (Fixed Term)

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

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 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 ongoing 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: January 14, 2026

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:R18213

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.