Agricultural Technician - Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Reedsville)

The Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Agricultural Technician located at the Animal Science Farm in Morgantown, WV.

About the Opportunity

The purpose of this position is to provide labor and knowledge to help ensure the highest quality of operation of the WVU Davis College Agriculture Research and Teaching Centers. This position contributes to the integrity of research, demonstration, and teaching activities conducted by Faculty of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design on the WVU Experiment Station Centers in Mon and Preston Counties.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Animal Care and Husbandry:

• Feeds food stuffs and commercial feed types to specific animals such as sheep, goats, beef cattle, dairy cattle, llamas, and chickens daily and as needed.
• Follows protocols, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and requirements as directed, under light supervision.
• Receives newly arrived animals, and provides clean animal housing and handling facilities, as well as food, and water.
• Handles, restrains, and identifies specific animals as required and assists in treatment as directed from veterinarian staff. Typically, under supervision or independently as needed by veterinary staff or Researchers (i.e. Soundness exam, weighing, cleaning housing facilities, relocating pastures, etc.).
• Tags, numbers, or otherwise marks animals for identification.
• Transfers animals to clean housing.
• Observes any irregularities in animal groups such as abnormal food and water consumption, deaths, abnormal stool, unusual behavior., injury, or distress and reports irregularities to supervisor, veterinarian, and/or Research PI.
• Performs other technical duties as required for animal care and husbandry to meet and exceed IACUC Expectations and Guidelines.
• Cleans, sweeps, scrubs, and sanitizes animal housing/working facilities. Provides clean bedding, fresh food and fresh water for animals daily or as needed to ensure proper animal care and stay in compliance with Standard Operating Procedures.
• Following standardized procedures, disposes of animal carcasses and other waste.
• Operates standard transmission and automatic University trucks to various sites as well as farm tractors and equipment needed to complete tasks.
• Plants and harvests products for animal consumption to meet optimal growth and capacity.
• Restocks supplies and maintains all animal inventories. Unloads, stores feed/bedding upon delivery or transfer and maintains accurate records and reports.

• Reviews and updates Standard Operating Procedures in their area, as needed.

Agronomic/Horticultural Duties:

• Provide daily management and care for production/maintenance of food and
  fiber, horticultural crops for support of teaching/research programs of the Davis College. Activities to be performed include:
  • Soil preparation,
  • Application of fertilizers and lime,
  • Seeding,
  • Transplanting,
  • Cultivation,
  • Application of pesticides,
  • Pruning,

  • Harvesting and storage of crops

Heavy Equipment Operation Duties:

• Conduct visual inspection of all equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
• Assists management and/or trade specialists in performing routine equipment maintenance such as oil, filter and fuel filter changes, monitoring and maintaining fluid levels, and lubricating tractors and other equipment.
• Operates a wide range of large agricultural and construction equipment used at a farm such as tractors, sprayers, front loaders, scrapers, silo fillers, balers, haybines, combines, brush cutters, etc. To complete varied tasks associated with the maintenance and operation of the research and teaching center.
• Drive truck weighing 26000 lbs. GVW or less to haul logs, posts, fertilizer, lime, produce, livestock, equipment, hay and other farm products and supplies.
• Operates equipment and tools necessary for the construction of all types of fences and constructs fences as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

Facilities/Grounds Maintenance:

• Perform various labor activities involved in farm maintenance; mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, shoveling snow, painting, lawn mowing, weed trimming and thawing frozen water lines.
• Assists management in performing general maintenance work.
• May be requested to work with or under the supervision of the REOC maintenance crew leader in the following areas:
• plumbing, carpentry, cement work and/or construction of facilities.
• Maintenance activities may include repairing faucets, running lines, replacing toilet and bathroom fixtures, freeing clogged drains, replacing tile, replacing windows, building forms, replacing siding on barns or houses, building pens, mixing cement, repairing cement steps, and laying block, brick, and stone.
• May be required to operate equipment associated with plumbing (water heaters, pumps, drain snakes).
• Maintain fences, gates, and lanes to ensure integrity of the plot areas and the REOC in general.
  
  NOTE: This position involves work during weekends, holidays or after hours. This person in this position must be available to work during weekends, holidays or after hours.

Pay Grade: 11
Hours: 37.5 Hours

• High School diploma or GED
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience involving:
  • Work in an agriculture production or research setting that includes production crop and/or livestock enterprises
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of basic agricultural practices
• Understanding of production practices of livestock and plants
• Ability to operate and perform basic maintenance of farm machinery, lawn mowers, and weed eaters

Preferred Qualifications

• BS degree in Agricultural Related Field (Animal Sciences, Plant and Soil Sciences)

• Valid Driver's license required
• Will be required to complete CiTi animal handler training
• Expected to become familiar with Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocol and standard operating procedures for animal care, health, and comfort where applicable.
• Incumbent will enroll in WVU Occupational Health Monitoring
• Acquire BQA Level one certification within 6 months

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.