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.

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

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…