Summary

The Animal Caretaker at the Large Animal Clinic (LAC) is responsible for ensuring a clean environment and delivering high-quality husbandry and care to the clinic’s teaching horses and cattle. The ideal candidate will be dependable, able to carry out assigned duties independently or collaboratively, with or without supervision. As a key member of the animal health care team, the Animal Caretaker must effectively communicate with veterinary assistants, technicians, managers, directors, faculty, clients, and veterinary students. This role requires flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. The position reports directly to the Manager of the Large Animal Clinic.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Animal Care & Handling

Observe, feed, and water cattle and horses as instructed.
Prepare and feed the patients according to instructions. Note the volume of food eaten or rejected.
Withhold food and water from teaching animals when scheduled for or recovering from surgical procedures and anesthesia as directed.
Groom clinic horse and ensure appropriate bedding levels in each stall.
Operate manual and hydraulic chutes safely and proficiently.
Assist veterinary staff and clients with moving patient in and out of facility
Maintain constant vigilance regarding open doorways and gates that could allow animals to escape from the facility.
Show respect for clients, team members, and animals (alive or deceased) at all times.
Continuously monitor animals, paying particular attention to signs of distress, illness, or injury.
Recognize the key signs of emergency medical problems and alert supervisor immediately.

Facility & Equipment Cleaning

Clean and disinfect animal holding areas, including removal of manure following MWU SOP and biosecurity protocols.
Maintain stall and bovine barn cleanliness by removing fecal matter and wet bedding daily.
Power wash areas of the clinic, including permanent equipment (cattle chutes, tilt tables, stocks).
Use floor scrubbers to clean large animal clinic floors.
Sweep and tidy outside areas, including the client parking lot, unloading dock, manure dumpsters, driveways, and sidewalks.
Ensure that the facility is orderly and that staff and patients are always presentable for tours.

Compliance and Record-Keeping

Follow husbandry protocols in accordance with USDA and IACUC requirements.
Follow isolation procedures for contagious or potentially contagious animals.
Help maintain cleaning records.

Support for Teaching and Research

Collect specimens for teaching labs and research as directed.

Equipment and Supply Management

Take uniforms and items to laundry sterilization and retrieve sterilized laundry
Organize storage areas and label as needed.
Use the forklift to transport deceased patients to veterinary pathology.
Assist with unloading hay
Assist with large animal clinic maintenance and report any issues to the Manager.

Training and Teamwork

Assist with training new animal caretaker staff.
Be willing to participate in staff and training meetings as directed.
Maintain a professional and respectful approach when interacting with employees, students, and clients.
Maintain strict confidentiality regarding clients and patients for whom the practice provides veterinary services.
Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must have the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and must have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

A high school diploma or GED is required. Previous experience handling large animals, including cattle, horses, or other farm animals, is necessary. This individual must have knowledge of large animal husbandry care, along with safe and humane handling practices for cattle and horses. They must also know the normal behavior of large animals and follow and comply with OSHA standards.

Other Qualifications

The position requires strict compliance with all policies and procedures.
This position requires working early morning, evening, weekends and holidays
Must be capable of working in an animal healthcare environment which involves sick and injured animals along with animal products and wastes including feces, urine, blood, vomit, and other body fluids.
Must be willing and able to handle and/or transport deceased animals and animal parts as well as collect and transfer bio-hazardous waste.
This position requires a significant amount of interaction with the public and, therefore, the individual must be able to develop positive rapport effectively.
Must exhibit good customer service skills
Must have a valid driver’s license
Must be able to safely drive the Animal Health Institute/LAC trucks
Must be willing to drive a forklift and obtain certification

Computer Skills
The individual must have the ability to learn the StringSoft Veterinary Management System, and have basic proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand for long periods. The employee must regularly use hands to handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to stand and walk. Have the physical strength and ability to stand for long periods and be able to lift objects and animals weighing up to 40 pounds without assistance.

Animal allergies statement: No inhibiting allergies to animals, hay, or dust.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides graduate and post-graduate education in the health sciences. The University has two campuses, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and the other in Glendale, Arizona. More than 6,000 full-time students are enrolled in graduate programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nurse anesthesia, cardiovascular perfusion, podiatry, optometry, clinical psychology, speech language pathology, biomedical sciences and veterinary medicine. Over 500 full-time faculty members and 400 staff members are dedicated to the education and development of our students in an environment that encourages learning, respect for all members of the health care team, service, interdisciplinary scholarly activity, and personal growth.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans as well as life insurance, short/long term disability and pet insurance. We offer flexible spending accounts including healthcare reimbursement and child/dependent care account. We offer a work life balance with competitive time off package including paid holiday’s, sick/flex days, personal days and vacation days. We offer a 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, child care subsidy reimbursement program, identity theft protection and an employee assistance program. Wellness is important to us and we offer a wellness facility on-site with a fully equipped fitness facility

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, and regulation. Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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