Equine and Farm Animal Attendant

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Department: 192001 – CVM Teaching Hospital

Location: Raleigh, NC

Essential Job Duties:
The Equine and Farm Animal Attendant provides essential, high-quality animal husbandry and environmental support for all patients at the Equine and Farm Animal Veterinary Center. This role is hands-on and requires a dedicated individual to assist with the daily care, feeding, and handling of a varied patient population-including equine, bovine, caprine, ovine, and camelid species. Additionally, this position is critical to maintaining a sterile, safe, and fully stocked hospital environment, ensuring compliance with strict infectious disease protocols, and supporting overall hospital operations.

Key Responsibilities
1. Direct Patient Care & Husbandry

• Provide daily care for veterinary patients, including feeding, watering, grooming, and monitoring.
• Safely handle and restrain various large animal species (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, alpacas/llamas) for clinical procedures.
• Observe and report any changes in patient behavior, appetite, or physical condition to the veterinary medical team.

2. Facility Cleanliness & Sanitation

• Adhere strictly to established hospital protocols to maintain a clean, sterile, and sanitary environment.
• Clean and strip stalls, and disinfect all clinical, treatment, and housing areas of the hospital.
• Manage waste removal, laundry, and general sanitation tasks.
• Rigidly follow and enforce all Infectious Disease and Biosecurity protocols to prevent cross-contamination.

3. Grounds & Equipment Maintenance

• Maintain indoor and outdoor facility grounds to ensure safety and professional appearance.
• Monitor hospital equipment and supplies, assisting with scheduled maintenance and repair tracking.
• Assist with inventory control, including monitoring stock levels, organizing supplies, and coordinating orders/purchases.

4. Collaboration & Operational Support

• Collaborate and communicate effectively with veterinary technicians, clinicians, students, and other ancillary hospital services.
• Participate in the rotational on-call schedule, which includes weekend shifts, evenings, and holidays as required.

Key Qualifications & Skills

• Proven experience in handling and caring for large animals (horses and/or livestock).
• Ability to safely restrain large, potentially fractious animals.
• Physical stamina to perform demanding manual labor, including lifting heavy loads (feed/hay bags), bending, and standing for long periods in various weather conditions.
• Strong attention to detail, especially regarding sanitation and biosecurity protocols.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Prior experience in a veterinary hospital, clinic, or large-scale breeding/boarding facility.
• Knowledge of basic veterinary terminology and biosecurity practices.

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Experience/Education:
Completion of an accredited training program in the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Some positions may require additional Training, Certifications, or Licensure.

Required Qualifications:
n/a

Preferred Qualifications:

• Equine & Farm Animal Care: Extensive experience in veterinary and teaching hospital settings, including handling equine/mixed animals, cleaning stalls, operating common barn equipment (tractors, forklifts, vacuums), and maintaining physical stamina to lift up to 90 lbs.
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Well-versed in OSHA and AAHA standards, with a proven ability to work safely around sick animals, zoonotic diseases, hazardous materials, and chemical/gas anesthetics.
• Professional Communication & Service: Dedicated to delivering high-quality customer service and communicating effectively, with a proven ability to maintain professionalism and composure in emotionally charged or challenging situations.
• Collaborative & Independent Work: A reliable team player who actively participates in group problem-solving, while possessing the self-motivation to work independently with minimal supervision and adapt to overtime when needed.
• Administrative & Technical Skills: Proficient in basic computer operations, including accurate data entry, managing correspondence via email, and handling basic spreadsheet tasks

Required license or certification:

• NC Driver’s License is required and will need to be obtained within 60 days of hire and maintained throughout employment.

Position Number: 00044204

AA/EEO Statement:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

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