Agricultural Technician

Position Function:

This position reports to the Coordinator of Poultry Operations and provides support and assistance to facilitate research activities on the Poultry Research Unit on South Farm at Mississippi State University.

Salary Grade: 10

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Poultry Science Department currently houses approximately 70 undergraduate students, 17 graduate students, and 11 faculty. The Department conducts teaching, research and Extension activities on the 55 acre Poultry Research Unit on the MSU South Farm, which includes facilities for research with ~5,000 broilers, ~24,000 eggs/embryos, and ~3,000 layers. In addition, two tunnel research houses nearby house ~40,000 broilers. Proximity to and a strong working relationship with commercial poultry operations in the Southeast will increase research and extension opportunities for the successful candidate. The Department has recently renovated the industry-relevant processing plant, with assistance from an industry advisory board that has met quarterly for the past 18 months. In addition, we are happy to announce that our faculty and staff have recently relocated to a new facility, which houses state-of-the-art research labs and classrooms. The Department offers Bachelors of Science degrees with concentrations in Applied Poultry Management and Science and Pre-Vet Science. Both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are offered from within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Poultry Science.

Area of Specialization:

Poultry

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Assist professors, staff and/or students with research and teaching projects at the farm, including but not limited to setting up pens, weighing birds, catching birds for sampling or processing, working in the processing plant, bagging feed, moving feed to USDA, unloading pallets of feed
2. Animal care (feeding, cleaning, preparation of buildings for receipt of chicks, picking up mortality) in research and tunnel houses; assist when tunnel house birds are sold (including potentially occasional night shifts) and responding to controller alarms from the tunnel houses.
3. General maintenance on buildings, equipment, and grounds, to include but not limited to:
a. Cleaning and servicing vehicles and equipment
b. Replacing feed motors (requires minor electrical)
c. Plumbing water lines
d. Carpentry tasks, when needed
e. Mowing, outdoor maintenance, when needed
f. Decaking the tunnel houses
4. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: High school diploma

Experience: Six months of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified AND six months of general experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior Experience in poultry.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Ability to work in extreme weather conditions.
2. Requires heavy physical work; heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling required of objects up to 50 pounds.
3. Involves exposure to dust and chicken dander.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

All applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu by submitting: the completed online application, submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references. For more information regarding this position, please contact Jill Johnson at j.johnson@msstate.edu.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon funding availability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.