Animal Caretaker 1-Geode

Essential Responsibilities:

• Must take active role in safety program including following safety procedures, enforcement of policy and continued training.
• Must take active role in bio-security program including enforcement of policy and continued training.
• Must recognize and report any broken or faulty equipment to their supervisor.
• Meet company expectations for attendance at work and punctuality.
• Follow all rules and procedures from both the employee handbook and direct rules and procedures from supervisor.
• Attend all mandatory meetings and training and be willing to participate and take an active role in system improvement teams.
• Maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers.
• Must be receptive to constructive criticism by co-workers and supervisors.
• Perform all required duties in a timely manner as outlined in the S.O.P (Standard Operating Procedure).
• Understand and demonstrate farm Bio-Security Requirements
• Achieve PQA+ (Pork Quality Assurance Training).
• Understand and demonstrate correct handling techniques at all times for animals of all ages.
• Understand and demonstrate safe and efficient power washing techniques (under indirect supervision).
• Understand and demonstrate the need for correct methods of medication handling and storage.
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of euthanasia of animals.
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of dead animal disposal (incinerator, composting and other forms).
• Understand and demonstrate correct methods of treating and vaccinating animals of all ages.
• Understand and demonstrate all aspects of processing of piglets including castration.
• Understand and demonstrate general housekeeping and sanitation skills (example; laundry, showers, medication rooms).
• Understand and demonstrate under direct supervision artificial insemination protocols and procedures.
• Understand and demonstrate under direct supervision semen handling, and heat detection and breeding of weaned sows, gilts and opportunity animals.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of feeding in breeding, gestation, and lactation.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of sow monitoring in farrowing.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of day 0-3 pig care.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of sorting and fostering.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of manure feedback.
• Understand and demonstrate proper techniques of prostaglandin use.
• Ensures that all Bio-security procedures outlined by TriOak Foods are followed.
• Ensure that all animal welfare procedures outlined by TriOak Foods are followed.
• All other duties as may be assigned.

Success Factors:

• Willingness to listen and learn.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Able to work in a physically demanding environment.
• Able to work weekends and holidays as required.
• Display honesty, trustworthiness and dependability at all times.
• Show pride in work well done.
• Be respectfully of others.
• Maintain strong work ethic.
• Show initiative to seek other work upon completion of a task.

Job Qualifications:

• Be able to lift in excess of 50lbs moving up to 100 yards daily, be able to lift 15 lbs. repeatedly on a daily basis from side to side for at least 1 hour. Push and/or pull a minimum of 500 lbs. in a cart with wheels when required. Squat to floor, grip small objects with ease and twist at least 45 degrees.
• Be capable of repeated actions.
• Be responsive to visible signs of animal discomfort.
• Be responsive to verbal alarms and sounds of animals.
• Be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing with other employees and company contacts.
• Be able to move, load and unload animals 600 plus pounds.
• Be able to walk and stand for long periods of time on different surfaces including concrete.
• Be able to climb in and out of crates and over obstacles.
• Be able climb different types of ladders including feed bin ladders.
• Be able to maintain balance on all surfaces.
• Be able to retain and perform written and spoken instructions.
• Must not own or live near any swine. Must not live with anyone who has contact with swine.

Physical Requirements:

• During summer months outside temperatures can be over 100 degrees for entire scheduled workday.
• During winter months outside temperatures can be below zero for entire scheduled workday.
• During and after heavy rains or snowfalls the road in and around the farms can become extremely muddy, snow covered, icy and difficult to maneuver on.
• During different job duties the noise inside or outside barns can become very loud.
• Will be exposed daily to odors, dusts and gases that may be uncomfortable or hazardous if proper procedures are not followed.
• Will be exposed to electrical boxes and electrical machinery that are not to be entered or repaired by those who are not certified in basic electrical training and/or lock out tag out by the Safety Coordinator.
• Will be exposed daily to procedures that cause contact with hazardous materials.

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following compensation and benefits:

• Benefits: Vision, Medical, and Dental coverage begin after 60 days of employment;
• Paid Time Off: vacation, and 6 company observed holidays;
• 401(k): company match begins after the first year of service and follows the company vesting schedule.
• Better Futures Program – Online Classes or select 2 Year Community College tuition paid for you or your dependents!
• Supervisor Development Program: Opportunity to grow your career through leadership training.