Animal Care Technician II

About the role

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

• Job Category: University Staff
• Employment Type: Regular
• Job Profile: Animal Care Technician II

Job Summary

The UW Swine Research & Teaching Center provides integral support for research, teaching and extension programs. The facility houses a 250-sow breeding herd, and allows for a total capacity of 1,500 pigs. The center includes four animal wings, an education wing and core support area with surgery and laboratory space.

This facility is dedicated to promoting a progressive swine industry in Wisconsin and the Midwest. Research is conducted to solve problems related to swine genetics, reproduction, behavior and management. Education provides information and an opportunity to learn through first-hand experience The facility is used in short course, undergraduate, graduate, professional and extension education.

The Animal Care Technician II position plays an important role in both research and production within our 150-sow farrow-to-finish operation. You'll work alongside a close-knit team in a supportive, fast-paced environment while helping advance innovative swine research and outreach programs.

Responsibilities include daily animal care and husbandry, such as feeding, watering, administering treatments and vaccinations, processing piglets, collecting semen, breeding, and maintaining high standards of animal welfare. The position primarily involves cleaning and preparing facilities, pressure washing, animal movement, and following strict biosecurity protocols to support both research and production activities.

Every day brings something different, offering opportunities to learn new skills, work directly with livestock, and contribute to meaningful research projects that support the future of biomedical research and animal agriculture.

Key Job Responsibilities

• 10% - Inspects and reports equipment problems to ensure optimal and safe operation
• 30% - Inventories, cleans, and maintains organization of animal holding spaces and supplies
• 10% - Maintains organization of and updates records related to research procedures
• 15% - Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications
• 25% - Observes animal behavior, performs basic animal care, and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well-being of animals and promote research
• 10% - Collects samples from animals and administers medications, injections, and treatments according to established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic tests and research

Department: UW-Madison Swine Research & Teaching Center - Animal Research Station

Compensation

The starting salary for the position is $20.00/hr.; Final pay rate will depend on experience and qualifications. Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with agricultural, livestock, or research animals.
• Ability to safely handle animals and perform routine animal care duties.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work in a farm environment.
• Ability to follow established procedures, safety practices, and biosecurity requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform physically demanding work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in swine production or swine research.
• Experience working in an agricultural or animal research setting.

Schedule

• Normal hours are 7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday through Friday.
• Occasional early and late hours.
• Weekends and holiday rotations are required for this position.

Education: H.S. Diploma Preferred Minimum

Additional Information

• Criminal Background Check is required
• Evaluation/Probationary Period required
• Work will vary between non-climate-controlled animal housing and outdoors in all weather conditions. Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
• Work Authorization: The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States by the start of the appointment.

How to Apply

Click on the "Apply Online" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following documents/Application Materials:

• Resume (required) - Detail your educational and professional background
• Cover Letter (optional) - Refer to your related work experience
• Your application materials will be used during our evaluation to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

• The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
• The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

• Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
• The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.