Animal Science Technician C shift

The Animal Scientist role at Seaboard Triumph Foods seeks individuals with training and interest in managing livestock, their behaviors, care and welfare -- including methods to optimize meat quality attributes during processing of swine for food. Animal science skills will be applied to the duties of animal care, behavioral assessments, feeding and processing of qualified swine. Proper animal welfare training and application to swine will be a core requirement including compliance with regulatory standards. The work environment for this role will be in livestock building(s) and duties will include activities associated with swine behaviors and activities of loading, unloading, movement, feeding, storage and associated recordkeeping activities. The ideal candidate will be able to lead, participate and enhance day-to-day activities in the stockyards while ensuring the safe, humane handling and the euthanasia of all animals at Seaboard Triumph Foods.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Animal Scientist is responsible for performing all the job functions necessary described above and including, from time to time, the coordinating and overseeing a group of associated personnel to that perform similar tasks and activities. This Animal Scientist ensures the company's standard operating procedures and processes are consistently performed as they relate to animal welfare, employee safety, personal conduct, and all other requirements included in the company's policies. This position is responsible for contributing to the overall efficient operational success of the company by coordinating livestock management activities and organizing workflow processes involving live hogs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform and carry out all tasks and job functions, including unloading, tattooing and moving market hogs to livestock pens; moving market hogs; moving stressed pigs; operating a captive bolt gun; periodically operating a skid steer loader; and related sanitation activities to maintain swine health.
• Set daily and weekly objectives and communicate them to personnel
• Organize workflow by assigning responsibilities, preparing schedules and outlining duties
• Train and monitor employees in humane handling and animal welfare practices
• Monitor the work of employees, provide feedback and perform coaching or counseling
• Revise procedures, identify issues in efficiency and suggest ways of improvement
• Ensure the safe use of equipment and schedule regular maintenance of equipment
• Train new employees on how to safely use machinery and to follow operating instructions
• Enforce strict safety guidelines and company animal welfare standards
• Be flexible and prepared to work varying hours in a twenty-four hour operation
• Develop and mentor employees into leadership roles
• Keep accurate inventory and records of livestock
• Ability to identify visual symptoms of common swine diseases
• Sort off and segregate hogs with disqualifying physical defects
• Achieve TQA certification with the National Pork Board
• Acquire knowledge of USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) rules and regulations that apply to the handling and inspection of swine
• Other duties may be assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the work environment, knowledge, skill, and/or ability required or preferred. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: A Bachelor’s degree or similar degree in Animal Science, Agriculture or a relevant field is required. Additional work experience with livestock is preferred.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Must have satisfactory written and verbal communication skills. Must be able to effectively communicate with production, management and USDA, personnel.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Proficient in the ability to read and write in English.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to count and to apply mathematical applications to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to use Windows-based computers and software programs, including Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to use and operate AS400 computer applications.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to walk about the facility and could be required to stand for long periods of time. The employee is required to use hands to handle or feel/hold objects; use tools/hand tools; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; speak; hear; smell; and occasionally sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 plus pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to cold/hot and/or humid conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts, may be in tight spaces, and works with and around live animals. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold/hot temperature, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. The work environment includes climate extremes found in all areas associated with swine housing.

NORMAL WORK SCHEDULE: The hours and days of work are established as needed by operations and at the discretion of management and, while generally as shown below, may be changed (increased or decreased) by management as required.

Hours of Work: Generally, 10 hours per day as scheduled by management.

Days of Work: As scheduled by management; weekend work is required.

JOB DESCRIPTION REVIEW:  I have reviewed this job description in its entirety, and I confirm that I am able to perform the functions and requirements of this position as described herein and explained to me.