Agricultural Technician, Ruminant Animal Centre

**Position Details**:

- Position Information**Position Title**
- Agricultural Technician, Ruminant Animal Centre

**Department/Unit**
- Agriculture - Dean's Office

**Location**
- Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

**Posting Number**
- S118-23

**Employee Group**
- NSGEU Local 77

**Position Type**
- Regular, On-Going

**Duration of Contract (if applicable)**

**Employment Type**
- Full Time

**Full-time Equivalency (FTE)**
- 1.0

**Salary**
- $24.32 - $30.85 per hour ($44,264 - $56,140 per annum, 35 hours per week)

**Classification**
- T7

**Provisional Statement**
This is a provisional classification. Formal classification procedures will be initiated by the Job Design Unit in approximately six months.

**About Dalhousie University**
- Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university and a driver of the region’s intellectual, social and economic development. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of our almost 21,000 students coming from outside of the province. Our 6,000 faculty and staff foster a vibrant, purpose-driven community, that celebrated 200 years of academic excellence in 2018.

**Job Summary**
- The Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University is a small research-intensive campus located in Truro, NS. Offering technical, undergraduate and graduate programs in agriculture, environment and related life and social science disciplines, the Faculty of Agriculture educates future leaders and generates knowledge and innovative solutions for healthy, sustainable societies. Reporting jointly to the Operations Manager and the Programs and Finance Manager, and under the day to day direction of the Ruminant Coordinator, the Agricultural Technician will
- ** **be responsible for the on-going care of animals housed in the Ruminant Animal Centre (RAC), in support of the Faculty’s teaching, research, outreach and production
- ** **objectives. Primary responsibilities will be in dairy with secondary responsibility in sheep operations.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Provide daily animal care and husbandry including, but not limited to, handling, milking, feeding, heat detection/breeding/artificial insemination, neonatal care, monitoring herd and flock health and administering treatments, based on best management practices and the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines.
- Operate, and complete routine** **maintenance and minor repairs on relevant** **equipment such as milk, feed and manure systems, mobile powered equipment, and animal transport. Carry out general maintenance, cleaning and housekeeping of the facilities.
- Provide technical and functional assistance and support to students, faculty and staff, including labs and research projects. Collect, record and maintain data in support of academic and research programs and animal production management.
- Adhere to all relevant Faculty and University policies and procedures such as occupational health and safety, animal care and biosecurity.

**Note**
Must be able to work shift work as well as overtime, on-call schedules, weekends, holidays, during adverse weather conditions and extraordinary circumstances such as pandemics. Compensation will be in accordance with the collective agreement.
Due to operational requirements, the successful applicant is required to work in-person on campus.
Dalhousie’s vaccine mandate has been suspended at this time, and employees no longer need to provide proof of full vaccination. However, health and safety risks to our community will continue to be monitored and a vaccine mandate may be reinstated if necessary.

**Required Qualifications**
- Diploma in Agriculture, Animal Science or a related field from a recognized agricultural or related institution plus approximately 2-3 years relevant experience (or equivalent combination of training and experience).
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in ruminant animal production utilizing best management practices in a dynamic environment with high standards and deliverables.
- Ability to operate equipment relevant to dairy and sheep operations e.g. milk, feed and manure systems, feed carts, forklift, skidsteer.
- Strong interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills with the ability to work both as part of a team and independently.
- Strong initiative and judgement, organizational, time management and problem-solving skills, and a proven safety record.
- Valid Class 5 NS driver’s license.
- Have or able to acquire within six months of employment condition 15 endorsement on drivers’ license; certification in lift truck, fall protection, WHMIS 2015, first aid, andbovine artificial insemination.
- Ability to perform repetitive physically demanding tasks eg,.large animal handling, continuous walking on hard surfaces, lifting up to 25 kg.
- Ability to tolerate regular exposure to organic and biologi