Senior Herd Caretaker, East TN AgResearch & Education Center: UTIA

The Senior Herd Caretaker supports field operations of the Research Center with a focus on livestock care, farm labor, equipment/machinery operation, and raising crops. This position also supports staff and faculty with the upkeep of Research Center grounds, equipment, and facilities. This position also supports outreach and educational activities including classes and events.

• Putting out feed and mineral, maintaining water boxes, animal delivery, cleaning animal enclosures, and milking animals.
• Assists facility leadership and researchers with harvesting grains, grass, and other forage species. Operates and maintains specialized pieces of research equipment such as a haying equipment, planters, fertilization implements, and others
• Operates various pieces of agricultural equipment including, but not limited to tractors, skid steer loaders, tillage implements, planters, sprayers, hay equipment, rotary mower, lawn mowers, weed eaters, etc.
• Maintains records associated with animal care and regulations
• Provides leadership in day-to-day activities for the maintenance of grounds and infrastructure of the Research Center
• Acts as primary support staff for mowing, spraying, irrigation, fertilization, and upkeep of landscaped areas and areas around/within research plots
• Supports maintenance staff with carpentry work, painting, road grading, equipment maintenance and other general grounds keeping tasks
• Leads herd care program in the absence of Research Unit Manager or Research Coordinator

Required Qualifications:

• Education/Experience:
  • High school diploma and 4 years’ relevant experience. A four-year degree in animal sciences or relevant fields may be considered as 2 years' relevant experience. A two-year degree in animal sciences or relevant fields may be considered as 1-year relevant experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Advanced knowledge of livestock and agricultural operations.
  • Ability to work with large farm animals/livestock.
  • Ability to independently gather samples and minor medical procedures.
  • Ability to train staff in safe heavy equipment operation skills including tractors, backhoes, and skid steers
  • Proficient with power tools
  • Ability to work in adverse outdoor conditions for long periods of time
  • Ability to follow instructions and work both independently as well as part of a team
  • The person in this position should have flexibility in skills to work with cattle, operate farm equipment and some collection of research samples.
  • Advanced knowledge of immunizations and general animal care

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Vocational or technical training
• Experience:
  • Preferred experience of 8 years or more.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Ability to work with large farm animals/livestock
  • Ability to work in adverse outdoor conditions for long periods of time
  • Advanced knowledge of immunizations and general animal car

Work Location:

• Knoxville, TN - Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR04
• Anticipated hiring range: $18 - $20
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before 8/22/2025.

• Resume
• Minimum 3 References

About The College/Department/Division:

One of ten AgResearch and Education Centers located throughout Tennessee, the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center serves as a field laboratory providing experimental plots, lands, livestock, orchards, equipment, and other types of support for research programs developed by AgResearch scientists. The Center was established on land purchased by the university in 1869. Since that time, six units have been added, increasing the Center’s land to 1,968 acres.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!