Swine Research Technician-Part Time

Christensen Farms is one of the largest, family-owned pork producers in the United States, marketing approximately 3 million hogs per year. Headquartered in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, the company operates throughout the Midwest with facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and South Dakota. Christensen Farms owns four feed mills, manages 145,000 sows on 44 farms, and oversees more than 350 nurseries and grow-finish sites. The company employees nearly 1,000 people and maintains 1,500 contract partnerships.

The company is vertically integrated with a strong presence across the pork value chain - from farm to fork. Christensen Farms is the largest shareholder of Triumph Foods LLC, a producer-owned primary pork processing plant in St. Joseph, Missouri. In turn, Triumph Foods members own 50 percent of Daily's Premium Meats, a specialty pork processor of bacon and other premium pork products. Triumph Foods also holds a 50 percent partnership in Seaboard Triumph Foods, LLC of Sioux City, Iowa, a primary pork processing plant.

Position Overview & Responsibilities: This is a part-time position that will support the Research and Nutrition team at Christensen Farms with animal care, data collection, and feed analysis support.

The duties of this job require a high degree of skill in animal care, animal handling, and accuracy of work. Motivation, attention to detail, and a self-disciplined approach are necessities for successful job performance.

Major Areas of Accountability:

• Perform individual daily pig evaluation and determine treatment plan as needed
• Responsible and appropriate use of medications for disease treatment
• Pull pigs from the general population into pull pens for recovery
• Timely euthanasia and dead removal
• Ensure pigs have adequate feed, clean water, and appropriate ventilation at all times
• Laundry and site cleanliness
• Loading and unloading pigs for transport
• Barn preparation for new groups of pigs
• Supporting and promoting company policies, procedures, and values.
• Occasional weekend responsibilities required
• Collect data in an organized, detailed, and accurate manner
• Input collected information into Excel
• Provide additional support on an as needed basis to other research activities outside of research sites
• Perform feed analysis testing on an as needed basis

Education, Training, and Experience Requirements:

Minimum formal education: High School Diploma preferred but not required.

Minimum number of years of prior job experience required: 0-1 years. Previous swine or livestock production experience preferred.

Specialized Training requirements: Basic computer proficiency, especially in Microsoft Excel.

Other Technical Skills required: None

Management Scope and Level of Responsibility:

Contributor. Position without supervisory responsibility.

Supervision of Others:

Direct: None

Indirect: None

Reports to:

• Research Manager

Physical Requirements:

Rare, 0-5% Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.

Occasional, 6-33% Bending or stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist.

Occasional, 6-33% Kneeling or squatting.

Rare, 0-5% Overhead reaching.

Unlimited, 67-100% Standing, particularly for sustained periods of time.

Rare, 0-5% Sitting, Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Unlimited, 67-100% Walking.

Rare, 0-5% Pushing and pulling.

Frequent, 34-66% Medium lifting: Lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Frequent, 34-66% Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.

Frequent, 34-66% Motions of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers (i.e. typing, grasping, or gripping).

The worker is required to have the visual ability to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

Specialized or Motorized Equipment and/or Tools:

None.

Environmental Working Conditions:

Subjected to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but

Frequent, 34-66% Subjected to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Occasional, 6-33% Subjected to outside environmental conditions. No effective protection from the weather.

Rare, 0-5% Subjected to extreme cold. Temperatures typically below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for periods of more than one hour.

Occasional, 6-33% Subjected to extreme heat. Temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for periods of no more than one hour.

Frequent, 34-66% Subject to noise. There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above ambient noise level.

None Subjected to vibration. Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.

Rare, 0-5% Subjected to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

Unlimited, 67-100% One or more of the following conditions that affects the respiratory system of the skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, or gases.

Occasional, 6-33% Subjected to common allergens including: penicillin, latex, and/or dust.

Rare, 0-5% None. The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work.)

This job description is not intended to limit the responsibilities of an employee assigned to this position to those duties listed above. The employee is expected to follow any other instructions and perform any other duties requested by the immediate supervisor or company management. The level of involvement may vary based on company and individual capabilities.

Christensen Farms is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to select the most qualified person for each position in the organization. No employee of CF will discriminate against any applicant for employment or a fellow employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, citizenship status, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, veteran status or any other prohibited basis under applicable local, state, or federal law.