What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant III *Miles City-Fort Keogh position at Montana State University?
As an employee of MSU-Ag Experiment Station-Fort Keogh, you will work alongside other MSU employees and USDA employees conducting research in livestock and range management.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Includes field preparation (plowing and disking), planting crops, cultivating, haying, harvesting using farm equipment including balers, swathers, disks, plows, harvesters, trucks, and tractors.
- Irrigation: crops (hay, corn, barley) using flood, siphon, tube, center pivot, and gated pipe irrigation.
- Feed mill and Feed truck operation: Responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the feed mill and various equipment. This operation will include using the overhead batching system; grinding various
- grains and hay for use in rations; formulating and mixing a variety lot feed grains with different supplements; keeping a rolling inventory of a variety of minerals needed to mix supplements. Daily operation of the feed truck will include periodical hay grinding for feeding of farm animals.
- Farm machinery: Operation, repair and maintenance including replacement of worn parts, servicing, and mounting new equipment such as replacing bearing on disk, replacing sickle sections on swather, greasing and checking fluid levels on machinery. Operate feed trucks and tractors in accordance with safe operating procedures. Repair and maintenance of facilities include fixing fences and working on computerized calan gates.
- Animal care: Feed lot operation requires observation of feeding animals, recognizing health concerns of animals and having the ability to properly treat such animals. Must work with livestock to brand, dehorn, weigh and haul cattle. Assists scientists on routine weigh days and normal vaccinations.
- Take care of cattle: Check for health, Identify and treat sick animals, check water, feed cattle in winter months, move cattle from pasture to working facilities, brand cattle, vaccinate cattle, haul cattle, and handle cattle in working facilities, horse care, ear tag and tattoo calves in the spring, pull calves, weigh calves, slope horns on bulls, dehorn cattle and castrate cattle.
- Additional field work: Snow removal, fencing, cleaning ditches, irrigate, run haying machinery, haul irrigation pipe, change water, weed control and putting out supplements.
- Neck bleeding cattle, tail bleeding cattle, semen test evaluations, implants for research projects very small and difficult, artificially inseminate cattle, aid in embryo transfer and pregnancy checking.
- EID work with computers and wand, individually feed animals on trials, reading special research gages and meters recording data for months at a time. Batching special supplements for different research projects by hand, working with GrowSafe systems and technology, and run milking machine for research.
Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Basic experience in the operation, repair, and maintenance of various tractors and equipment including balers, swathers, disks, plows, harvesters, and trucks.
- Knowledge of and experience in field work including appropriate planting conditions and water flow.
- Knowledge of workplace safety procedures.
- Knowledge of flood, sprinkler, and pivot irrigation processes and systems, as well as the ability to set up/change and monitor systems.
- General math skills to calculate the exact percentages of rations to meet research needs.
- Knowledge of livestock care.
Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills
- Working knowledge of pesticides, their application and safe uses.
- Experience accurately recording, filing, and monitoring detailed records.
- Knowledge of overhead batching system, grinding various grains and hay, and how to formulate and mix a variety or grains and supplements.
- Knowledgeable in assessing and treating livestock ailments.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Have great communication skills and ability to work as part of a team;
- Exercise initiative and independent judgement in day to day activities;
- Have the ability to prioritize duties, as will possess time management skills.
Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
- Must possess a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driving record, and meet all State of Montana requirements to operate State/University vehicles. (If successful candidate possesses a valid out-of-state driver’s license, must obtain a valid Montana driver’s license within 60 days of hire.)
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
- Working in all types of weather.
- Maneuvering up to 100 pounds.
- Working in dust and pollen.
- Working with farm chemicals.
- Dexterity with hands, working with equipment.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties?
No
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies
1
Desired Start Date
Upon completion of a successful search
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on March 10, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
