Agricultural Assistant Jobs Iowa 2026 - Civil Engineering Jobz

The Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University is actively hiring a dedicated and dependable Agricultural Assistant II to support its nationally recognised teaching, research, and production dairy farm in Ames, Iowa. This hands-on role covers daily herd management, animal care, milking operations, and dairy research activities — all while contributing to ISU’s mission of advancing dairy science and shaping the next generation of agricultural professionals.

About Iowa State University — Department of Animal Science

Institution: Iowa State University — a nationally recognised land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa

Department Focus: Animal Science teaching, applied research, and production dairy farm operations

Dairy Mission: Advancing dairy science through real-world farm operations that educate future agricultural professionals

Research Impact: Innovative research that directly advances the US and global dairy industry

Work Environment: Collaborative team of farm staff, faculty, student employees, and industry partners

Why This Opportunity Is Worth Your Attention

University Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, retirement, paid leave, and professional development

Job Security: Stable full-time position at one of America’s most respected public land-grant universities

Meaningful Work: Directly support dairy research and teaching that shapes the future of American agriculture

Growth Potential: Opportunity to take on expanded responsibilities in research, teaching, and dairy specialisation

Position Overview

The Agricultural Assistant II at Iowa State University’s Animal Science dairy farm in Ames, Iowa, is a physically active, team-oriented role that sits at the intersection of daily farm operations, animal welfare, and applied agricultural research. The successful candidate will perform hands-on milking, feeding, and herd health duties while also operating farm machinery, maintaining records, and supporting student workers and faculty. This position is open until filled and is suited to candidates who are safety-conscious, reliable, and passionate about working in a university dairy environment.

Why This Role Matters: As an Agricultural Assistant at Iowa State University, you are an essential part of a world-class teaching and research dairy operation. You directly support animal welfare and dairy herd health, operate advanced farm equipment including tractors and skid steers, maintain biosecurity and milking hygiene standards critical to research integrity, mentor and guide student farm employees, and contribute hands-on to seasonal operations, grounds maintenance, and special dairy research projects — all within one of the USA’s most respected agricultural science institutions.

Key Responsibilities

Daily Dairy Herd Care & Milking Operations

Perform daily feeding, milking, and comprehensive care of dairy cattle while following established animal welfare and biosecurity protocols at all times
Monitor animal health and behavioural patterns, promptly report concerns to supervisory staff, and assist with treatments, calving support, and herd health activities
Clean, sanitize, and proactively maintain milking equipment, feeding systems, and all livestock housing facilities to the highest hygiene standards

Livestock Handling & Farm Equipment Operation

Safely handle and move dairy cattle using low-stress livestock handling techniques that prioritise animal welfare and handler safety
Operate and maintain a full range of farm equipment including tractors, skid steers, front-end loaders, feed mixers, and farm trucks
Perform routine equipment maintenance and promptly report any mechanical issues to ensure uninterrupted farm operations

Record Keeping & Administrative Support

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records related to individual animal health, milk production data, and equipment maintenance logs
Support data collection activities for ongoing dairy research projects, ensuring records meet university and research compliance standards
Contribute to reporting and documentation requirements for teaching, research, and production activities as directed by farm management

Team Leadership & Student Mentoring

Train, guide, and assist student employees in daily farm tasks, safety procedures, and animal handling best practices
Work closely and collaboratively with farm staff, faculty members, and industry partners to support integrated dairy operations
Adapt to changing farm priorities throughout the production year, including seasonal operations, grounds maintenance, and special project assignments

Qualifications & Requirements

Preferred Qualifications

Prior milking experience is strongly preferred — candidates with hands-on commercial or farm dairy milking background will be prioritised
Demonstrated experience caring for and supporting dairy cattle in a professional or farm setting
General practical knowledge of farm labor, agricultural equipment operation, and machinery maintenance

Essential Candidate Attributes

Dependable, safety-minded, and comfortable performing physically demanding work in an active agricultural environment throughout all seasons
Ability to work confidently around large dairy animals using calm, low-stress handling techniques
Capable of operating farm equipment safely and responsibly in compliance with university safety guidelines
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively as part of a diverse farm team
Flexible and adaptable to shifting farm priorities, rotating weekend schedules, and early morning start times when required

Legal Requirement

Candidates must be legally authorised to work in the United States on an ongoing basis — immigration sponsorship is not available for this position

Benefits & Compensation

Health Coverage: Comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans for employees and eligible dependents
Retirement Plans: Defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans with university employer contributions
Generous Leave: Paid vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans supporting excellent work-life balance
Childcare Support: Onsite childcare facility available for employees based in Ames, Iowa
Life & Disability Insurance: Life insurance coverage and long-term disability protection included
Flexible Spending Accounts: FSA options available for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Wellbeing Program: Comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing resources
Professional Development: Access to training, continuing education, and career growth opportunities within ISU

About Iowa State University — Animal Science Department

Iowa State University is one of the United States’ most respected land-grant research universities, with a deep and longstanding commitment to agricultural science, applied research, and the education of future farm and food industry leaders. The Department of Animal Science operates a fully functional teaching, research, and production dairy farm that provides students, researchers, and farm staff with an unparalleled hands-on learning environment.

Working at Iowa State’s dairy farm means contributing daily to research that shapes best practices across the entire US dairy industry — from animal welfare and nutrition science to milking technology and herd health management. The department values dependability, collaboration, and a genuine passion for animal agriculture, and offers its employees one of the most comprehensive benefits packages available in university-based farm employment across Iowa and the broader Midwest.

Career Excellence: Join a nationally recognised agricultural research institution and make a real difference in dairy science, student education, and the future of American farming.

Who Should Apply?

Dairy Farm Workers: With hands-on milking and dairy cattle care experience looking for a stable, rewarding university-based role
Agricultural Equipment Operators: Experienced with tractors, skid steers, and farm machinery seeking a full-time position with comprehensive benefits
Animal Science Graduates: Early-career professionals wanting to contribute to cutting-edge dairy research at a nationally respected land-grant university
Livestock Handlers: Skilled in low-stress animal handling techniques and comfortable working in physically demanding farm environments
Farm Operations Professionals: With record-keeping experience and team leadership skills ready to mentor student farm employees at Iowa State