Research Assistant - Beef Cattle Herdsman

Location: Overton, Texas, United States; onsite field work required

Salary: $45,000 per year

Company

Texas A&M AgriLife Research is part of Texas A&M AgriLife, a statewide agriculture and life sciences organization focused on research, education, extension, and service.

What you will do

• Perform cattle duties across cow/calf operations, including calving, feeding, heat detection, weighing, hauling, and treating sick cattle.
• Handle cattle using low-stress techniques and manage pastures, heifers, bulls, and stocker cattle.
• Assist with designing, planning, coordinating, and conducting beef cattle research experiments.
• Maintain detailed records covering calving, breeding, weights, culling, and research data.
• Operate tractors and agricultural equipment, and perform haying, fence repair, facility maintenance, and related field work.
• Support students and laboratory, technical, and field staff, including purchasing, reports, invoices, and cataloging.

Requirements

• BS degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Computer knowledge and excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, multitask, and cooperate with others.
• Experience with haying operations and the ability to pen cattle.
• Ability to drive tractors and operate hay equipment, fertilizer buggies, feeders, planters, sprayers, pasture mowers, and similar equipment.
• Physical labor is required, including lifting and carrying objects weighing at least 60 pounds.

Nice to have

• Experience with reproductive technologies such as estrous synchronization, artificial insemination, ultrasonography, and animal health.

Culture & Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• 12–15 days of paid annual holidays.
• Paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee wellness initiative.