Facilities Coordinator I: Research Operations Coordinator

Job Title

Facilities Coordinator I: Research Operations Coordinator

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Poultry Science

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Job Description:

Provides oversight of poultry research facilities and animal SOPs.  Manages all feed manufacturing and feed mill maintenance, coordinates research trial building preparation and cleanup, and schedules bird transport. Supervises student workers and provides assistance to faculty and staff for research, teaching, and extension programs at the poultry research farm. The Facilities Coordinator I, under general supervision, oversees routine, preventative, and planned facility maintenance.  Keeps facilities and equipment in safe, secured condition and in constant working order. Oversees mechanical and electrical operations, HVAC, and landscaping to ensure building is a comfortable and safe facility for faculty, staff, students, and guests. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead all feed manufacturing operations including stocking inventory of major and micro ingredients (commonly used), preventive maintenance program, cleaning and organization. Schedule with researchers feed manufacturing for trials and extension/teaching needs (Judging, Broiler Production, Fertile Flock). Work through SSC for any major repairs (motors, electrical, boiler). Utilize farm student workers for feed mill labor in conjunction with researchers to compete custom mix research diets. Operate all machinery (pellet mill, mixers, conveyors, legs, receiving conveyors) to maintain high ingredient quality and prevent cross contamination. Service all equipment for preventative maintenance (grease, clean magnets, clean equipment/warehouse space, keep area organized without trip hazards).

• Ensure research animals are properly cared for under IACUC guidelines. Ensure daily checks are completed to any animals under Farm AUP and proper living conditions present.

• Coordinate all Live Hauls for permitted “for sale” birds. Handle sale of eggs, feed totes and fertilizer as well.

• Manage property maintenance and upkeep of all facilities daily. Performs regularly scheduled maintenance of all equipment and facilities. Develops and implements operational strategies.

• Ensure all SOPs are being followed and standards are met for all procedures.

• Assist extension specialists, researchers, professors, and graduate students in utilizing POSC Center facilities for events and coursework. Offer reasonable labor charges to complete a variety of tasks whether that be bird care, bird/feed pickup, euthanasia, office moves, lab moves, set up for camps etc.

• Collaborate with professors, researchers, and graduate students to set up facilities/barns for poultry research. Provide service to research trial in the form of ingredient sourcing (as able), receiving materials to farm, as well as barn operation/maintenance.

• Utilize farm staff to prep barns for trials and maintain conditions for new trials. Responsible for barn cleanouts after trials including removing shavings, pressure washing, cleaning pen panels/feeders, structural cleaning to ensure proper environment for high quality research. Cool cell pads (the pads are paid for by SSC) are maintained and curtains & waterline winches operate correctly. Maintain grounds in the form of dirt work, drainage, mowing, spraying, etc.

• Forklift, skid steer, tractor, mower, trailer (Ranch King) maintenance responsibility. Utilize farm staff or outside mechanics to service this equipment for preventative and reactive maintenance.

• Serve as liaison between farm operations (research, teaching, or extension) and SSC for any repairs that are covered under contract (HVAC, Electrical, Main water supply, heaters, etc.) Coordinate and prepare work orders for electrical, plumbing, custodial, carpentry, key, and sign shops to perform work required to maintain facilities.

• Utilize and supervise student worker staff to prepare barns, hang feeders, waterlines, set up pens, spread shavings. Provide maintenance to all “department owned equipment” (feeders, string, pen panels, waterlines, regulators, hose bibs, cool cell equipment. Work through SSC for all requests that staff cannot complete even if it costs money to do.

• Ensure the highest achievable biosecurity is maintained at the POSC Center through maintaining biosecurity protocols and ensuring SOPs are enforced. This responsibility applies to farm staff, contractors, researchers, students, and professors. Proper PPE is worn, and biosecurity measures are communicated and enforced to all parties. Oversees animal welfare and care and reports deficiencies in husbandry.

• Serve as immediate supervisor to all student worker farm staff. Manage teams in the form of hiring, corrective actions, time/hour approvals, annual raises, training, and certification of equipment operation. Manage student work schedules and daily tasks to achieve efficient research operations. Ensure safe operations are always conducted and make corrective actions as needed. Instill a positive work environment with reasonable accommodations to course schedules. Trains personnel on procedures and SOPs.

• Ensure classrooms are in good condition for students, faculty, and staff. Facilitate scheduling, assisting in class coordination for success of faculty and students.

• Have a working knowledge of computer. Ensure offices, restrooms, 1201 rooms are in good condition and be the main contact for SSC janitorial services.

• Be the main contact for IACUC, Environmental Health & Safety, Lab inspections for all buildings on the Poultry Science Center.

• Serve as primary contact for after-hours building emergencies.

• Maintain/cultivate with poultry industry allied and integrated companies to improve farm operations. Promote the department with an ROI focused approach to acquiring equipment, information, and technology to improve facilities and student experience at POSC Center. Coordinate requests for entry access and requests for additional keys to a location.

• Provide backup support to other Facility Coordinators at the Poultry Center as necessary.

• Be engaged with current students, professors, and programs to contribute to the department’s goals and missions.

• Other duties as required.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Two years of related experience in poultry operations, feed milling, facilities and building maintenance, or facilities construction, scheduling, and inventory.

• Management of personnel and supervisory duties.

• Feed mill operation and feed manufacturing experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications.

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to promptly respond to on-site emergency calls.

• Ability to assist with management, planning and organizing building maintenance and operation.

• Excellent customer service skills. 

• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of customers and coworkers.

• Conflict resolution skills

• Ability to exert heavy force and lift heavy objects.

January 1st for expected hire date

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.