About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Description
Instructor for animal management courses on the UMass Amherst campus and at the Hadley Farm. Performs a variety of duties related to teaching one lecture course each semester during Fall and Spring of the academic year. Primary responsibilities are to provide subject matter expertise, including all aspects of managing a sheep flock including nutritional, reproductive, and health management, as well as marketing. Additional responsibility to teach courses adhering to lesson plans, meeting course objectives, beginning and ending courses on time as scheduled and adhering to academic faculty ethical and professional behaviors.
Essential Functions
- Instructs and supervises students in all assigned lectures and related hands-on activities to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.
- Primary instructor for ANIMLSCI 231 Dorset Sheep Management I (Fall semester) and ANIMLSCI 251 Dorset Sheep Management II (Spring semester).
- Keeps students informed and updated concerning course content, requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance requirements.
- Ensures each program/class contains essential curricular components, has appropriate content and pedagogy, and maintains currency. Maintains a high level of expertise in the subjects taught and stimulates enthusiasm for those subjects.
- Evaluates students to measure their progress toward the achievement of course outcomes/competencies.
- Maintains equipment, supplies, and inventory for student use.
- Functionally supervises graduate and/or undergraduate Teaching Assistants.
- Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
- Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in animal husbandry, production agriculture, or related field.
- Three or more years’ experience working with Dorset Sheep in an educational setting.
- Knowledge of personal safety in a farm/livestock barn setting, especially regarding working with livestock and equipment; awareness of proper biosafety procedures, handling of equipment, and chemicals, especially those used to clean, disinfect, and sterilize.
- Ability to functionally supervise graduate and undergraduate Teaching Assistants and to schedule the workload in an efficient and productive manner.
- Proficiency with Canvas, spire, and Microsoft office.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Three or more years teaching at the university level.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Ability to bend, stoop and lift and/or carry heavy objects weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, unassisted.
- Good physical stamina
Work Schedule
Per class schedule
Salary Information
4,750.00 stipend per 2 credit course (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025)
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application, please submit a resume.
At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here (https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan).
The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.