Job Details

** Animal Caretaker**

**Department of Agriculture**

**Location**

1 vacancy in the following location:

** Relocation expenses reimbursed**

No

** Telework eligible**

No

** Clarification from the agency**

U.S. citizens and nationals; No priorfederal experience is required.

**Duties**

** Summary**

This position is located in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Centers for Animal Health (NCAH), Animal Resources Unit (ARU), in Ames, Iowa.

The incumbent will provide daily animal care (feeding, watering, cleaning, and observing agricultural or farm animals); annotate animal data for record keeping; and provide medical treatment to animals when instructed.

**Responsibilities**

+ Performs husbandry procedures, observing, feeding, watering, cleaning, sanitation, and promotion of animal well-being related to the care of various laboratory animals used in testing and training following established guidelines and instructions.

+ Collects blood and other body fluids, tissues, or secretions, using techniques as prescribed by animal care and use protocols.

+ Treats injured or ill animals when appropriate by administering medications orally, topically, by inhalation, or parenterally (IM, SQ, or IV) upon instructions from the veterinarian, supervisor, or investigator.

+ Maintains animal records and pertinent history.

+ Receives only general supervision in the form of general instructions and occasional spot check of work to insure satisfactory performance. Special instructions may be given by professional employees as required.

+ Operates equipment such as high pressure cleaners, automatic water systems, 2 ton chain hoist on a rail system, hydraulic necropsy table, commercial band saws, down-draft tables, autoclaves, cage washers, forklift, and vehicles.

+ Operates tractors powered by gasoline or diesel engines, having four wheels, and up to sixteen forward gears and steered with a conventional steering wheel.

+ Operates skid loader with hydrostatic drive and hand and foot controls. Handles manure handling equipment.

+ Uses a personal computer to record and maintain experimental data, and for email communication and to complete required on-line courses.

+ May be required to assist with animal euthanasia, including the use of euthanasia chambers and necropsies.

+ Knowledge of abnormal appearance and behavior of animals (i.e., characteristics, external lesions, rate of growth, weight loss, appetite, feces, etc.) to recognize when an animal is ill or injured.

+ Holds and transfers animals without injuring the animals or causing personal injury **Travel Required**

Not required

** Supervisory status**

No

** Promotion Potential**

None

**Requirements**

** Conditions of Employment**

+ You must be a US Citizen or US National

+ Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt

+ Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check

+ Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.

+ Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at

+ Must complete a limited background investigation (Personnel Suitability Level 2 (Moderate-Risk)) and a Department of Justice (DOJ) clearance for Select Agent usage.

+ Works on weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings as required.

+ Must report to or remain on work site for budget shutdowns. AALAS training is required.

+ Ability to pass a physical examination for the following: Ability to lift 75 lbs., with occasional lifts of 100 pounds.

+ Respiratory/pulmonary function test for respirator fitting.

+ Motor vehicle driver's license required. ** Qualifications**

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement:

06/02/2021 Qualifications will be determined under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook. While a specific length of time and experience is not required for most Wage Grade positions, you must show through experience and training that you possess the best qualified level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualification requirements emphasize the quality of experience, not necessarily the length. The responses to the questionnaire and your resume should be in significant detail to provide the person rating your application with a good understanding of your ability to do the job, technical knowledge, work, and training experience, etc. (For example You must have the ability to perform the duties of a, Animal Caretaker without more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the **SCREEN OUT ELEMENT** will not be given further consideration.

**Physical Efforts:**

- The incumbent performs activities involved in the care, treatment, and observation of animals, and collection of biological specimens. Moderate to heavy physical exertion is required daily for restraining large animals and moving feed, hay, bedding, and equipment (up to 75 pounds). May be required to move large animal carcasses and/or portions of carcasses in carts weighing up to 300 pounds, with the assistance of handling equipment. May be required to stand on a ladder to complete overhead tasks, i.e. the cleaning and changing of filters. Stooping, bending, reaching, and active walking may also be required.

- The incumbent may frequently be required to do physical activity while wearing a respirator, which requires extra effort.

**Working Condition:**

- Position is located at a biocontainment facility.

- The work is performed in animal holding facilities where natural and man-made environment extremes (i.e., rain, snow, ice, sunlight, heat, cold, and high humidity) are present. Because this is an exigency position, the incumbent is expected to report for duty when the lab is closed due to hazardous weather, heightened threat levels, or natural disasters. Work may involve discomforts such as having to spend long periods of time on concrete or slippery floors, exposure to bites, scratches, kicks, disagreeable odors, allergens, and animal wastes from diseased or distressed animals.

- The incumbent will be expected to work with animals infected with zoonotic diseases and therefore be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, eye and ear protection, boots, gloves, and coveralls. Various forms of respiratory protection equipment must be worn when working with certain infectious agents, chemicals, and animal allergens. PPE provides necessary protection against biological and chemical hazards, but may increase the risk of accidents due to decreased vision, hampered communication, limited mobility and dexterity. Physical well-being may be compromised by the prolonged usage of the PPE may lead to labored respiration, heat stress and dehydration.

- Work may be performed daily in the presence of hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde, virucidal and bactericidal disinfectants, and detergents.

- For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NCAH which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety and effectiveness under the provisions of the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended 2 1 USC 32 1-393. Where the FDA for investigation purposes has approved the vaccine, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary.

- The incumbent may be required to receive extra vaccinations to work on specific projects, submit to blood tests, and a tuberculosis skin test.

- It is highly desirable that the incumbent is certified as a Laboratory Animal Technician by the American Association for Laboratory Ani