Summary
This position is located in the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Animal Resource Unit (ARU) in Manhattan, KS. If selected, you will be responsible for conducting comprehensive research, developing vaccines and anti-virals, and providing enhanced diagnostic and training capabilities to protect the nation from foreign or transboundary, emerging and zoonotic diseases that threaten livestock, other animals and food from the nation's farms and fields.
Duties
Provides daily (including weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings) care, feeding, and welfare assessments.
Makes observations concerning normal exercise and movement, rate of growth, weight change, appetite, feces, skin lesions, and discolored or rough fur or skin.
Adapts to working with multiple species of livestock and traditional research animals within a variety of housing styles.
Performs a variety of technical duties such as observations, sample collection or administration of medications or treatments to animals when requested and contributes ideas toward the planning and sequencing of the technical aspects of the studies.
Captures and restrains animals according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and research protocols.
Maintains inventory of chemicals, preparing solutions and disinfectants for use in live animal facilities, animal transport equipment including:
vehicles, conducting necropsy, and for safely disposing of waste material (both chemical and biological) according to biocontainment requirements of each protocol, housing, and processing facility.
Adapts and modifies conditions as requested by veterinary team or supervisor, overseeing care, and exactly following behavioral observation plans that need to be customized for each individual animal in their area of responsibility.
Participates with animal care unit personnel on animal scheduling for experiments and maintains animal medical records in the electronic system.
Maintains strict, detailed, and complete records for each individual animal and procedure, to include scientific interventions, and daily veterinary medical interventions, separating the observations and entries by type of data.
Ensures the collection and quality of daily and periodic animal-specific and environmental quality measures such as feed consumption, body weight, body temperature, environmental temperature, air flow status and direction are accurately documented.
Requirements
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. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required Drug Test Required Vaccine(s) Required Special Physical Requirements/Demands (May wear full encapsulated suit) SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities. Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required. National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI) clearance is required. Immunizations may be required. Respirator fitting and certification is required. Participation in Occupational Medical Surveillance Program.
How you will be evaluated
Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy. This means you will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13039305