Summary
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Directorate of Animal Care Sciences at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Research (OUSSR), Smithsonian Institution (SI).
Duties
The Biologist (Animal Care) will serve as an Assistant Curator (Biologist) for specific animal areas, species, and/ or team(s) as assigned. Assistant Curators are vital in ensuring the well-being of our collection animals through their involvement in care, breeding, education, conservation, exhibition, collection planning and support of research. In this position, you will: Provides daily care of exotic and endangered animals through enclosure cleaning and sanitation, diet preparation and feeding, enrichment activities, and the application of animal husbandry techniques. Coordinates animal training and management activities to support health care, capture, restraint, transport, shifting, and separation of animals for exhibit and husbandry purposes. Oversee Animal Keepers, volunteers, interns, and contractors, ensuring work is assigned, scheduled, and completed according to established priorities and deadlines. Assists in preparing reports and recommendations for local, national, and international conservation and zoological organizations.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.
Education
This position has a Positive Education Requirement (Unofficial transcripts must be submitted at time of application).
How you will be evaluated
Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: Knowledge in managing exotic and endangered animals for display in exhibit in a zoological setting. Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of managing wild or exotic animals in an AZA accredited zoo. Ability to disseminate public information on the animals ensuring detailed biological knowledge on all species. Skill in preparing reports and maintaining records of all animals in zoological setting, while maintaining inventory of all animals. Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria: Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above. Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above. Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree. This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position. Important Note: The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed. You may preview questions for this vacancy.