This position is a Animal Caretaker, WG- 5048-5 working in Sacramento, California for the R8-Coleman National Fish Hatchery. This position is also open to the public under announcement R8-23-12034298-GM-DE. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

As a Animal Caretaker your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Actively involved in the entire production cycle of the hatchery from spawning, to egg care and feeding, to hatching and fry care, to raising of fry, to rearing and release of adult fish, and subsequent harvesting of new eggs to continue the cycle. In addition to routine care requirements, at this level, incumbent decides the care and feeding required according to their personal observations at the time in question. Work is performed in accordance with established procedures or special instructions, most often on personal initiative and observation. Follows established safety rules and required practices for a safe work environment. Uses required protective clothing and safety equipment (e.g., coveralls, aprons, rubber clothing, goggles, safety gloves, earplugs, safety glasses, safety shoes, etc.). Monitors the appearance and behavior of fish for any changes indicative of illness, disease, or stress; changes in physical condition or environmental factors that may be cause for concern, and takes action accordingly. Watches for signs of bacterium that is caused by a combination of water temperature, handling, density, ammonia levels, or feed loads that are out-of-sync. The incumbent must be able to determine and make adjustments on an immediate basis. Treats fish for diseases with various chemicals and records data on fish care, mortality, size, weight, sex, age, quantities and formula of food fed, etc. During spawning and Incubation processes, incumbent performs a number of activities such as measuring chemicals, monitoring water flows, monitoring adult fish behavior, culling dead fish and recording appropriate data about them, operating spawning and anesthetic hoists, applying and monitoring anesthetic levels. Incumbent also monitors spawning operations and makes immediate individual decisions (checking up to 30 samples in a 3 minute period) for sex, level of ripeness, selection of fish for egg retention or return to holding ponds if not ready, and removal of eggs from females (up to 1000 females per day and 20-40 million eggs per season). Performs all activities specific to preservation and fertilization of the eggs and subsequent care, feeding and incubation of Fertilized eggs. Subsequent care includes monitoring water levels in incubator stacks; treating eggs for fungus; determining readiness of egg development for shocking; monitoring eggs in troughs to ensure survival: determining fry's readiness for ponding; ponding fry according to predetermined levels of population for each pond, and monitoring ponding equipment for malfunction, proper water levels, and flow. Determines the type, amount, and number of feeding cycles the fish receive depending on their personal knowledge and observation. During feeding season, monitors feeding to determine if levels are adequate and makes the necessary adjustment. For example, if incumbent observes that fish are "gilling" or that too much feed is falling to the bottom of the pond will adjust the size and/or amount of the feed specific to the situation. As the fish progress from fry to adult, the incumbent will determine the need to increase or decrease the number of feedings per day based on daily observations and monitoring. Operates vehicles such as fish distribution truck with a GVW up to 10,000 pounds in all traffic conditions, over public roads at highway speeds, to transport materials, supplies, equipment or tools; tows equipment through rural or urban areas. Responsible for ensuring cargo is protected, properly distributed, and secured to prevent damage or loss during transit. When towing, ensures the equipment does not exceed the maximum allowable limit for the vehicle being driven in accordance with local and federal regulations. Performs operator maintenance and keeps preventative maintenance records. Fork Lift Operation: Operates electric, gasoline, or diesel-powered forklift trucks with rated lifting capacity of less than 10,000 pounds, to a height up to14 feet. Performs assignments relative to general maintenance e.g., buildings, grounds, facilities, and/or fleet using simple hand tools and simple power equipment. This includes picking up trash, emptying trashcans, mowing grass, trimming shrubs, clearing small trees or brush, performing minor repairs on traps and fences, washing or cleaning vehicles, etc.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Resume (See "Required Documents"). Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is provided on resume.
• Eligibility and Supporting documents - You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to AND submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section.
• Merit promotion applicants must meet time-in-grade requirement, as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Suitability for employment, as determined by background investigation.
• Driver's License: Selectee may be required to possess and maintain a valid State driver's license at all times during their tenure.
• Irregular Tour of Duty: Work requires working evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Uniform: Official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uniform MAY be required.
• Probationary Period: Selectees may be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
• Special Condition: Incumbent is required to respond to alarms on the evenings and weekends, as assigned. Alarm must be responded to timely in order to ensure Hatchery specimens remain viable.
• Individuals assigned male at birth after 12-31-59 must be registered for the Selective Service. To verify registration visit SSS.gov.

Qualifications

By the closing date of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation. http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/ Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date will be considered. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements. The screen out element for this position is: The ability to perform the duties of this Animal Caretaker position at the WG-5 grade level without more than normal supervision. The job elements you will be evaluated on for this position are: Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Ability to Interpret Instructions, specifications; other than blueprints Technical Practices: theoretical precise, artistic Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Working conditions: The work environment is a quasi-industrial. The hazards, physical hardships, and working conditions to which the incumbent will be exposed while performing the assigned work includes working in and around running water, indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and temperatures. Outdoor work requires frequent exposure to wet and slippery surfaces, strong and unpleasant odors, drafts, loud noise, dust, and dirt. If forklift or motor vehicle operation is identified as a duty, the incumbent will also maneuver vehicles in congested areas and over rough terrain. Indoor work is often accomplished in office buildings or in well-lighted, heated, and ventilated areas. At this level there is greater possibility of injury. Incumbent is subject to bites and scratches on hands and arms during the spawning process where incumbent will be handling large fish coming out from under the anesthetic at unforeseen moments in enclosed and constrained confines where the ability to move fast and decisively is critical. Work requires the incumbent to follow proper safety procedures, use standard safety equipment, and wear protective clothing and gear such as coveralls, aprons, rubber clothing, gloves, goggles, ear protectors, safety shoes, and glasses to avoid possible hazards. Safety devices will be provided to ensure safe trade practices are adhered to in order to minimize the opportunity for injury and exposure to harmful chemicals and/or diseases. Physical Effort: Regular and recurring work requires heavy physical effort. The incumbent must be physically able to withstand arduous conditions. This typically involves: Physical exertion: frequent lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling fish, feeding trays, feed, supplies, and materials of varying weights, sizes, and shapes up to 75 pounds. Feed lifted is generally 50 pounds to height of 4 feet. Occasionally, lifting between 80-100 pounds is required. Physical effort: prolonged standing, walking, stooping, bending, and climbing. Strain: lack of movement, standing in place or stooping for extended periods of time; manual dexterity involved in handling live fish, frequent immersion of hands in cold water. Incumbent is subject to bites and scratches on hands and arms during the spawning process where incumbent will be handling large fish where the ability to move fast and decisively is critical. The work requires periods of sustained exertion. In emergency operations, such as cleaning and adjustment of water intake structures during high water, leaf drop, or in spawning operations, where the need to work rapidly in sorting and selecting fish for egg selection is critical to keeping the mortality rate low.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Contacts

• Address Division of Human Resources Division of Human Resources 2800 Cottage Way Sacramento, CA 95825 US
• Name: Human Resources Staffing Division
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]