This position is located with USDA, ARS, Plains Area, Animal Resources Unit, in Manhattan, Kansas. In this position, you will be conducting humane care and handling of animals, quarantine procedures, or proper management of animal facilities in compliance with laws, standards, or regulations; and operating software systems to input data, track actions, and produce technical reports related to animal husbandry. This position is open to those within the local commuting area.

Duties

Serves as Protocol Administrator for Animal Care and Use Protocols. This involves managing, providing initial review for adherence to guidelines and policies, and processing Animal Care and Use Protocols for IACUC deliberations. Supports all aspects of the care and use of animals at NBAF. Evaluates the ARU workplaces and practices to assess and assure animal care operations are in compliance with requirements of laboratory staff, management officials, and State and other Federal agency officials. Provides support to the AV in developing and updating the NBAF Animal Care and Use Manual, as well as other documents containing guidelines and requirements for laboratory activities. Conducts regular inspections of animal facilities and analyzes inspection reports over time to detect trends, assess effectiveness of training, and recommends changes as required. Establishes relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities, and conflicts of interest in a manner that provides a sound basis for decision making. Participates in administration and implementation of animal enrichment program to enhance the well-being of animals used at NBAF. Provides administrative support for NBAF animal care training programs by scheduling webinars, lectures and other forms of training and by tracking training needed and received. Uses software applications including Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer and other relevant programs and web-based systems. Prepares reports based on observations from auditing and monitoring activities.

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.
• Successful completion of one year probationary period, unless previously served.
• 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
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands (May wear fully 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.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. Time in grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. GS-09: Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience conducting humane care and handling of animals, quarantine procedures, or proper management of animal facilities in compliance with laws, standards, or regulations; and operating software systems to input data, track actions, and produce technical reports related to animal husbandry. OR Education: Successful completion of 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Related degrees may include Animal Science, Animal Behavior, Laboratory Animal Science, Biology, Research Administration, Biotechnology, Regulatory Science, Public Policy, Animal Welfare. OR A combination of both graduate education and specialized experience as described above. Physical Demands- Work involves sitting, walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items. During audits, investigations and inspections, the work is sometimes performed in environments with objectionable odors from animals. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, boots, gloves, and coveralls may be used to perform laboratory and animal related tasks. The work may involve wearing a fully encapsulated positive pressure suit in the BSL4 animal containment areas. Travel may be required. Work Environment- The work is performed in an office and animal holding facilities. It also involves exposure to disagreeable odors when working around animals and may involve exposure to the risks and hazards of harmful biological, chemical, and physical agents, such as, but not limited to high consequence pathogens. There is the potential for exposure to highly contagious diseases of animals and humans, and to fractious animals. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF 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, 21 USC 321-392. Where the FDA for investigation purposes has approved the vaccine, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary. Restrictions against contact with birds and livestock outside the laboratory will apply after entering high security animal facilities that are working with disease agents foreign to the United States. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks or respirators, boots, gloves, and coveralls may be used to perform laboratory and animal related tasks that represent a potential source of zoonotic disease or other biohazard. Incumbent may be required to wear a fully encapsulated positive pressure suit in BSL4 animal holding rooms. Various forms of respiratory protection equipment must be worn when working with certain infectious agents, chemicals, and animal allergens. Certain environments may also necessitate the use of hearing protection. 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, which may lead to labored respiration, heat stress and dehydration. Strict agent safety regulations are applied to prevent the escape of animal pathogens from the work environment. The health status of personnel is monitored periodically using biologic and serologic tests and physical examinations. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Kendra Bledsoe
• Phone: 7032599425
• Email: [email protected]