These positions are located within the Environmental Service (EMS)/Pest Control Section at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System in Long Beach, CA. The Pest Controller completes all pest management activities independently and will be licensed through the State of California.

Duties

The major duties include but are not limited to: Identifies, controls and prevents infestation of common household, structural, public health, nuisance and plant pests; Devises and maintains all program plans and records, ongoing surveillance and troubleshooting and determines which pest control measures are needed without Supervisory guidance; Applies in-depth knowledge of pest species and is to be skilled in the safe handling, mixing, application and disposal of pesticides requirements within integrated pest management program; Uses equipment such as wrenches, pliers, screw drivers and similar hand tools to provide operator maintenance of application equipment; Changes nozzles, valves and hoses and adjusts and calibrates nozzle settings, lubricate motors, pumps and agitators; Determines approaches, methods and courses of action such as whether to utilize chemical or physical methods in controlling a pest infestation; Plans all work required, review and act upon complaints received; documents treatment provided and identify developing pest trends; Develops inspection, survey and treatment schedules and selects proper materials and equipment; Selects mixes and applies restricted and general/ready-to-use pesticides necessary to control identified pests; Provides all interior and exterior pesticide treatment, selects and sets various types of baits and traps to control insect, invertebrate, vertebrate and weed pests; Completes required reports and records to meet all regulatory agency requirements; Follows all Federal, state, local and medical center directives that are pertinent to an effective Integrated Pest Management Program; Contacts regulators, waste management firms, recyclers and product buyers to compile information to establish or change waste management and recycling programs as needed to conform to current regulations and/or market trends; Uses broad knowledge of pesticide toxicity, chemical solutions and baits and possesses in depth knowledge of the physical characteristics, lifestyles and feeding habits of a wide variety of pests; and, Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tour of Duty varies. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Requirements

Qualifications

Physical Effort and Work Conditions: The person in the position is required to often lift, and handle materials weighing over 23 kilograms (50 pounds) and carry chemical solutions and equipment weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) for extended periods. May work in cramped and inconvenient surroundings requiring manipulation of equipment in awkward positions for prolonged periods. Work requires standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions for extended periods. May also be asked to move furniture and equipment as well as various carpentry and masonry tools. May be required to move regulated medical waste containers that weight up to 75 pounds. Must be medically qualified to wear a respirator. Work is accomplished both inside and outside. When working outside, may be exposed to hot sun for extended periods of time and occasionally to severe weather. Outside work may be done under hot and dusty conditions for extended periods. Inside work is often accomplished in structural areas with minimum ventilation and/or limited access. May mix substances and apply pesticides while wearing respirators, gloves and other personal protective equipment designed to nullify the risk of exposure to toxic dust and sprays which might damage their health. Damage to health may occur if appropriate safety procedures are not followed. Discomfort may be experienced while wearing protective clothing, respirators, goggles or face masks for extended periods of time. May be exposed to poisonous insects, reptiles and plants and to wild and rabid animals. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. These positions include a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factors for this position is: A current and valid California Pesticide Applicator certification. A copy of your current and valid California Pesticide Applicator certification must be submitted with your application to receive credit. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF A PEST CONTROLLER WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION (SCREEN OUT) TECHNICAL PRACTICES MEASURING INSTRUMENTS INTERPRET INSTRUCTIONS, SPECIFICATIONS (OTHER THAN BLUEPRINTING READING) USE AND MAINTAIN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT MATERIALS DEXTERITY AND SAFETY IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Long Beach VA Medical Center 5901 East Seventh Street Long Beach, CA 90822 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]