The employee reports to the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) Supervisor and is responsible for providing support to investigators using the surgical suite in the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU). Duty location: Department of Veterans Affair Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM. NOTE: The term "livestock" is used to refer to all animals.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include but are not limited to the following: Veterinary Medical Unit support to research animal surgeries including pre-operative, assisting during procedure, medication administration, assist in animal necropsy, specimen collection and post-operative care. Assists researchers in autopsies, specimen collection, data collection and administering post operative care. Picks up and transfers radioactive waste, and/or animal carcasses biological specimens from research areas to assigned storage locations or for incineration. Maintains the animals as required by OLAW, AAALAC and other entities on a day-to-day basis in terms of feeding, cage cleaning, watering, etc. Sanitizes cages and maintains essential equipment, glassware, supply of distilled and demineralized water, and general cleanliness of the area. Maintains established supply levels by anticipating and reporting limited quantities on hand. Establishes and records data on, animal health and/or breeding records, surgical procedures and post-operative forms, cage record cards, radioactive waste forms and necropsy information. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, Some weekend hours required due to nature of work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule Available. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications: specialized experience GS-7: Having at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower graded level (GS-6) in Federal Service. Specialized experience defined as experience that has provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. Qualifying Specialized Experience include work: As a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock. With livestock in a feed lot. As a Livestock Market Inspector. As an Animal Welfare Inspector As an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock. Having extensive knowledge of animal research technique, veterinary medicine theory, procedures, concepts, principles, and methods used in support of veterinarians within a research facility is required. OR Education Substitution: GS-7: Must have successfully completed one (1) year of Graduate education, or an internship meets the specialized experience requirement. Education in creditable only in those instances where it is related to work of the position, which includes zoology, biology, chemistry, or agricultural subjects. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GS-7: Musthave equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education and specialized experience to qualify. Only graduate education in excess of six (6) months (excess of nine (9) semester hours) may be used in combination with the experience required. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Animal HusbandryTechnical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: This position requires the incumbent to left and/or carry animals, supplies, equipment, etc., weighing up to 60 pounds. Walking, standing, and stopping for long periods is required for task performance. Good manual dexterity will be needed for tasks performed within the sterile surgical field and for routine procedures. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address Albuquerque ORD VISN 22 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]