Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) of a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) animal facility, will serve as an important member of the biomedical research team with duties that shall include extensive animal care assignments, managerial assignments and day-to-day oversight of an animal colony for research, and assuring the proper care and use of laboratory animals on approved projects.

Duties

Responsible for the safety and maintenance of the animal facility, maintain daily animal census, reports monthly per diem billing to animal research investigators accordingly to facility use. Maintains the animal care facility temperature/humidity records responding/managing viewpoint alert system. Incumbent is cognizant of IACUC approvals, maintains records of IACUC approvals, animal care and scientific standard operating procedures, pest control, and sanitation records. Properly coordinate the animal care facility hygiene and ensure that all daily routine tasks are completed in a timely fashion, and according to standard operating procedures. Assist the Director of the Animal Care Facility in managing and facilitating the work of the other animal care technicians in the facility. Conduct routine health examination on incoming animals (generally small animals such as rodents) and recognize signs of common laboratory animal diseases. Design, coordinate, and execute animal husbandry and caging plans tailored to the needs of individual investigators to ensure that the execution of important biomedical projects involving laboratory animals are supported. Collaborate with the research pharmacist(s) to responsibly manage drugs used in research. Participate responsibly with biomedical researchers in planning and executing technical procedures involving animals. Administratively maintain correct census records so that investigators are fairly charged for per diem, supply, and operating room charges in accordance with policy set by the VMO, the IACUC and research administrators. Compile information needed for placing orders of animals, supplies, and equipment, including selecting approved vendors, appropriate quantity of items to be ordered, and item names and/or part numbers. Assist with preparation for inspections of animal facilities by accrediting bodies such as Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) and other inspecting bodies such as Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Research Safety Committee, and inspections pertaining to non-compliance investigations. Provide oversight and training as required for testing and examination procedures to include but not limited to diagnostic, surveillance, and experimental process involving delicate and exacting steps using complex instrumentation. Provide oversight for the maintenance and calibration of laboratory instrumentation in timely intervals to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures performed in the animal care facility. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#:PD301970 Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Physical Requirements: The work requires both regular and recurring walking, bending, and carrying of moderately heavy equipment (

Requirements

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-8 grade level in the Federal Service. Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. This specialized experience also includes managing day-to-day aspects of a laboratory to include coordination of laboratory activities; performing experimental laboratory techniques; collecting and processing tissue samples; performing data collection and analysis; and utilizing a variety of laboratory instruments OR, SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Successful completion of two (2) years of graduate education or a master's degree in a field of study directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended OR, COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Combinations of successful completion of post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the GS- 9 position. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Ability to Plan and Organize Work Ability to Work with Others Animal Husbandry Clerical Work 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 based on 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. 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: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

• 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Gainesville ORD VISN 8 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Catina Oliver-Spivey
• Phone: 202-967-7048
• Email: [email protected]