This Biological Science Laboratory Technician (BSLT) position is in the office of the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development (ACOS/R), within the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Florida, and provides a variety of support for the research laboratory and the research program overall. The BSLT functions as an Animal Care/Laboratory Technician for the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) and research laboratories.

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: Laboratory/Veterinary Technician Operations (60%) Ensures laboratory compliance with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), Animal Welfare Act (AWA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and VA regulations Utilizes knowledge of animal research techniques, veterinary medicine theory, procedures, concepts, principles, and methods used in support of researchers and veterinarians Performs animal husbandry procedures, room and caging sanitation, animal receipt, animal health monitoring and care, and environmental monitoring Assists in a broad range of complex animal procedures and surgeries on laboratory animals and provides post-operative or post-procedural care Maintains accurate records Maintains VMU/laboratory facilities, equipment and supplies Determines compliance with safety requirements, establishes inventory and equipment maintenance requirements, and maintains inventories and maintenance schedules Calibrates and maintains laboratory instrumentation on timely intervals Conducts work according to Laboratory Safety Regulations Uses medical or surgical procedures to obtain and/or prepare samples of blood, tissue, organ, or other body fluids or substances Controls contaminated or potentially dangerous specimens in accordance with accreditation agency requirements Prepares slides, smears, cultures, etc. Performs test and examination procedures for diagnostic, surveillance, experimental and reference samples Research Administration (40%) Ensures regulatory compliance and completeness and maintains complete records for all protocols Updates computerized tracking system for all study activity Prepares meeting agendas, assigns reviews to members, and follows-up, implements and completes all actions approved by committees Oversees preparation and distribution of meeting packets Applies regulatory expertise to amend standard operating procedures and policies Facilitates audits as part of the institutional quality assurance/quality improvement procedures Helps design and implement methods for increasing operational efficiency and assists with projects that expand and improve research services Prepares and gives training to investigators and coordinators Provides broad administrative support Facilitates visits with internal and external accrediting bodies or regulatory agencies Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm - weekends, evenings & holidays required Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

This position includes 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 Factor for this position is: Animal research care and laboratory experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) - Research, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: 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 needs to include work performed in a controlled environment such as a research program, and includes applying knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, behavior, health and care of laboratory animals; performing tests and experiments involving laboratory animals, including operative and procedure techniques, gross pathology techniques, methods particular to the collection and examination of animal fluids or tissue; and observing the physiological and behavioral effects of various conditions, agents and stimuli on laboratory animals. Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling their own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) - Research position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) - Research position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. PREFERRED: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification or at least the Assistant Laboratory Technician (ALAT) level is desired. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: ComplianceQuality AssuranceResearchTechnical 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: The work involves considerable walking and slight physical effort. Other activities will involve standing for extended periods and considerable bending, and carrying of light items. Some situations may involve moving modestly heavy equipment such as animal caging and equipment, using appropriate mechanical assistance (cart, dolly, etc.). 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 CW Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 10000 Bay Pines Boulevard Bay Pines, FL 33744 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]