This position is located within the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU). The VMU is responsible for husbandry and housekeeping for animals used by the veterinary health technicians and biological laboratory technicians for research purposes. The Animal Caretaker is responsible for the care and maintenance of a variety of species of laboratory animals.

Duties

NOTE: This is a part-time position (4hrs 5days week). Benefits and time-off accrual will be prorated and based on your part-time work schedule. NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 1-year and 1- day). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4-year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment. Major duties and responsibilities include:

Requirements

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The physical strength and manual dexterity to safely work with all species of animals, both wild and domestic, are required. Animal enclosures, including cages, vary in size from shoebox dimensions to the size of a moderate dining table, and can be heavy and quite bulky. The incumbent will be required to manipulate these items around a large cagewasher and sterilization equipment, which also requires strength and dexterity to work safely. Varies from the aseptic, ideally controlled environment (such as that of the surgical suite) to that of excesses of temperature, humidity and poor air quality encountered in field conditions. Work in the rack/cagewashing area involved exposure to high temperatures and humidity. The work environment includes exposure to allergens, humidity and odors in animal rooms and necropsy areas, exposure to exotic and zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, and biological and carcinogenic hazards. Requires physical strength and manual dexterity to safely work with animals and equipment. Required to lift and carry light (under 15 lbs), moderate (15-44 lbs), and heavy (over 45 lbs) items. Work requires repeated bending, and climbing. 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. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Dexterity and SafetyInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)MaterialsMeasuring InstrumentsTechnical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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 Omaha ORD VISN 23 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]