This position is located within the Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center for USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Stuttgart, AR. In this position, you will perform fish feeding and stocking tasks, maintain water levels and quality in aquaculture production tanks and ponds, clean aquaculture equipment and tanks, and maintain facilities.

Duties

Feeds fish in tanks and ponds, maintaining proper water and oxygen levels. Assists in the breeding or reproduction of fish according to their physical traits or to produce a given number of fish. Observes and recognizes simple changes or deviations from normal processes such as fish behavior, off color of fish and water quality in tanks and ponds. Cleans and maintains aquaculture equipment and assists in the maintenance and repair of aquaculture facilities. Reports unusual animal appearance or activity to the supervisor or higher graded employee. Catches random samples of fish from tanks and ponds. Measures the size and weight of fish and marks them for proper identification.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position you must meet the following by the closing date of the vacancy announcement: 04/04/2024. Qualifications will be determined under the Job Element Rating System X-118C, Qualifications Standard Handbook. While a specific length of time and experience is not required for most Wage Grade positions, you must show through experience and training that you possess the best qualified level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of this position. Qualification requirements emphasize the quality of experience, not necessarily the length. The responses to the questionnaire and your resume should be in significant detail to provide the person rating your application with a good understanding of your ability to do the job, technical knowledge, work, and training experience, etc. (For example You must have the ability to perform the duties of a, Animal Caretaker without more than normal supervision (Screen Out)). Applicants who do not meet the SCREEN OUT ELEMENT will not be given further consideration. Physical Effort The work requires frequent walking, bending, pushing of carts or containers and stooping. The employee frequently lifts heavy objects (50-80lbs) such as sacks of feed, aquaria, fish tanks and quantities of water in containers. Working Conditions Work is performed both inside and outside. Water enclosed in aquatic tanks or ponds is always present, and conditions of high humidity under various temperatures are common. Outside work involves discomfort of 90 + temperature during the summer and below freezing conditions in the winter. Inside work involves standing/working on wet floors while maintaining and feeding fish.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 141 Experimental Station Road Stoneville, MS 38776 US
• Name: Robert Green
• Phone: (703) 259-9392
• Email: [email protected]