The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Research Program strives to promote Veteran-centered care to improve patient experience and outcomes across VA healthcare and community settings and to advance value-driven care by providing Veterans the highest quality care at the lowest financial burden. The position is vital within the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the facilities where research programs are conducted. This position is located in Nashville, TN.

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 may not be limited to: Prepare samples of blood, tissue, urine or other organic substance from animal test subjects. Perform work involving operative and autopsy techniques, gross pathology techniques, special breeding or feeding methods peculiar to the collection and examination of animal cells, fluids or tissue, techniques for administering drugs or other chemical agents or observations of physiological and behavioral effects of various conditions, agents and stimuli on laboratory animals. Maintain complete and accurate records of all procedures followed and all test results using laboratory databases. Maintains laboratory stock and orders materials, as needed. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 6:00am - 2:30pm, includes occasional weekends and holidays on a rotating schedule

Requirements

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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. Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in Federal Service that includes performing the following duties: Follow standard procedures and apply a practical knowledge of the properties of the specimens.; Perform work involving special breeding and feeding methods.; Maintain the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies.; Prepare samples of blood, tissue, urine, or other organic substance from animal test subjects.; Ensure effectiveness of the presentation of the qualities or characteristics of specimens critical for accurate testing or examination. (Resume(s) must clearly support the duties and experience required for this position. We will not make assumptions regarding experience.) -OR- SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed one full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. -OR- COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond 18 semester hours) 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 this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Animal HusbandryData ManagementResearch 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 requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending over microscopes, manipulating small parts and lifting moderate to heavy weights. The work also requires fine motor skills and coordination (hand/eye coordination) in the use of laboratory equipment. Some of the work may need to be performed under hoods. Tasks may involve repetitive motion. 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 Nashville ORD VISN 9 110 9th Avenue S Nashville, TN 37203 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]