This position is located in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) of the Research and Development Program in Boston, MA.

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: Serves as Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) Supervisor, overseeing the operations of all VA Boston animal facilities (Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury). Completely responsible for the management of the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU), reporting to the Deputy Associate Chief of Staff (D-ACOS). There are approximately fifty (50) active protocols, and thirty (30) Principal Investigators utilize the Veterinary Medical Unit, using different species of animals for biomedical research studies in many scientific fields. Controls the animal population level by setting limitations, approving new animal purchases, and working with investigators to ensure population levels are consistent with the facility's ability to provide proper care. Ensures the proper transfer and transport of animals per regulations and guidelines. Maintains the barriers necessary for the prevention of cross contamination and the restrictions, separations, and precautions necessary to maintain a virus antibody-free facility. May order disposal, quarantine, or other measures as necessary, and may restrict the purchase of animals from sources found to be unreliable regarding the condition of animals. Performs other duties assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

Qualifications

You must possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. Examples of 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. 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. Additional specialized experience includes performing duties such as: animal care, overseeing the day-to-day operation of a laboratory; understanding biological research methods and procedures. NOTE: Resume(s) must clearly demonstrate the required experience to be creditable. AND 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: Experience as a lead and/or supervisor with the ability to perform various duties in an animal research center such as animal husbandry procedures, biomedical research, and all applicable regulations governing the use of animals in research. NOTE: Resume(s) must clearly demonstrate the required experience to be creditable. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalytical ThinkingDatabase Management Systems 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: Responsible for ensuring training and work conditions are appropriate for work with hazardous agents (chemical and biological). Assigns tasks for these areas to appropriately trained individuals. Responsible for ensuring that tasks, procedures, and equipment meet changing guidelines and policies and that changing technology is incorporated into all aspects of the Veterinary Medical Unit , including computerized animal and protocol tracking programs. Responsible for ensuring that all safety needs (such as bite and scratch prevention, protective eyewear and ear wear programs, back injury prevention, etc.) specific for Veterinary Medical Unit staff are met, including appropriate training and equipment, and that work assignments are delegated in a manner to decrease injuries to personnel. The Veterinary Medical Unit has several chemical and physical hazards, such as concentrated cleaning solutions, heavy equipment, repetitive motion, animals, and biological hazards. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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 Boston ORD VISN 1 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203-9928 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]