These positions are located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will collaborate with a motivated, innovative, and dedicated team of animal caretakers to provide safe and humane husbandry, technical and research support toward the NBAF mission for a variety of animals to include traditional and nontraditional laboratory animals with a focus on livestock models.

Duties

Collect blood or other body fluids, feces, urine, tissues and secretions from animals using techniques as indicated by animal care and use protocols. Prepare and dispense prescription medication according to veterinarian instructions or in accordance with the animal care and use protocol. Administer drugs, experimental treatments, and other chemical agents such as pathogen inoculum, vaccines, dewormers, sedation, anesthesia, and euthanasia. Current operational focus involves participation in facility stand-up in preparation for animal research. General maintenance and troubleshooting of a wide range of equipment used for project support such as autoclaves, automatic waterers, telemetry equipment, and radiology equipment amongst others. May assist veterinarian to prepare for and perform necropsy procedures, to include decontamination of tools and instruments, and monitoring a patient under sedation and/or anesthesia using injectable or an anesthetic machine. Apply knowledge of preventive care, disease prevention, lifestyle risks, and veterinary care to provide animal care and wellness programs. Assist in development and implementation of an enrichment program for various species. Must be able to work with various stakeholders including operational staff and research personnel with clear and effective communication. Must perform accurate and complete written and computerized record keeping of all observations, procedures, and treatments performed as well as review that records are accurate. Must be able to perform tasks including controlled substance handling and administration with indirect supervision from a veterinarian. Must be able to observe animals and identify typical vs atypical health or behavior. Must be able to perform animal husbandry along with room preparation and decontamination for animal research studies. Develop, edit, review, provide feedback, and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and research protocols.

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/
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Drug Test Required.
• Vaccine(s) Required.
• Special Physical Requirements/Demands (May wear fully encapsulated suit.)
• SAC and full background investigation required for positions working with BSL-3 (or higher) agents, or in BSL-3/BSL-4 facilities.
• Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Risk Assessment (SRA) approval is required.
• Respirator fitting and certification is required.
• This is an essential/emergency (exisency) position. The incumbent is required to report for duty during emergencies, critical periods, or during times when there is Government closure due to inclement weather or budget cut-off.
• Immunizations may be required.
• Required to pass a background investigation sufficient to provide (/PSL2) clearance. Required to pass Department of Justice background investigation for Select Agent usage.
• Work may be performed daily in the presence of hazardous chemicals such as formaldehyde, virucidal and bactericidal disinfectants and detergents.
• The position supports the biocontainment facilities and may require entry into biosafety level (BSL) 3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and BSL-4 labs.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. GS-08 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-08 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-07 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a research project related to animal science; and ensuring activities are in compliance with policies, laws, or regulations. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Animal Science, Biology, Biosafety, Animal Behavior, Laboratory Animal Medicine, or Veterinary Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. GS-09 Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-09 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-08 which is directly related to the work of this position and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience participating in a research project related to animal science; managing inventory in a laboratory environment; and ensuring activities are in compliance with policies, laws, or regulations. OR Education: Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's or equivalent graduate degree, if directly related to the position. Related degrees may include Animal Science, Biology, Biosafety, Animal Behavior, Laboratory Animal Medicine, or Veterinary Science. OR A combination of graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. Other Conditions To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and retention of the position, the incumbent must meet the following medical standards in a pre-employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis: Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day; Not have any skin condition which would prevent this; Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry; External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment, and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance; Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment; Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment. Able to work in uncomfortable (hot and humid) environments wearing additional PPE. Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determination will be indicated. The incumbent will also be required to pass periodic fitness for duty physicals. In addition, a medical clearance will be required in the event that it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required. A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392. Where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational purposes, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary. Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and 4 biocontainment. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering the BSL-3 or higher biocontainment facilities at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving bio-containment. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near contagious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action. Additionally, an approved SRA investigation is required for access to select agent registered spaces. Incumbent may be required to receive extra vaccinations to work on specific projects, submit to blood tests, and a respiratory/pulmonary function test. 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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information.

Contacts

• Address Agricultural Research Service 2150 Centre Avenue Building D, Suite 300 Fort Collins, CO 80526 US
• Name: Kayleigh Pfeiffer
• Phone: 703-995-9645
• Email: [email protected]