Animal Caretaker

About the role

The Animal Caretaker is assigned to the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU), Research Service, VA Medical Center, West Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA. This position has an essential role in caring for the all-animal species used in the research programs. PHYSICAL EFFORT: The physical strength and manual dexterity to safely work with all species of animals, both wild and domestic, are required. Animal caretakers may need to use strength or agility to capture and restrain stronger or more active animals. Incumbent must walk or stand for extended periods of time and frequently work in a bent position. Often light physical exertion is required to lift, restrain, or handle laboratory animals. Incumbent must lift and carry feed material weighing up to forty pounds (e.g. cages and feed bags) and handle feed trays that weigh up to twenty pounds. WORK CONDITIONS: Work is normally performed inside and outside. Potential exposures vary 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. 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. The incumbent may come in contact with animals with unpredictable or ill-natured behavior which exposes the animal caretaker to greater possibility of injury from bites, scratches, and kicks. 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 Safety Materials Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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.

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