This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

This position is in the Office of Research and Development, Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) of the NY Harbor Healthcare System located in Brooklyn, NY. The animal health technician will be responsible for the overall care, safety, and well-being of the research animals housed in the VMU; maintain the living conditions of the animals; coordinating operations with research staff and investigators; administer and oversee initiatives in the facility; will ensure laboratory compliance with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), Animal Welfare Act (AWA), USDA, NIH, and VA regulations; will participate in animal surgery; monitor and evaluate the program for efficiency; and other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Financial disclosure not required.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Background investigation may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Veteran's Preference:  When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.  If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed " SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," (go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and required documentation with your application materials. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

Qualifications

GS-07 Requires
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-6 grade level in the Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience includes: work as a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock; with livestock in a feed lot; as a livestock market inspector; as an animal welfare inspector; as an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock; participating in animal research; coordinating animal husbandry; collecting samples and drawing blood; and following established procedures. OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Successful completion of one year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR
COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
GS-08 Requires
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level in the Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience includes: work as a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock; with livestock in a feed lot; as a livestock market inspector; as an animal welfare inspector; as an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock; participating in animal research; coordinating animal husbandry; collecting samples and drawing blood; following established procedures; knowledge of cleaning and housing animals, special feedings, infectious diseases and parasites; recording data; preparing reports and summaries; and assisting in post and pre surgical care. OR
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Successful completion of one and a half year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR
COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
GS-09 Requires:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience that equipped them with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-8 grade level in the Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience includes: work as a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock; with livestock in a feed lot; as a livestock market inspector; as an animal welfare inspector; as an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock; participating in animal research; coordinating animal husbandry; collecting samples and drawing blood; following established procedures; knowledge of cleaning and housing animals, special feedings, infectious diseases and parasites; recording data; preparing reports and summaries; assisting in post and pre surgical care; operating a variety of animal research equipment; administering medications; and assisting with surgeries and administering anesthesia.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Successful completion of two years of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR
COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Transcript Required): Combination of successfully completed graduate education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.

You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

Knowledge of animal care
Ability to maintain records
Ability to provide technical assistance
Ability to work safely
Ability to provide customer service

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:The work requires some physical exertion. Most activity will be walking, but other activities will involve standing for extended periods, considerable bending, climbing of step stools/ladders, and carrying of items less than 50 pounds. Involvement in pre-surgical situations may involve some lifting of larger animals such as dogs or pigs. Other situations may involve moving modestly heavy equipment such as portable x-ray machines or cage racks, while using appropriate mechanical assistance (cart, dolly, etc.).

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants will be ranked based on four quality groups, as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

After the vacancy announcement closes, reviewed applications are evaluated against the questionnaire responses and placed in the appropriate quality group.  Qualified veterans will be afforded preference by being placed at the top of the appropriate quality group.  Qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the best qualified group.  The best qualified group is the first to be referred to the hiring facility for further consideration and possible interview.  The remaining groups may be referred based on the number of applicants available.