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Animal Caretaker (Packer)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Olympic National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonal Animal Caretaker (Packer), WG-5048-7 positions in Olympic National Park intended to assist permanent staff with Animal Caretaking (Packer) field work.
The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for this position is April - September, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April, 2019.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/19/2018 to 01/03/2019
Salary
$24.17 to - $28.20 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 7
Location
Port Angeles, WA
4 vacancies
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
76% or greater - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
7
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
PW-1545-OLYM-19-10381377-DE
Control number
519640500

Duties

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Responsible for the care of up to 30 head of horses and mules. Responsible for feeding proper types and amounts of rations in both front country and back country situations - insuring they receive proper nutrition during times of heavy work and off times and insuring they are fed properly on his/her lieu days. Responsible for basic veterinary care of animals including but not limited to: worming, vaccinating, administering medication and dressing wounds. Responsible for the recognition of more serious injuries/illness and the coordination of required medical care. Responsible for performing farrier duties at regular intervals without causing injury to stock or people and ensuring stock is properly shod before heading into the backcountry. Responsible for keeping corrals and barn areas clean and in orderly condition and doing repairs and maintenance on them as needed. Responsible for safely leading strings of up to 8-head over rough mountain trails, requiring long days on the trail and spending up to seven consecutive nights camped in remote backcountry settings. Responsible for making and balancing loads of various types of equipment (chainsaws, tools, gasoline, lumber, camping gear, food, propane tanks) for transport by pack animal over rough mountain trails. Responsible for practicing minimum impact and leave-no- trace techniques while overnighting stock in backcountry Responsible for maintaining and repairing all tack, saddles, rope and pack equipment used. Responsible for safely operating motor vehicles up to and including a 5-ton tractor type vehicle to pull 8-head gooseneck stock trailer over rough narrow mountain roads and on highways. Responsible for performing trail maintenance and construction tasks or serving as crew leader for trail projects when not performing packing duties. Performs and/or leads others in the following duties: clearing trails of windfalls, limbs, brush, rocks, landslides, and other debris, digging or cleaning culverts and ditches for drainage purposes, tread work on native soil, gravel and asphalt trails, building and repairing bridges, puncheon or footlogs, operating chainsaws, rock drills, power brush cutters and augers & other power tools, using axes, pulaskis, shovels, picks, wheelbarrows & other hand tools.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • You must possess and maintain a current Class A, (or higher) Commercial Driver's License .
  • You may be required to travel overnight away from home up to 8 consecutive nights in a row, Wilderness travel and Camping.
  • You must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males.
  • Required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to submit to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. You must receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

Ability to do the work of a Animal Caretaker (Packer) without more than normal supervision; experience includes: worked as an Animal Packer feeding, caring for, and handling mules and saddle horses. Maintain fences and pastures. Experience in animal packing and routinely packed and led a string of up to 30 pack animals in wilderness and non wilderness areas. Transported animals and equipment over narrow, mountainous, and/or unpaved roads, exercising care to secure loads to prevent injury to horses and mules.You must possess and maintain a current Class A, (or higher) Commercial Driver's License .
Additional information on the specific qualification requirements for this position are found in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations. It is available for review on OPM's web site at: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118C/index.htm

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: 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 Demands: The incumbent must possess good coordination and endurance for hiking, leading pack string and operation of vehicles, equipment and power/hand tools. The incumbent will be subjected to some degree of strain when operation vehicles and equipment for extended periods of time over rough surfaces and uneven grades. The incumbent frequently lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries items weighing 50 pounds. On occasion, the incumbent may lift and carry tools and materials weighing up to 100 pounds. The incumbent may be required to walk up to 20 miles per day, over steep and/or rough trails.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in elevation ranges from sea level to 8000 feet. Work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind and extreme temperatures (hot/cold). Terrain is often rugged and steep with unsure footing. Hazards include falling limbs/trees/rocks, rough terrain, snow slides and unpredictable interaction with stock animal. Work requires strenuous hiking and physical effort in the management of stock animals. Incumbent will be required to spend up to eight consecutive nights camping in a backcountry setting.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

Temporary positions not-to-exceed 1039 regular hours in a service year may be terminated sooner or extended depending on management needs. Individuals selected under this vacancy announcement are eligible for the possibility of extensions or rehire in subsequent service years.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.

Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Effective May 26, 2018, please note that a temporary seasonal employee can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of 1,039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS).

If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months, and have already worked the maximum 1,039 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1,039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1,039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1,039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document that you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application. Click the following link for more information, https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Alternate_Application_Information.

How you will be evaluated

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

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)

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