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Animal Caretaker (Farrier)

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Pacific West Region (Interior Regions 7,8,9,10 and 12) -Yosemite National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for summer seasonal Animal Caretaker (Farrier), WG-5048-8 positions intended to assist permanent staff with animal caretaker/farrier field work.

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is April, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: April - May 2023

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
12/05/2022 to 01/17/2023
Salary
$25.58 to - $29.84 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 8
Location
Yosemite National Park, CA
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 hours
Work schedule
Multiple Schedules
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
PWR-1548-SR-23-11715564-DE
Control number
690513200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1039 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

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Duties

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Ensures all (100+) government horses and mules are properly shod including corrective shoeing when required. Performs minor veterinary treatment on NPS owned horses and mules. Is responsible for corral operations on weekends. Is responsible for the inventory of horse and mule shoeing supplies including horse shoes, mule shoes, nails, and horse shoeing tools. Instructs Animal Packers in proper and professional horse and mule shoeing procedures. Ability to drive a truck towing a three-horse trailer on winding, mountain roads in all weather conditions.

Physical Demands: Work requires heavy and constant physical effort in the care, handling and shoeing of horses and mules and in professional farrier work. Incumbent must possess good coordination and endurance for extended periods of time to perform work. Incumbent may lift and carry 100 pound loads of hay, feed, material and supplies when caring for stock. Needs to be able to load and lift feed bales weighing up to 130 lbs. Heavy strain is incurred in controlling animals while shoeing and handling.

Working Conditions: Dusty conditions exist when moving stock. Hazardous situations occur daily when handling stock, in a herd situation, while shoeing stock, and on steep backcountry trails. Work is performed in elevations ranging from sea level to 10,000 feet without any physical repercussions. Incumbent subject to being kicked, bitten, scratched, bruised and rope burns from unpredictable interaction with livestock. Outdoors in all weather conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, hail and wind. Terrain is rocky and steep with uneven footing. Work is subject to holidays, weekends and OT if needed. Must be able to withstand routine type work on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Subject to unforeseeable conditions arising at any time.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment. In addition, this position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.
  • 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 must possess and maintain a current Class A CDL (or higher) Commercial Driver's License by the closing date of this announcement.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • 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 an Animal Caretaker (Farrier) without more than normal supervision (Screen out). Work history demonstrates work experience as an Animal Caretaker (Farrier) performing the following duties: shoe and provide hoof care for horses and mules; provide minor veterinary treatment to horses and mules; properly feed horses and mules; perform corrective shoeing, clean and maintain stalls, corrals and barns, transport horses and mules in horse trailers, keep inventory of shoeing supplies, keep records, instruct others in shoeing procedures.

You must possess and maintain a current valid Class A CDL by the closing date of this announcement.

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: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=WG-5000

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.

Education

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

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 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 temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 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 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM.

Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected.

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

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.

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, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of two categories:

  • 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 and/or job elements:
  • 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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