Clarification from the agency

This Merit Promotion position is open to Current Federal Employees and Former Federal Employees with permanent status or reinstatement eligibility. Individuals who are eligible for a special appointing authority may also apply such as Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A), former Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Vista volunteers; certain Military Spouses, or individuals eligible under various programs for Veterans (VRA, VEOA, 30% disabled).

The Animal Keeper position is located at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), either at the National Zoological Park (NZP) in Washington, DC or at the Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, VA. This position may rotate between Animal Programs and the Commissary as part of a training program or be reassigned to one of the three animal care departments depending on animal care requirements.

In this position, you will:

• Receive training in animal health and welfare, monitoring animals for symptoms of illness, injuries or other unusual conditions.
• Engage with visitors by discussing animal natural history, conservation programs, natural habitats, status of animals in the wild, care and feeding of animals, and other topics of interest.
• Ensure the proper care, feeding, exhibition, and propagation of a collection of wild and exotic animals, many of which are rare and endangered.
• Receive training in measurement and preparation of food items and maintenance of sanitary conditions around feeding areas.
• Clean animal enclosures by hosing, sweeping, scrubbing, raking, and removing manure, unconsumed food, and other refuse and keeps service areas and adjacent public areas clean.
• Maintain enclosure materials by trimming and watering plants, replacing nesting and bedding material in accordance with instructions provided by higher level personnel.
• Receive training and developmental assignments in the receipt, storage, inspection, inventory, preparation and issuance of food and dietary supplements, forage, and bedding materials.
• Unload and store food supplies and as instructed and under close supervision prepare animal diets according to standard procedures.
• Assemble food in properly marked containers and deliver or issue food to caretakers.
• Perform other duties and development assignments as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination requirements and its impact on your application, click on Smithsonian Institution’s Frequently Asked Questions. 

Physical Requirements:
This position requires the physical ability to perform moderately heavy work including lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 100 lbs.; work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions and will be exposed to dust and to unpleasant odors and noises from the animals and to cleaning solutions and other chemicals. The work is performed on concrete floors and other hard surfaces. The work may be performed in closed or cramped spaces. He/she will be exposed to bites, scratches, and animal waste, and may be exposed to animal parasites and zoonotic diseases.

The selectee must receive immunizations to guard against zoonotic diseases and is subject to regular medical screening; may be assigned to any eight hour shift and is subject to call at any time, including weekends and holidays; and will be considered to be emergency personnel for purposes of being on call during government shutdowns due to inclement weather, Code Red terrorism alerts, and other emergency situations, to ensure adequate animal care is provided as required.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the job opportunity announcement.

For information on the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, see OPM’s web site at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/

In order to be rated qualified, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position such as, the skill and ability to carry out routine animal keeper duties; the ability to understand instructions given by higher level animal keeper personnel; the ability to carry out training and developmental assignments; the ability to catch and handle animals by hand or by using nets without injuring the animals or endangering him/herself; the familiarity with a range of animal species in order to identify them by natural markings such as color; and the ability to operate motorized vehicles/scooters on NZCBI grounds.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated for the following Job Elements necessary to perform the duties of this position:

1. Skill in preparing diets for aquatic and non-aquatic mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
2. Knowledge of handling and inspecting food, dietary supplements, and forage.
3. Knowledge of a variety of foods, forages and supplements commonly used in zoo diets, including, familiarity with nutrient composition.
4. Knowledge of safe food handling, preparation and sanitation practices, HACCP and bio-security principles.
5. Ability to use equipment and computers in food production, preparation and distribution in a zoo setting.

Applicants will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

• Best Category - Meets the screen-out element and excels in most of the job-related elements above.
• Better Category - Meets the screen-out element and satisfies most of the job-related elements above.
• Good Category - Meets the screen-out element but does not satisfy most of the job-related elements above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.
Veterans who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.

Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAJOBS system and/or have not answered all of the announcement questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.

Your resume should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.