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Supervisory Animal Health Technician - Research

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

In this position as the Veterinarian Medical Unit Supervisor, you will be responsible for the management and supervision of the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU), reporting to Associate Chief of Staff (ACOS) for Research & Development (R&D) on administrative matters, and to be the veterinarian on medical matters. This position is located in the R&D Service at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) in Ann Arbor, MI.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/12/2024 to 07/22/2024
Salary
$72,819 to - $94,662 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 10
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Ann Arbor, MI
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CARZ-12474491-24-SCH
Control number
799529200

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Duties

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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

**NOTE: This position has been extended to Monday, 7/22/24, due to a low applicant pool. If you have already applied, you do not need to re-apply. **

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Coordinates and monitor daily health checks,
  • Administration of medications, treatments, postsurgical care and overseeing of experiments by staff.
  • Implementing a comprehensive monitoring program of all protocols approved by the IACUC.
  • Assist with the management and coordination of the health monitoring program
    for the control and eradication of infectious diseases and parasites within the animal facility.
  • Serve as an educational resource to all technicians and researchers by providing technical assistance and training
  • Develop a systematic quality assurance and improvement program by tracking inspection findings
  • Ensures proper day to day operation of the animal health by monitoring caretakers and post-operative care, training, and surgical/procedural support programs of the VMU
  • Assists with compilation and refinement of data collected.
  • Prepares summaries of relevant health profile results
  • Supervise and distribute and balance the workload among employees
  • Assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload
  • Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and written instructions
  • Develop mechanisms that facilitate timely and efficient initiation of new studies or trials
  • Oversees study procedures and study conduct.
  • Collect and manage data, suitable for publication and future references.
  • Host data monitors and support regulator visits.
  • Lead VMU in the conduct of protocol activities, participating in the hiring and training of new VMU staff.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.



Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-10 GRADE LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service, that equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes work such 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; or as an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock.

Additional Specialized Experience at this grade level is: extensive knowledge of animal research technique, veterinary medicine theory, procedures, concepts, principles and methods used in support of veterinarians within a research facility; experience with overseeing the safe use and care of animals, executing animal husbandry and caging plans and implementing policies and laws as outlined by regulatory committees and institutions (e.g., Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Association for the Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)); experience with coordinating and evaluating the day-to-day operational and environmental procedures of an animal research facility; performing supervisory duties ensuring work assignments are carried out; communicating with Investigators, biotechnicians, and veterinarians regarding the application of research requirements and training techniques; experience with working with and communicating with facilities, environmental and security management services concerning building maintenance and emergency situations and ensuring facility infrastructure, security and supply chains are maintained; and working with safety committees and research staff to ensure safety guidelines are followed including with the use of laboratory hazards and biohazards.

-OR-

EDUCATION: Have successfully completed two (2) full years of graduate level education or a master's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours of courses in zoology, biology, chemistry, or agricultural subjects, which are directly related to the work of this Animal Health Technician position. 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 one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

-OR-

COMBINATION: Have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and successfully completed graduate level education with courses directly related to the work of this position and that demonstrates my ability to perform the duties of this position. NOTE: If you wish to qualify based on a combination of education and experience, your experience must be well documented on your resume and you must submit transcripts at the time of application.


You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

  • Administration and Management
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Attention to Detail


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.

Physical Requirements: 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 lbs. 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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act (or the Act) prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from requesting applicant criminal history record information before extending a conditional or tentative offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S.C § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Act, may submit a written complaint within 30 calendar days of the date of the alleged non-compliance to VA at vacofairchanceact@va.gov. Applicant written complaints should include the following:
  • Administration name: Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), National Cemetery Administration (NCA) or VA Central Office (VACO) (for example, Human Resources Service Center).
  • Office name, employee name and contact information or contractor who made contact (if known).
  • Date of contact.
  • Details regarding the job opportunity announcement applied to, and copies of any documents or other evidence related to the complaint.
  • Visit Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) (va.gov) for more information.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (734) 769-7100.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

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).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined 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.
Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable 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).

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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