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Horse Wrangler (MVO)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our greatest natural resource.

We expect to fill many vacancies.

This is a temporary appointment. Appointment to this position will not convey permanent status and will be for a period not-to-exceed 1039 hours in a service year.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/18/2024 to 12/06/2024
Salary
$26.32 to - $30.70 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 7
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Hines, OR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 1039 Hours
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
OR-TEMP-25-12600786-JPT
Control number
818941700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens - No previous Federal Service is required. CTAP and ICTAP candidates in the local commuting area.

Duties

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  • Receives Wild Horses and Burros (WHB) from trucks and trailers into the corral system and separates them by gender and mitigate any risks of injury to the animals, themselves, and fellow workers.
  • Assists in classifying WHBs to validate information provided by gathering crews with regard to age, sex, health, and overall condition. Identifies and reports any injuries and obvious disease symptoms.
  • Rides and handles saddle horses to safely control WHBs on the open range, in corrals and in pen areas for gathers or general care. Controls WHBs unwilling to enter traps or corral systems using ropes from horseback as needed.
  • Performs/assists in tasks for the health and well-being of WHBs to include aging, medication administration, freeze branding, gelding, inoculating, de-worming, drawing blood samples, and administer booster vaccinations.
  • Routinely trim hooves in hydraulic chutes. Assesses feeding and housing requirements; provides adequate provision of feed and water; and maintains areas in facilities in a clean and safe manner.
  • Assists in preparing WHBs for transportation to adoption sites, contract training facilities, long-term holding facilities, and other designated locations and completion of necessary paperwork for transportation logistics.
  • Removes, cleans, replaces, and seals parts of the watering systems, water troughs and plumbing systems to include replacing heating elements in troughs and other similar tasks.
  • Installs, fabricates, and repairs basic carpentry items like frame structures, doors, wooden posts, wire fences, and assists with new construction related to the facility. Prepares and paints various surfaces.
  • Erects and dismantles portable panels used for traps, pens, adoption events, and corral systems. Uses welder to repair and/or fabricate the like.
  • Selects and uses common hand and power tools (e.g., hammers, electric drills, saws, wrenches, augers, chain saws, generators, screw drivers) for normal repair and maintenance duties.
  • Provides support and assistance in planning and coordinating the safe and humane loading/unloading, and transportation of WHBs between holding facilities, placement events, and other destinations.
  • Provides support and assistance to higher-level staff in ensuring WHB activities are compliant with federal laws, regulations, and policies governing the management of WHBs.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
  • You cannot hold an active real estate license: nor can you have an interest or hold stocks in firms with interest in Federal Lands.
  • Direct Deposit Required.
  • Appointment will be subject to a favorably adjudicated background/suitability investigation/determination.
  • Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement. In addition, your responses to the questions must adequately reflect in your resume.
  • Some locations may require that you possess (or obtain within 30 days of entrance on duty) and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.
  • This is a Drug Testing Designated Position. You will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use and pass prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

Qualifications

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used in determining your qualifications. There is no specific length of training or experience required; however, you must be able to demonstrate through experience shown in your resume. Your resume must contain enough information to show that you meet the qualification requirements as defined in the announcement or vacancy questions.

Screen-Out element: This position requires a special qualification that has been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as a screen out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the following selective factor(s) will be rated not qualified:

  • Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
  • Must have skill and ability to ride horseback and rope horses or other closely related stock.
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your 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.

You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Physical Demands: Work related to WH&Bs requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion to handle, ride (e.g., full gallop), rope, maneuver and restrain domesticated horses and WH&Bs up to 1,500 pounds.

Work involves physical exertion and agility while performing duties such as heavy lifting (i.e., hay bales weighing in excess of 100 pounds, unloading and carrying portable panels, steel fence posts, jute, other materials, and equipment), bending, walking, standing, operating of trucks, coupling, and uncoupling of trailers and working with other equipment (e.g., torches for welding).

Work Environment: Working with WH&Bs inherently includes hazards and dangers while riding, chasing, roping, corralling, counting, loading, handling, and caring for them where conditions cannot always be controlled. Hazards and dangers consist of being kicked, scratched, bitten, falling, or being run over.

Driving vehicles and hauling WH&Bs requires safe operation for long hours on highways, in facilities, off road and in rough road terrain in all weather conditions.

Welding involves exposure to fumes, infrared and ultraviolet radiations, heat, flying sparks and the possibility of eye injury and burns. Welding also includes work in awkward or cramped positions to get to hard-to-reach places. Proper safety equipment will be worn to minimize risks.

Work is outside in HMAs, corrals, and other areas in all conditions (i.e., dusty, rainy, snowy, humid) and temperatures (i.e., over 100 degrees F, below zero temperatures). There are risks related to slippery, muddy, frozen, uneven, and rocky ground.

May be required to work irregular work schedules, weekends, and holidays.

Education

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

Additional information

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP

Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service

Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee.

This position is not eligible for Telework.

Government facilities are required to provide a smoke free environment for their employees.

This position may require you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.

At some duty locations this position may require you to have a current valid driver's license.

At some duty locations you may need the ability to lift and move objects weighing over 50 pounds.

All positions may not be filled or they may be filled at different times depending on budget, hiring needs, and requirements. These positions are temporary and are expected to last for up to 6 months. These positions have no promotion potential, if you want to be considered for a higher grade you must apply for the higher grade.

If selected from this announcement you may be rehired for identical positions without further competition based on work needs, funding, or any other condition of employment.

If selected from this or a similar competitive, seasonal announcement, your appointment may be creditable for consideration under PL-114-47, Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA). The Act allows certain individuals, who have or had time-limited appointments at land management agencies, to compete for any permanent position in the competitive service under "internal" merit promotion procedures. For more information, see the section under Eligibility, which starts with Question #15 (Q15. Who is eligible for appointment under these provisions?).

For additional information about the BLM, please visit Our website.


How you will be evaluated

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

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online questionnaire will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. Qualified applicants will be placed in one of three predefined categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified and Qualified. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Candidates placed in the Best Qualified category will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be contacted for an interview.

Your answers to the online questionnaire will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Other Than Blueprint Reading)
  • Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of Materials
  • Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)


This position also requires special qualifications that have been determined to be essential to perform the duties and will be used as screen-out element. Those who do not provide evidence they possess the below screen out element will be rated not qualified.
  • Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.
  • Must have skill and ability to ride horseback and rope horses or other closely related stock.
You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Please be sure that you state your qualifying education, training and/or experience in your resume.

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