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Animal Caretaker NA-05

Department of the Army
United States Army Installation Management Command
Morale Welfare Recreation Fund - Pet Care Center

Summary

This position is located at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

Incentives and Bonuses

  • Incentives will not be paid.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
11/28/2025 to 12/29/2025
Salary
$20.34 to - $23.72 per hour

Most individuals will be brought in at Step 1 rate of pay which is $20.34 per hour. NAF pay setting rules apply.

Pay scale & grade
NA 5
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Fort Detrick, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Intermittent - This position is FLEX 0-40 hours per week with no guaranteed hours.
Work schedule
Intermittent - Monday- Friday between 0600-1900; Weekends/holidays between 0900-1800
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
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
O1NAFBB-25-12841118
Control number
851161000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

United States (U.S.) Citizens and Non-U.S. Nationals who have resided in the U.S. or U.S. territory for three (3) or more continuous years immediately preceding the start of Federal affiliation.

Duties

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  • Provides food and water for all animals. Responsible for the correct identity and quantities of various foods for each animal following specified or special schedule. Recommends changes in feeding and other care to owners.
  • Exercises animals by turning out or walking on a leash as required, or following a specific schedule. Reports major repairs, and assures adequate corrective action. Provides adequate security at all times for animals and premises.
  • Observes animals to be continually aware of appearance, behavioral or health changes, takes corrective action and informs management, veterinarian personnel or owner as necessary. Administers medication to animals as prescribed by the Veterinarian.
  • Cleans and sanitizes stalls, kennels, petting zoo, common areas and loft on a regular basis to assure clean and sanitary conditions at all times. Provides adequate and correct storage of food, bedding and supplies.
  • Receives and signs for shipments delivered to stables and kennel. Maintains an adequate supply of food, bedding and supplies on hand. Performs various maintenance and repair tasks when necessary. Performs other duties assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Direct Deposit and Social Security Card is required.
  • Meet qualification/eligibility/background requirements for this position.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • Satisfactorily complete an employment verification (E-Verify) check.
  • Satisfactory completion of pre-employment background checks in accordance with AR 215-3, para.2 to include medical exam.
  • Incumbent may also be required to complete a Tier 1 background investigation for a Common Access Card for physical access to federally-controlled facilities.
  • Works inside in often poorly lighted or insulated areas, and outside exposed to extreme weather conditions.
  • Inside work often exposes animal caretakers to unpleasant odors and noises.
  • Climbs to loft and occasionally uses ladder to accomplish repairs.
  • Exposed to dirt, dust, and height. Subject to cuts, bruises, kicks, electric shock, bites, scratches and ticks from animals.
  • Heavy lifting up to 70lbs required.
  • This position has critical safety or security responsibilities and as such has been designated as a testing designated position (TDP).
  • As a condition of employment, incumbent of a TDP is subject to a random drug test that occurs without suspicion that a particular individual is using illegal drugs.

Qualifications

Resumes must be two pages (or less). Resumes should clearly demonstrate the applicant's relevant experience, skills, knowledge and abilities as they pertain to this position.

A qualified candidate must possess the following:

  • Knowledge of animals' characteristics, needs and behavior, and skill in observing, handling and caring for animals.
  • Able to follow complex instructions, ability to maintain records.
Skills and Knowledge:
  • Must be thoroughly familiar with the care, grooming, feeding, and maintenance of animals, must be able to quickly detect signs of ill health of animals by observing changes in behavior or appearance and to take emergency action until veterinary help is available.
  • Familiar with special feed requirements, different types of feed and feed supplements, and apply this knowledge to increase and decrease the amounts of feed for over or underweight animals or to change diets for young, pregnant, or nursing animals.
  • Must be able to perform routine maintenance required on the stalls, kennels or premises.
Experience MUST be clearly reflected on your Resume at the time of application to be considered

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Initial Cut-Off Date:

  • Monday, December 08, 2025 applications must be received by 11:59 PM (EST). Applications received by the Initial Cut-Off Date will be reviewed and possibly referred to the Selecting Official. Subsequent referrals to the Hiring Manager will occur as additional vacancies become available or at the request of the Hiring Manager.
Area of Consideration
  • The Area of Consideration for this vacancy announcement is local (within a 50-mile radius of Fort Detrick, MD). (Military Spouse Preference (MSP) and Involuntarily Separated Military Preference (ISMP) eligible candidates are included in the area of consideration.)
Manual Application Option
  • If you are unable to apply online, you can complete a paper application. To get started, contact servicing NAF Human Resources representative or office listed in the Agency Contact Information section (at the bottom of this announcement) to request a copy of the application form.
  • Be sure to submit your completed application form, along with your resume and any required supporting documents, no later than 3:00 pm EST on 12/29/2025 to ensure timely processing.
  • Important: Incomplete applications, including missing responses to questionnaire items may result in an ineligible rating.
PCS Costs
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government's interest.
Allowances and Differentials
  • This job falls under the Federal Wage Schedule (FWS) pay system. FWS employees earn overtime pay for working more than 8 hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week -- whichever gives the employee more benefit. Regular full-time, regular part-time, and regularly scheduled flexible employees may receive Sunday premium pay for working on Sundays. Employees may also be eligible to receive extra pay if the majority of their scheduled hours falls after 3:00 PM.
  • Non-foreign overseas allowances, cost of living (COLA), and differentials will not be paid, contingent upon eligibility.
Important Information Regarding Access to Certain Federal Facilities:
  • Access to certain federal facilities may require a REAL ID-compliant driver's license/ID (marked with a star) or an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) from WA, MI, MN, NY, or VT. See https://www.tsa.gov/real-id for details.
Your Application may be Considered for Multiple Opportunities:
  • After you apply, your application remains valid for 90 days and may be referred to hiring officials as new vacancies arise. Additional referrals may occur for up to 90 days after the closing date.
Discover Your Path to Success

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your Application Matters: How We Will Review It

We want to help you put your best foot forward! Please take time to carefully follow all application instructions - missing information or skipped steps could impact your eligibility.

  • Your application will be thoughtfully reviewed to see how well your experience and qualifications align with the requirements listed in this announcement. This includes your resume, supporting documents, and responses to the assessment questionnaire.
  • We will consider your responses to our application questionnaire.
  • If you're tentatively qualified, we'll take a closer look to ensure your questionnaire responses match the experience reflected in your resume and documentation.
Note: If it's later found that qualifications or experience were overstated, it may affect your consideration for the position - so honesty and clarity are key.

Understanding Eligibilities: What You Can Claim When Applying

When you apply for a federal position through USAJOBS or USA Staffing, you may be eligible for selection preference or priority consideration based on your background or status. These eligibilities can improve your chances of being considered or referred for a position.

Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim one or more of the following eligibilities:
  • NAF Preference 1 Spouse Employment Preference (SEP)
  • NAF Preference 2 Involuntarily Separated From the Military (ISMP)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 1 Business Based Action (BBA)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 2 Former NAF Employee (FNE)/Current NAF (CNE)/Current APF Employee (CAE)
  • NAF Priority Consideration 3 Outside Applicant Veteran (OAV) (Includes spouses and parents)


Tip: Be sure to review each eligibility question carefully and provide the required documentation. Claiming an eligibility without proper support may affect your application status. Looking for more details? Refer to the Who Gets Initial Consideration (Selection Preferences) and the What Other Considerations are Available sections of our Applicant Information Kit.

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