Clarification from the agency

This is a "Direct Hire" solicitation. Veterans’ Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants do not apply to positions filled under this. The Smithsonian will continue to make employment offers to qualified candidates with veterans preference whenever possible. This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. Excepted Service employees may also apply to this announcement.

The Veterinary Medical Officer (Zoological Animal Medicine) manages aspects of the veterinary health program at SCBI. This position is located in Front Royal, Virginia and coordinates efforts with the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) in Washington, DC

In this position, you will:

• Promote preventative medical care and participate in the general care and maintenance of the collections, including oversight of animal facility maintenance and cleaning, the review and modification of animal care protocols, development and oversight of quarantine procedures, and work closely with curatorial staff on incoming and outgoing animal shipments.
• Ensure that the department and its premises are in a state of readiness to meet SCBI clinical and surgical demands.
• Oversee activities of SCBI veterinary students and participate in the training of veterinary students, veterinary interns, preceptors, graduate students, and visiting colleagues regarding exotic animal medicine and biomedical research.
• Observe collection animals for indications of illness and injury, complete diagnostic testing, including the collection of biological samples and interprets the results, and prescribe and administer medication.
• Initiate, plan, and conduct original, independent research studies and clinical trials in zoological and wildlife medicine and surgery, as well as research topics that include evaluation of new drugs and drug delivery systems.

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.

Conditions of Employment

Requires a Valid Veterinary License. You MUST attach a copy of your valid veterinary license for consideration. Failure to attach valid documentation will result in loss of consideration. 

The position requires some physical exertion, physical strength, and agility in handling and treating many of the collection animals, many of which are very dangerous and large. 

The selectee will be exposed to the risk of handling dangerous animals, and there is a potential for zoonotic spread of infectious diseases. The work can be inside or outside in all kinds of weather day or night. Some of the drugs used are very potent and potentially lethal if not handled properly. Incumbent is responsible for staff coordination and safety controls.

Medical Requirements: 

Individuals must be physically and mentally able to perform the full range of duties of the position safely and efficiently without creating hazards to themselves or others.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

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

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Qualifications

You must meet these Basic Education Requirements: 

1. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree, i.e., Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD), obtained at a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA).  The AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org (external link), has a listing of all AVMA-accredited veterinary medical schools.

or

1. Graduates of foreign veterinary medical schools that are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (Refer to AVMA web site, http://www.avma.org (external link)for information about schools in this category) must meet one of the following requirements.
• Proof of certification of their final transcript by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)
• Possession of a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States that includes successful completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) or its predecessors, the National Board Examination (NBE) and the Clinical Competency Test (CCT).
• Proof that the education obtained in a foreign veterinary medical program is equivalent to that gained in a veterinary medical program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.  Under this provision, equivalency is established only if an AVMA-accredited veterinary medical school or college accepts the graduate's final transcript from the foreign veterinary medical school at full value for placement into an advanced degree, postgraduate educational program, or training program (e.g.  residency or graduate program).

Graduates of foreign veterinary medical programs must also provide proof of proficiency in the English language by successfully completing one of the nationally and internationally recognized examinations that incorporate assessments of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.  Examples of examinations that assess mastery of the English language are shown below:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Minimum scores for the TOEFL are 560 for the paper-based version; 220 for the computer-based version; or overall score of 83 for the internet-based version (including 26 or higher in speaking, 26 or higher in listening, and 17 or higher in writing).  For the computer-based and paper-based test versions, applicants must also complete the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and the Test of Written English (TWE).  Minimum required scores are 55 for the TSE and 5.5 for the TWE;
• Academic tests (listening, writing, and speaking) offered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 7.0, with at least 7.0 in speaking, 6.5 in listening, and 6.0 in writing;

or

• Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).  Applicants must achieve a minimum overall band score of 70, with at least 60 in speaking, 60 in listening, and 50 in writing.

In addition to the Basic Requirements above you must have the following:

Specialized Experience: 

Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service.  For this position specialized experience is defined as providing clinical or medical care to non-domestic animals in a zoological collection, including assessing the health of animals, performing exams and diagnostic tests, and providing treatment.

Scientific presentations before professional groups; publication of medical reports in professional journals or publications; participation in seminars, advisory/working groups, and research groups; mastery of clinical medicine; or other related activities that contribute to the advancement of veterinary medical science are positive indicators of the quality of an applicant's experience. However, articles on the care of pets written for the general public would not be considered professional publications or qualifying specialized experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to the duties this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Your resume must be no more than two (2) pages and should clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the responsibilities and specialized experience required for this position. Do not copy language directly from the vacancy announcement, as you will be deemed ineligible for consideration. Instead, provide detailed, descriptive information about your actual experience.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to the duties this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

How you will be evaluated

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

The applications that meet the basic education requirements will be evaluated further against the specialized experience requirement described above.

Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system will not be considered for this position.  

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

For more information on Direct Hire please go to the following link:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/