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Pest Controller

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position, located within the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System (LLVAHCS) in Loma Linda, California, plans, accomplishes, and maintains the Integrated Pest Management program. The work involves the control and prevention of insect pests (roaches, ant, etc.), vertebrae pests (rodents, birds, etc.) and plant pests such as weeds, plants diseases, and fungi.

**Must be a licensed pest controller per the state of California.**

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/26/2026 to 04/01/2026
Salary
$29.27 to - $34.08 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 9
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Loma Linda, CA
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CARZ-12921545-26-DLL
Control number
862544200

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Duties

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Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Works with a variety of insect, vertebrae, and plant pests
  • Selects, mixes, and applies restricted and general use pesticides
  • Applies insecticides and pesticides using the appropriate equipment depending on the area to be treated and the targeted pest
  • Monitors contractor quality control and compliance
  • Prepares estimates for bid purposes
  • Maintains treatment records and library of pest control information
  • Plans, accomplishes and maintains the facility pest management program to include planning and laying out work, determining appropriate pest control measures, and estimating manpower, equipment, and material requirements
  • Performs surveillance and trouble-shooting, applies in-depth knowledge of pest species and utilizes skill in the safe handling, mixing, application and disposal of pesticides
  • Independently plans work sequences and conducts trouble-shooting inspections of buildings and grounds for evidence of conditions conducive to damage and infestation by insects, rodents, predatory animals, and other pests
  • Conducts safety classes to any personnel identified as benefitting from a familiarization with the Integrated Pest Management program
  • Utilizes knowledge of regulations and guidelines associated with the treatment and maintenance of pest issues and procedures
  • Maintains daily logs, files and required documentation of inspections
  • Performs all other duties as assigned
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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
  • Pre-employment physical required
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Pest control workers often lift and handle materials weighing over 50 pounds and carry chemicals solutions and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds for extended periods. They occasionally work in cramped and inconvenient surroundings requiring manipulation of equipment in awkward position for prolonged periods. Work frequently requires standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, and working in tiring and uncomfortable positions for extended periods. They may move furniture and equipment and operate high impact pneumatic hammers as well as various carpentry and masonry tools.

The work is accomplished both inside and outside. When working outside, pest control workers are often exposed to hot sun for extended periods of time and occasionally to bad weather. Outside work may be done in marsh areas or under hot and dusty conditions for extended periods. Inside work is often accomplished in structural areas with minimum ventilation and/or limited access. The workers mix substances and apply pesticides while wearing respirators, gloves, and other personal protective equipment designed to nullify the risk of exposure to toxic dust and sprays which might damage their health.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element. Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

  • The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Must be a licensed pest controller per the state of California".

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
  • Materials
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Technical Practices
  • Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment


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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation.

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.

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

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.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

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;
  • 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.

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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