Animal Health Technician

U.S. Department of Agriculture; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Agriculture's APHIS seeks a 3D Animal Health Technician Subject Matter Expert to represent the agency in catastrophic animal mortality events within a designated area of Veterinary Services Field Operations.

This role involves directing composting activities, supervising responders, and coordinating with state officials, veterinarians, and universities to ensure 3D guidance and procedures are current.

Qualifications

• Attention to detail and sound judgment in evaluations.
• Ability to follow instructions and documentation requirements.
• USA Hire assessment and application questionnaire are part of the process.

Responsibilities

• Serves as 3D SME representing USDA, APHIS in catastrophic animal mortality events.
• Directs and manages composting activities for large and small animals (indoor/outdoor).
• Provides supervision to other responders and lower graded technicians; conducts skills evaluations as needed.
• Operates as part of the rapid response force as 3D SME and member of NVS Equipment Service Group.
• Maintains cooperative relationships with State officials, veterinarians, universities and other stakeholders.
• Keeps internal/external 3D guidance documents, procedures and tools current with input from stakeholders.
• Assists Veterinary Medical Officers with inspection and testing of livestock and other avian species on ranches, farms, auctions, markets.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Decision Making

Flexibility

Integrity/Honesty

Interpersonal Skills

Learning

Reading Comprehension

Self-Management

Stress Tolerance

Teamwork

Job description

Summary

The incumbent serves as 3D (Depopulation, Disposal, and Decontamination) Animal Health Technician (AHT) Subject Matter expert representing USDA, APHIS in catastrophic animal mortality events within an assigned geographical area of Veterinary Services Field Operations.

Major Duties

The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as 3D (Depopulation, Disposal, and Decontamination) Subject Matter expert representing USDA, APHIS in catastrophic animal mortality events.
• Responds as composting subject matter expert capable of directing and managing indoor and outdoor activities of composting for large and small animals.
• Provides technical supervision to other responders and lower graded technicians and as required provide skills evaluation(s).
• Serves as part of rapid response force as 3D SME and member of NVS Equipment Service Group.
• Maintains cooperative relationships with State and industry officials, veterinary practitioners, universities and other individuals or groups concerned with the administration of animal health.
• Works with stakeholders to ensure internal/external program 3D guidance documents/procedures/tools are kept current.
• Assists Veterinary Medical Officers (VMO) with inspection and testing of livestock, poultry, and other avian species on ranches, farms, auctions, markets, etc.

Education

This position does not have an education qualification requirement.

Evaluations

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by your experience, education, training, responses to the application questionnaire and the responses to all assessments required for this position demonstrated in your application package to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies listed below: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Additional Information - USA Hire Online Assessment All applicants are required to complete the online USA Hire assessment to be considered for the position for this vacancy. Applicants will not be given the opportunity to complete the online USA Hire assessment outside of the assigned assessment window for this vacancy. The assessment window closes 48 hours after the posted closing date and time of the announcement. The assessment window closes 48 hours after the posted closing date and time of the announcement. To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13108716

Required Documents

The following documents are required for your applicant package to be complete. Our office cannot be responsible for incompatible software, your system failure or downtime, etc. Encrypted documents will not be accepted. Failure to submit required, legible documents may result in loss of consideration. Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) all supervisors' phone numbers and if they may be contacted; and 5) other qualifications. Resume cannot exceed two pages. Only one resume will be reviewed. If education is required or being used to qualify, you must submit a copy of your college transcripts. An unofficial copy is sufficient if it includes your name and all course information. If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entering on duty. Education must have been obtained from an accredited institution. Education completed in a foreign institution must include an evaluation by an organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs that it was deemed equivalent to an accredited U.S. education program, see: Foreign Education Evaluation. All transcripts must be in English or include an English translation. Current and former career/career-conditional Federal employees: Most recent non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing you are/were in the competitive service (block 24 must contain a 1 or 2 and block 34 must contain a 1), highest grade held (or promotion potential) on a permanent basis, position title, series and grade. If your current grade is not your highest permanent grade, submit an additional SF-50 showing your highest grade. Most recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (e.g., length of time in current position). A performance plan is not an acceptable substitute. Screenshots or printouts of electronic systems, including eHR Apps (ePMA), will not be accepted unless it is of the actual appraisal form with the end-of-year rating summary. Surplus or displaced employees eligible for CTAP or RPL priority must provide: proof of eligibility (RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a transfer of function or directed reassignment to another commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination), SF-50 documenting separation (as applicable), last performance appraisal, and the most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Reemployment Priority List (RPL): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP or RPL. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. CTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100 to receive selection priority. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. If you are selected, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted. Promotion is not guaranteed. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.