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This position is located at United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Services (ARS), The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), located in Manhattan, Kansas.

The mission of the NBAF Animal Resources Unit (ARU) is to support all aspects of the care and use of animals at NBAF.

Qualifications:Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.
Time in grade: Current Federal employees applying must Meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. The specialized experience requirements for this position are: Qualifying experience for GS-11 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-10 which is directly related to the work of this position, or its non-Federal equivalent that included experience providing technical training to staff members in a veterinary setting; coordinating staff and laboratory areas; and ensuring activities are in compliance with policies, laws, or regulations.
OR
Education: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. Related degrees may include Agricultural Science, Veterinary Science, Animal Science, or Biology.
OR
Successful combination of specialized experience and graduate level education.
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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Demands:
The incumbent performs activities involved in the care, treatment, and management of animals in a high containment facility. Moderate to heavy physical exertion is required daily for restraining large animals and moving feed and equipment (75-100 pounds) with appropriate support and within safety protocols. May be required to move large animal carcasses and/or portion of carcasses in carts weighing up to 300 pounds with the support of handling equipment. Strength and agility may be necessary to handle recalcitrant livestock. . Stooping, standing for extended periods, bending, reaching, and active walking are often required.
Working Environment: Work is located in a high containment facility. Work may involve discomforts such as having to spend long periods of time on concrete or slippery floors, exposure to bites, scratches, kicks, disagreeable odors, allergens, and animal wastes from diseased or distressed animals.
The incumbent must demonstrate the physical and psychological capability to conduct normal duties that are appropriate to their position. To prevent the transmission of disease out of biocontainment and retention of the position, the incumbent must meet the following medical standards in a pre- employment medical examination conducted after the receipt of a preliminary job offer and on a periodic basis:
- Ability to shower out of biocontainment one or more times per day;
- Not have any skin condition which would prevent this;
- Body piercings must be able to be removed prior to entry;
- External medical assist devices must have the ability to be removed prior to entering or not impede the ability to enter biocontainment, and the individual must still be able to shower out safely without assistance;
- Ability to follow instructions regarding decontamination from biocontainment;
- Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment.
Medical confidentiality will be maintained by the examining physician and only fitness (or unfit) for duty determination will be indicated. The incumbent may also be required to pass periodic fitness for duty physicals. In addition, a medical clearance will be required when it becomes necessary to enter an area where an air purifying respirator or other respiratory protection is required.
A baseline blood sample may be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facilities. For the health and safety of the incumbent and to prevent the spread of disease, immunization against diseases being studied at NBAF which are transmissible to humans may be required where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness under the provision of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended 21 USC 321-392. Where the vaccine has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for investigational purposes, the incumbent will be advised that such immunization is voluntary.
Individuals who are already vaccinated or do not wish to receive the investigational vaccines will be asked to sign a declination form, assuming the risk of working with the viruses without vaccination.
Due to the contagious nature to livestock of Foot-and-Mouth disease, and other diseases under study at NBAF, Biological Safety Regulations specify a personal quarantine for employees working in BSL-3, 3 enhanced, 3 Ag and 4 biocontainment. As a condition for employment, all personnel entering the BSL-3 or higher biocontainment facilities at NBAF shall not be in contact with specific susceptible animals and their premises away from NBAF for a period of five (5) days after leaving biocontainment. Currently, restricted species are cattle, sheep, goats, deer, other ruminants, and swine. Contact with horses, birds (agricultural and pet birds) and rabbits are normally permitted, but restrictions may be placed on staff working with or near contagious agents affecting these species. Restricted livestock or other restricted animals may not be housed on the premises where the employee lives and where quarantine cannot be enforced. Employees who violate this requirement may be removed from employment or subject to other disciplinary action. Additionally, an approved SRA investigation is required for access to select agent registered spaces.
Incumbent may be required to receive extra vaccinations to work on specific projects, submit to blood tests, and a respiratory/pulmonary function test. Ability to pass a physical examination for the following: Ability to lift 75 lbs. with occasional lifts of 100 pounds. Respirator fit resting required.
It is highly desirable that the incumbent is certified as a Laboratory Animal Technician by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) or a related specialty certification.
Works on weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings, as required.
The incumbent escorts visitors in the laboratory area and/or works with high consequence pathogens.
Psychological and physical health are monitored as part of a person review. For physical health monitoring, a baseline blood sample will be required for employees entering and working in the biocontainment facility. Any medical condition which could create an unsafe environment for the individual or his/her co-workers, such as: Insufficient control of a medical disorder which could result in sudden loss of consciousness; and inadequate vision and hearing required for safety in a laboratory environment must be considered before a job offer and may be disqualifying.Education:This job does not have an education qualification requirement.Employment Type: OTHER