Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals. More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

The incumbent will perform a variety of duties requiring specialized skills that ensure the proper care, feeding, exhibition, and propagation of a collection of wild and exotic animals, many of which are rare and endangered.     

Provide daily care of animals in the collection ensure the health and welfare of the animals that includes the following: 

·       Feed and water animals, ensuring proper measurements and preparation of food to include maintaining sanitary conditions of food areas and water containers and recording food and water consumption and report any changes per unit protocols.

·       Clean animal enclosures by hosing, sweeping, scrubbing, raking, and removing manure and unconsumed food.

·       Weigh animals, record, and report data. Report insect and pest infestations of animals. Monitor animals for symptoms of illness, injuries or unusual conditions and reports to Curator, Assistant Curator or Veterinarian. Maintains animal records and prepare appropriate reports.

·       Participate actively in enrichment programs, training and operant conditioning of animals, propagation and enriching and memorable experiences for visitors.

·       Observe animal activities such as breeding encounters, nesting activities, courtship rituals, aggression between animals in the same enclosure, feeding habits, etc.

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

Physical Requirements:
This position requires the physical ability to perform moderately heavy work including lifting and carrying heavy objects up to 100 lbs.; work outside in all weather conditions with exposure to dirt, dust, pollen and insects; climb ladders and stairs; and stand and walk for extended periods.

Working Conditions:
The work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions. The incumbent is exposed to dust and to unpleasant odors and noises from the animals and to cleaning solutions and other chemicals. The work is performed on concrete floors and other hard surfaces. The work may be performed in closed or cramped spaces. The incumbent is exposed to bites, scratches, and animal waste, and may be exposed to animal parasites and zoonotic diseases.

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

For information on the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations, see OPM’s website.

Qualifications

In order to be rated qualified, an applicant's overall experience and training must indicate possession of the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position such as, the ability to carry out routine animal keeper duties; the ability to understand instructions given by higher level animal keeper personnel; the ability to carry out training and developmental assignments; the ability to catch and handle animals by hand or by using nets without injuring the animals or endangering him/herself; the ability to identify animal species by natural markings such as color; and the ability to operate motorized vehicles/scooters on NZCBI grounds.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

How you will be evaluated:

Applications will first be evaluated to determine whether the following screen out element is met:

1. Ability to do work w/o normal supervision
2. Ability to do work of an animal keeper

If an applicant meets the screen-out element, the following Job Elements will be evaluated:

1.      Knowledge of the natural and individual histories of assigned animals and the ability to converse with visitors and answer their questions regarding conservation programs, natural habitats, status of animals in the wild, care and feeding of animals, and other topics of interest.

2.      Knowledge of established, standard animal husbandry practices, principles, techniques, and methods sufficient to provide the proper care, feeding, exhibition, and propagation of a collection of wild and exotic animals, many of which are rare and endangered.

3.      Knowledge of animal behavior and health to recognize problems and signs of potential problems such as illness, injury, unusual activity or lethargy, etc.

4.      Ability to maintain records (animal weight, food and water consumption, etc.), check purchase orders to verify accuracy of deliveries, and enter data into automated records systems.   

Applicants who meet or exceed the screen-out element will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria:

Best Category - Meets the screen-out element and excels in most of the job related elements above.
Better Category - Meets the screen-out element and satisfies most of the job related elements above.
Good Category - Meets the screen-out element, but does not satisfy most of the job related elements above to a substantive degree.

This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-veterans within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no veteran in that category is passed over to select a non-veteran in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.

Veterans who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher.
Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the announcement questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses to the occupational questionnaire or other assessment tool for consistency. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than is supported by your resume, you will be assigned a rating commensurate to your described experience.

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

Your application package should include the following documents:

• Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. Ensure your resume contains the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), job-related qualifications, starting and ending dates (month and year), and hours worked per week, for each employment period. It is your responsibility to ensure all information is submitted. Failure to include this information may result in disqualification for the position.

  For assistance with creating a resume, please click USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? 
• Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
• Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
• Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.

Next steps