Clarification from the agency

Under this announcement, we are accepting applications from: 1. All United States Citizens (U.S. Citizens) 2. CTAP/ICTAP Eligibles.

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 1560 hours work in a service year. Dates of employment will vary between sites depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation. Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

Major Duties include:

Feeds and cares for 6 to 10 mules and 4 to 6 saddle horses. Feeds and wrangles stock in backcountry settings. trains and corrects behavior problems in horses and mules. Administers medications to stock. Performs farrier duties including emergency field shoeing and trimming. Builds loads and packs food, tools, camp equipment, explosives, supplies and materials to trail crews. Transports livestock, supplies and materials via truck and trailer from source to trail heads including transporting, loading and unloading of hay. Maintain tack, sheds and corral fence lines. Incumbent frequently drives on narrow winding mountain roads. Performs routine vehicle inspections on trucks and trailers and does minor repairs. Work requires hiking in a mountainous area (elevations above 10,000 feet) over a rough and uneven terrain with backpack/tools up to several miles in a day. Position is subject to frequent extended travel and camping in remote areas.

Physical Effort: Animal Caretaking and Packing: Heavy physical effort is required in bending, lifting while using saddles and tack. Frequently lifts and loads pack boxes and other objects weighing 50 pounds. Occasionally, with assistance, lifts and loads pack boxes weighing from 60 pounds to over 100 pounds. Routinely rides up to 15 miles a daily, and periodically 25 miles or more. Frequently works with horses and mules weighing over 1000 pounds utilizing greater strength and agility to wrangle stronger and more active livestock. Motor vehicle operation: Moderate physical effort is needed by this position in operating, turning, backing and controlling vehicles which carry heavy loads. Required to frequently lift items weighing up to 50 pounds. Considerable physical effort may be required to change tires and make limited emergency repairs, such as installing an emergency fan belt or replacing an electrical fuse on open highways.

Working Conditions: Incumbent must have the ability to live and work effectively in mountainous wilderness areas in close contact with small numbers of people for extended periods of time. The incumbent will be working outdoors in extreme temperatures varying from +100 to near 10 F. When working outside, worker is frequently exposed to bad weather. Incumbent works in rain, mud, snow, and in cold temperatures. Icy, slippery conditions are normal for approximately six months each year. The working environment is dusty, dirty, hot, wet and under certain conditions noisy. There may be occasions during the season that the incumbent will work in heavy rain, falling snow, and frigid conditions. The incumbent may be required to work long hours, hike or ride long distances in rough terrain, and work around hazardous conditions. Wrangling involves work with occasionally unpredictable and ill-natured animals resulting in exposure to the possibility of injury from bites, scratches and kicks. The individual may be exposed to poisonous reptiles and plants. At time he/she may be required to make stream crossings in cold, swift water, either by horse or by foot. The individual must be able to withstand with rigors of life in remote, primitive conditions for periods of two to twelve weeks at a time.

Kings National Park at times has poor air quality and the presence of smoke during fires. The Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California may pose human health problems due to air pollution. Work will be performed at times when there is poor air quality.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
• Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
• You will be required to submit to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. You must receive a negative drug test result prior to appointment.
• You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit, and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
• Must maintain a valid National Park Service Explosives Handler certification upon completion of appointment training course.
• You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
• Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
• A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
• Travel, transportation & relocation expenses will not be paid. Relocation expenses will be the employee's responsibility.

Qualifications

SELECTIVE FACTOR: This position requires regular and recurring work and camping in rugged mountainous backcountry above 7,000 ft elevation for extended periods of time. Selectees must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs., and be able to camp for several days at a time.
- AND-
Ability to do the work of an Animal Packer and Caretaker (Trails) without more than normal supervision. (Screen Out) experience includes: worked as an Animal Caretaker feeding, caring for, and handling mules and saddle horses. Maintained fences and pastures. Experience in animal packing and routinely packed and led a string of 4-5 pack animals in wilderness and non-wilderness areas.

Additional information on the specific qualification requirements for this position are found in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations. It is available for review on OPM's web site at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/federal-wage-system-qualifications/#url=WG-5000

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer 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.

ICTAP/CTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

How you will be evaluated

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

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

Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. If you meet the qualifications your resume and supporting documentation will be compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine your level of experience. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications which resulted in you being listed in the highest quality category, you may lose consideration, or be assigned to a lower quality category for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

All qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. The category ratings for this position are: Well Qualified and Qualified

The 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-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category.

You must submit a complete application package. We will not make assumptions about your experience and/or education.

Required Documents:

1. Resume: You may only submit one resume. Only the resume submitted under the "Resume" "Document Type" will be used to determine your qualifications and for rating purposes. Your resume must describe your job-related qualifications (paid and non-paid work experience) that includes job title, beginning and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and description of job duties. You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included. If you use your own resume, curriculum vitae, or any other written form, you must ensure this information is provided. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Failure to provide ALL required information on your resume will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. Note: Current and former Federal employees should include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. If experience is for a career ladder position, please ensure to clearly distinguish the job duties for each grade level and how long you were working in each grade level.

• Do not include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Classified or government sensitive information
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Photos of yourself
  • Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.
  • Encrypted and digitally signed documents.

Additional Documentation, if applicable:

1. Cover Letter

2. Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 2 or 4 showing you were honorably discharged. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. (i.e. VA letter). You may not be awarded preference if you do not attach the correct Veteran Documentation as specified above.

3. CTAP/ICTAP Documentation: If you are applying under CTAP or ICTAP, you MUST submit proof of eligibility under 5 CFR 330.602(a) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible

4. Current and former federal employees - It is recommended that you submit a copy of your SF-50(s) (Notification of Personnel Action) to support your experience. Examples of appropriate SF-50s include appointments/separations, promotions, within-grade increases.

Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted

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