Summary The official title of this position is a Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal). This position is located within the Veterinary Medical Unit at the VA Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo, NY. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Plans, organizes, supervises, and evaluates the day-to-day operations. Assigning priority of work of subordinate employees, ensuring that assignments are properly performed. Monitors the employee health program including surveillance and prevention of diseases passed between laboratory personnel and animal subjects. Ensures the maintenance of a sound program of animal husbandry. Designs, coordinates, and executes animal husbandry and caging plans tailored to the needs of individual investigators and projects. Assesses regulatory guidance and develops, writes, recommends and implements procedures and policies to comply with current regulations and accepted standards regarding animal welfare. Maintains essential records, such as animal and equipment inventories and procurement records. Coordinates purchases for all animal subjects, equipment, supplies and services based on Principal Investigators' research priority needs and availability of space. Carries out routine support functions such as autoclaving, radioactive waste disposal, shipping, receiving, sample storage, ordering, inventory, or other comparable tasks. Feeds, cleans, and cares for all laboratory animals in assigned rooms as described in animal room protocol. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-9 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have at least one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-8 grade level in the Federal Service. Qualifying specialized experience include research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice; Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. Additional specialized experience includes: planning and organizing daily operations; providing the optimum husbandry and healthcare to the research animals; and providing essential operational and technical support in a wide variety of animals studies for all biomedical programs involving animal subjects. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. -OR- EDUCATION: Have successfully completed a master's degree or two (2) full years of graduate education leading to such a degree in a field of study directly related to the work of this position. Education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. -OR- COMBINATION: Have successfully completed graduate education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience as described above to meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is a mixture of sitting as well as strenuous activity such as standing, walking, bending, stooping, and lifting. The position may be required to stand long periods of time and may be required to lift weights up to 50 pounds for short periods of time. Knows how to implement techniques for lifting and manipulating heavy cages and racks so that back injuries and other injuries related to lifting are prevented. Carries out duties that require regular and recurring walking, bending, and carrying of moderately heavy equipment (
