Summary Employee will serve as an Animal Caretaker within the Veterinarian Medical Unit (VMU) located at the Veterans Affairs Colorado Healthcare System, Aurora, CO. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position will be to perform various duties relating to the maintenance, operation and animal care in the VMU. Duties will include, but may not be limited to the following: Ensures sanitation of the VMU support areas, using specialized chemicals and techniques. Support areas include the VMU procedure rooms, hallways and stairwells, office and staff rooms used by VMU personnel, and storage areas housing food, bedding cages and equipment; Observes laboratory animals, to detect signs and/or symptoms of infectious disease, and changes in appearance and activity, so the supervisor may be notified immediately; Determines which laboratory animals can be placed together and which ones must be separated. Assists in the feeding and watering of research animals; Keep a daily log that includes room temperatures and humidity, animal census, supply inventory status and notification of supervisor when changes occur; Assist the supervisor, researchers and other staff in handling and restraint of a variety of research animals, including mice, rats, hamsters, frogs, rabbits, etc.; Assists changing animal cages, which involves proper handling of research animals; Assists in the decontamination, sanitation and sterilization of animal cages and accessory equipment; Removes dead research animals from cages, completion of necessary forms, notifying designated individuals of the death and disposal of the animals in an accepted manner to include incineration; Performing other duties as necessary. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm. May be required to work irregular tours based on the needs of VMU Service, to include weekends, holidays, evenings, and nights. 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 Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Pre-employment physical required 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 identification 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) 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 period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications SCREEN-OUT: Requires the ability to perform the work of an Animal Caretaker without more than normal supervision. To qualify and receive consideration for this position, resume(s) must clearly support the qualifying experience that includes working in an Animal Laboratory Research environment providing the animals with basic needs, care and welfare; observation of the animals to detect signs/symptoms of infectious disease and changes in their appearance and activity; using specialized chemicals to decontaminate, sanitize and sterilize animal areas and cages, laboratory areas, and storage areas housing food, bedding cages and equipment; applying proper techniques in handling and restraining laboratory animals; and disposing animals in an acceptable manner according to research regulations. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITION: Work often requires lifting and carrying feed materials weighing up to 75 pounds and frequently handling items weighing up to 50 pounds, such as feed bags. Position requires walking or standing for extended periods and frequently work in a bent position. Often, light physical effort is required to lift or handle docile animals. Work is performed in the Veterinary Medical Unit. There is daily exposure to materials in a controlled environment that may be infectious and/or hazardous to one's health. Proper protective equipment is issued, and employee will be trained in it's proper use. In addition, employee must perform when confronted with unpleasant conditions such as noise, heat, odors, and sick animals. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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. Education Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
