Job Title:Animal Caretaker (Fisheries)

Job Announcement Number:FS-1215296-DS14

JOB SUMMARY:

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Conserving the Nature of America

The primary purpose of the position is to perform a variety of fish culturist activities with a specific production cycle which includes the release of fish and a down period. The “down” time provides for activities such as preparation of the retention ponds and egg incubation rooms, cleaning and repairing tanks and raceways, repair and preparation of bird netting, getting the spawning room up and running, dropping the fish ladder, etc. all of which is necessary to get the hatchery ready for the next season’s production cycle.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM: All U. S. Citizens and Status Candidates

More than one vacancy may be filled through this announcement should the need arise.

Who May Be Considered: Applications will be accepted from: 1) Status Candidates – this includes current Federal employees who serve under a competitive career or career-conditional appointment in the competitive service, reinstatement eligibles (former Federal employees who served under a career appointment in the competitive service) and VEOA eligibles (veterans with preference and veterans who have been honorably discharged and substantially completed at least 3 years of continuous active duty service. Please apply under occupational specialty 002 if you meet the criteria mentioned above; and

2) Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities – this includes applicants who are eligible for noncompetitive or special appointment authorities such as: 30% or more compensably disabled veterans, Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA – for positions at GS-11 and below), and persons with disabilities (Schedule A), military spouse preference, Federal employees in excepted positions covered under an interchange agreement, and other eligible special hiring authorities (such as Peace Corps, Boren Fellows, etc.). This also includes applicants who previously held, or currently hold, this grade or higher with the same promotion potential as announced for this position. For more information about special hiring authorities, visit http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/#url=Types-of-Appointments. Please apply under occupational specialty 003 if you meet the criteria mentioned above. Documentation to verify your eligibility under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities or as a Status Candidate needs to be submitted with your application in order to be considered.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

• Not Required

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

• No

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U. S. Citizenship is required.
• Nonsensitive background investigation required.
• 1 year probationary period required.
• Driver’s license required.
• Wearing official FWS uniform required.
• Must be available to respond to alarms on evenings/weekends.
• Work schedule requires working evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Fork lift operation required.

DUTIES:

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You will be actively involved in the entire production cycle of the hatchery from spawning, to egg care and feeding, to hatching and fry care, to raising of fry, to rearing and release of adult fish and the subsequent harvesting of new eggs to continue the cycle. Perform assignments related to caring for eggs, fry and fish throughout the rearing and distribution cycle. Duties at the WG-03 and WG-04 level duties are less complex and are performed under closer supervision to prepare the selectee for work at the full performance level WG-05.

At the WG-05 level, you will:

• Provide standard feeds and liquids to fish at various life-stages according to specific schedules following established protocol for that particular species, age and stage of development.
• Observe fish to monitor their appearance for obvious changes in appearance or activity to identify illnesses or environmental conditions that must be immediately corrected or treated. Keep detailed records on environmental conditions.
• Catch and handle fish, maintaining control to sort, weigh, count and transfer them from one location to another.
• Participate in spawning operations to sort and select fish for egg selection and participate in the incubation processes of the facility (determining readiness of egg development for shocking, determining fry’s readiness for ponding, etc.)
• Perform a variety of maintenance tasks associated with fish rearing such as cleaning and disinfecting cages, pens, troughs, ponds, tanks or raceways.
• Operate equipment regulating water quantity and quality following established safety rules and practices and using required protective clothing and safety equipment (e.g., coveralls, aprons, rubber clothing, goggles, safety gloves, earplugs, safety glasses, etc.
• Load and unload materials and supplies, stock materials for storage, move supplies and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

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To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-Out)
• Technical Practices: theoretical, precise, artistic
• Use of Measuring Instruments
• Ability to Interpret Instructions and Specifications
• Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Dexterity and Safety

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. Your application must show the required experience and training to receive an eligible rating.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• The work environment is quasi-industrial.
• You will work in and around running water, indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and temperatures.
• Regular and recurring work requires heavy physical effort.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, pushing pulling fish, feeding trays, feed, supplies and material of varying weights, sizes and shapes up to 75 pounds and occasionally between 80-100 pounds is required.
• This position requires wearing an official U.S. Fish and Wildlife uniform.
• A valid state driver’s license is required.
• You may be required to operate sedans, sport utility vehicles, trucks (including trucks with specialized mounted equipment such as fish distribution trucks, etc.)
• The position involves periods of sustained exertion when participating in emergency operations such as cleaning and adjustment of water intake structures during high water, leaf drop.
• At the full performance level you will operate electric, gasoline or diesel-powered forklifts with rated lifting capacity of less than 10,000 pounds to a height of up to 14 feet.
• At the full performance level you will participate in spawning operations where rapid work is needed sort and select fish for egg selection.
• You will be subject to bites and scratches on hands and arms during the spawning process when you will be handling large fish.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. Although a specific length of time or experience is not required, your resume must demonstrate that you possess the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully perform the Major Duties of the position listed above, at the level(s) for which you are applying. Emphasis will be placed on the quality of your experience or ability. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions may affect your rating.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens procedures will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These  procedures place candidates with veteran’s preference above non-preference eligibles within each category,  and  veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked  into one of three categories:

• Highly Qualified – applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Well Qualified – applicants possessing experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified – applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Highly qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidate who apply under Noncompetitive and Special Hiring Authorities procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

BENEFITS:

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The Federal Government offers a comprehensive benefits package. Explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees at https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits#icc .

OTHER INFORMATION:

HOW TO CLAIM VETERANS PREFERENCE (FedsHireVets.gov):

If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF-15 found at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf. If you don’t have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives at www.archives.gov/veterans.

If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, 6) dated within 120 days of your separation.

If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF-15. If you don’t have your Department of Veterans Affairs letter establishing proof of disability, you may request it at http://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ or call 1-800-827-1000.

Males born after 12-31-1959 must be registered or exempt from http://www.sss.gov/.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

HOW TO APPLY:

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To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your Résumé and other supporting documents specified in the Required Documents section below.
2. A complete Assessment Questionnaire

A complete Application Package must be received by 11:59 PM , Eastern Time, on the closing date of Wednesday, October 15, 2014.

* To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

* It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date.

* To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select themore information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

* To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the job announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.