Animal Heath Technician

Full Job Description

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo.

This position is located in the Department of Wildlife Health Sciences (WHS) at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) located in Front Royal, Va.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

Basic Qualifications: Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work: As a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock.

With livestock in a feed lot. As a Livestock Market Inspector. As an Animal Welfare Inspector. As an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock.

In addition to the basic qualification requirement above: Experience: You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.

For this position, specialized experience is defined as providing veterinary technical support in delivering healthcare to a range of non-domestic animals and provide clinical laboratory support through record maintenance and equipment management.

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.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience.

Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Or Education: To qualify at the GS-09 grade level based on education, applicants must successfully complete 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the work of the position.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education: If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S.

accreditation for foreign study. For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. Major Duties:

The Animal Health Technician provides veterinary technical support and performs veterinary tasks for the WHS Veterinary Department and its medical programs.

In this position, you will: Provide technical support to veterinarians and consultants in areas such as animal anesthesia, treatment, surgery, dentistry, radiology, and preventative medicine.

Monitor hospital equipment and notifies the appropriate departments for servicing when necessary.

Assist veterinary staff with taking and developing radiographs for diagnostic purposes, collecting blood, urine, or fecal samples, preparing blood smears, performing diagnostic tests, and completing clinical pathology forms.

Assist in maintenance of medical and surgical records. Manage inventory and supplies by following standard operating procedures for ordering, purchasing, and restocking.