Animal Packer

Full Job Description

This position is located within a National Forest. The incumbent is responsible for packing supplies and equipment into backcountry locations by horse or mule.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement.

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's Federal Wage System Qualifications Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to perform the duties of the position rather than length of experience.

Eligibility will be determined by the relevance, scope and quality of all experience and training, regardless of where or how acquired.

Applicants will be ranked and rated based on their knowledge of the job elements identified in this announcement.

Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc.

(other than blueprints) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Materials Dexterity and Safety There is no substitution of education for this position.

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.

To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties:

• Provides packing services to remote backcountry locations. Packs and balances loads of supplies, tools and equipment, rigs loads on pack saddles and monitors and adjusts as necessary.
• Loads animals into and out of trailers, secures animals within trailers, and tows trailers with heavy-duty trucks.
• Provides a full variety of needs in the handling and caring of stock, including grooming, feeding and watering, and also cares for medical needs of stock including tending to bruises, cuts, sores, and other medical needs.
• Maintains pack equipment, tack and other supplies and equipment as needed. Assists with maintenance of stock facilities, including fences, corrals, water systems, etc.
• Rides and leads pack animals over rugged mountainous terrain to reach the desired destination without injury to pack stock, self or cargo. Provides a wide variety of manual labor tasks involving trail maintenance and reconstruction work as assigned.
• Monitors stock and all related equipment and reports any issues or concerns to stock manager and supervisor.