Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal)

Full Job Description

Employee will be assigned to Research Service, VA Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, performing husbandry, enrichment, cage wash duties, animal health checks, animal transfers and all other husbandry functions associated with maintaining a rodent and rabbit animal facility.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped them 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-4 grade level in the Federal Service.

Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made.

The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment.

Examples of 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.

This specialized experience also includes performing animal husbandry; handling and caring for research animals; maintaining records for animal care and treatment; and maintaining equipment used in the care of animals.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.

At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled.

The successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians may be substituted for the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level for positions involving microbiology and biochemistry technician work.

OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) Combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements for the GS-5.

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/.

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; religions; 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: The work requires some physical exertion such as regular walking, bending, lifting (up to 50lbs.), climbing ladders/step stools, and repetitive motion work.

In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a work day) contributes to the arduous nature of the job.

Agility and dexterity (hand and eye coordination) is required for proper job execution.

The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., handling various species of animals, working around moving parts, using carts, using various machines needed to perform necessary functions in the Veterinary Medical Unit.

At this level, employees are required to use protective clothing or gear such as bonnets, masks, respirators, gowns, ear plugs, booties, eye protections, gloves, protective footwear, and/or face shields as they will be working with various animal species, contagious diseases, and irritating chemicals.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Provides proper cage preparation including use and maintenance of cage washing equipment, cages, bottles, sipper tubes, autoclaves and other pertinent equipment.

Performs soiled cage preparations, sanitizing, loading proper temperature monitoring of cage washer and autoclave, and the use of dip tanks.

Prepares cages for autoclaving and possesses knowledge of the use of the autoclave including liquid, solid and food sterilization, use of indicator tape, proper transportation of items to designated areas and proper storage of sterile equipment.

Provides animal room and facility sanitation including the proper use of chemicals, such as disinfectants, sanitizing agents, sterilant and detergents.

Reports any abnormal readings of environmental parameters in order to have these corrected immediately.

Performs animal receiving including using proper forms, preparation of cages for receiving, transporting animals properly, inspection of vendor transport vehicle to ensure appropriate and legal transport occurred, transfer of animals, separation of animals by species and health status, completion of inspection reports, health status, identifying health problems, ensuring appropriate gender and strain were sent, completing cage cards appropriately and completing all other pertinent records accurately and in a timely manner.

Responsible for the health, care and well-being of animals used in research at the facility, including routine, special (e.g., genetically modified rodents), barrier and isolation care.

Responsible for the care and well-being of research animals including behavioral needs, appropriate use in research, watering and feeding requirements, ensuring the micro and macro environments are appropriate for the species, use of appropriate bedding and caging.

Observes all research animals and reports any signs of sickness, abnormalities, changes or deaths as directed by supervisor. 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