Animal Health Technician (Animal Identification Coordinator)

Summary

This position provides assistance to their assigned District and geographic territory with the animal identification program. It performs animal identification duties and provides program planning and problem-solving advice in this area.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• Gather information from the various individuals and organizations that owned or handled the animals prior to their being identified as a reactors.
• Traces the movement of the animals back to the herd of origin.
• Reviews data to determine program effectiveness, to identify problem areas, and to detect trends or developments.
• Standardizes the program, initiates measures to reach established program goals, and monitors all activities in support of the animal identification program.
• Explains to affected parties the requirements of the animal identification program and enlist their voluntary compliance through a better understanding of the program requirements.
• Observes/monitors contract or fee basis personnel to assure that they are performing work as agreed to in the contract or fee basis agreements.
• Periodically reviews inventory of supplies and equipment used in the animal identification programs to ensure sufficient inventory for effective program operation.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. FOR THE GS-08 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-07 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Using animal traceability procedures to identify herd of origin for infected animals. Coordinating with other federal and state officials and veterinarians, slaughter plant and market employees, livestock industry representatives, and others in order to perform work. Examining documents and forms to ensure that information is complete and accurate and following up if there are discrepancies or missing information. OR Successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two years of progressively higher level graduate level education leading to such a degree obtained from an accredited college or university. Qualifying graduate courses include: agribusiness, agricultural chemistry, agricultural development, agricultural economics, agricultural education, animal breeding, animal genetics, animal health, animal nutrition, animal physiology, animal products, animal reproduction, animal science, animal toxicology, animal welfare, biological and agricultural engineering, beef cattle production, dairy herd management, dairy marketing, equine production, farm management, feeding management, meat science, physiology of lactation, poultry science, ruminant nutrition, swine production, and wildlife and fisheries sciences.. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-08 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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 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

Please see above for education qualification requirement information. How You Will Be Evaluated

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13110154 Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expense associated with reporting for duty will be the responsibility of the selected employee. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. This position involves Mobile Work: Mobile work is characterized by routine and regular travel to conduct work in customer or other worksites as opposed to a single authorized alternative worksite. Examples of mobile work include site audits, site inspections, investigations, property management, and work performed while commuting, traveling between worksites, or on Temporary Duty (TDY). There are a total of 7 vacancies. There is 1 vacancy in each of the duty location mentioned below: Arizona: Maricopa or Pima. Montana: Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, Silver bow, Jefferson, Gallatin, Musselshell, Yellowstone, Missoula, Cascade, Fergus, Madison, Park, Ravalli, or Flathead Oregon: Marion, Linn, Jefferson, Sherman, Grant, Union Clackamas, Wasco, Deschutes, Crook, Klamath, or Jackson Utah: Utah, Davis, Weber, Box Elder, Tooele, or Sanpete Arkansas: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Grant, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, or White County Iowa: Polk, Story, Dallas, Jasper, Boone, or Marshall Wisconsin: Manitowoc or Waukesha There is a high risk potential for exposure to unsafe working conditions and disease causing agents, some of which are highly contagious, infectious, and communicable to humans. Special safety control coordination, bio-security, and bio-safety precautions must be exercised and followed at appropriate times.