Animal Caretaker Supervisor

Summary The National Detector Dog Training Center plays a crucial role in safeguarding America's agricultural and natural resources from harmful pests and diseases by training specially selected dogs and their human handlers to perform vital tasks aimed at detecting, restricting entry, and/or eradication of foreign plant pests. The Animal Caretaker Supervisor is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing work performed in the care and maintenance of working canines. Responsibilities The duties may include, but are not limited to: Provides training, establishes priorities in line with work center operational goals, and reviews work for adequacy of technique and performance. Provides written guidance and instructions on aspects of animal care. Coaches and mentors new animal care takers to ensure understanding and application of agency directives, guidelines and standard operating procedures. Establishes work procedures, evaluates performance and addresses identified deficiencies. Provides initial screening of all canine issues prior to contacting veterinarian. Implements complex care and treatment issues through instructions and demonstration to staff. Develop policy (Bio-Security Plan) and standard operating procedures (SOP) to maintain optimum health status of employees and canines. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify, you must show you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have experience in animal care taking your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title. 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 This position does not have an education qualification requirement. Additional 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. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. The work is performed indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions where temperature and humidity variance are considerable. The incumbent is exposed to dirt, dust, mud, and sometimes chemical sprays and may be subject to hazards including scrapes, cuts, and bruises, must observe safety regulations at all times and use special care and alertness to avoid serious injury from equipment/tools and canines; and may be exposed to animal bites or scratches. The incumbent will be required to work on weekends and holidays and supervise the performance of ACT duties. Additionally, the incumbent must be capable of performing an array of animal husbandry duties. Heavy physical effort is sometimes necessary. The incumbent must be able to stand for long periods of time on damp concrete floors and lift and carry moderate to heavy loads up to 75 pounds including feed, water, waste materials, and other supplies. Duties associated with this role may include stooping, bending, reaching, and active walking across uneven terrain with and without a canine on leash. The incumbent will be subjected to canines who pull on the leash and make rapid changes in direction and being jumped on or into by a canine.