• Job Description

  Req#: 743813200
  NOTE: This announcement has been extended to close on September 7, 2023. Applicant(s) who previously applied, do not need to re-apply.
  
  
  The Animal Caretaker performs various duties relating to the maintenance, operation, and animal care in the Veterinary Medical Unit. Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Aurora, CO.
  
  Duties
  
  
  Major duties and responsibilities include:
  
  
  Requirements
  
  
  
  
  Qualifications
  
  
  PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Work often requires lifting and carrying feed materials weighing up to 75 pounds and frequently handling such items as feed bags weighing up to 50 pounds. Animal caretakers walk or stand for extended periods and frequently work in a bent position. Often, light physical effort is required to lift or handle docile animals. Work is performed in the Veterinary Medical Unit. There is daily exposure to materials in a controlled environment that may be infectious and/or hazardous to one's health. Proper protective equipment is issued, and the incumbent will be trained in its proper use. In addition, the employee must perform when confronted with unpleasant conditions such as noise, heat, odors, and sick animals.
  
  Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.
  
  You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
  
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
  • Materials
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Technical Practices
  • Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  
  
  IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
  
  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.

• About the company

  The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a Cabinet-level executive branch department of the federal government charged with integrating life-long healthcare services to eligible military veterans at the 1700 VA medical centers and outpatient clinics located throughout the country.

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