Animal Caretaker

This position is in the Research Service at the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System. The position has an essential role in caring for the all animal species used in the NWI research programs. The position must often follow special instruction regarding animal care.

Qualifications:

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: The physical strength and manual dexterity to safely work with all species of animals, both wild and domestic, are required. Animal enclosures, including cages, vary in size from shoebox dimensions to the size of a moderate dining table, and can be heavy and quite bulky. The incumbent will be required to manipulate these items around a large cagewasher and sterilization equipment, which also requires strength and dexterity to work safely.

Varies from the aseptic, ideally controlled environment (such as that of the surgical suite) to that of excesses of temperature, humidity and poor air quality encountered in field conditions. Work in the rack/cagewashing area involved exposure to high temperatures and humidity. The work environment includes exposure to allergens, humidity and odors in animal rooms and necropsy areas, exposure to exotic and zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, and biological and carcinogenic hazards.


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
• Without more than normal supervision

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.

Responsibilities:

This announcement has been extended to close on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. There is no need to re-apply if you have already submitted your application package. However, you may update your application during this time, if needed.

Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Perform basic animal husbandry duties necessary for the care and feeding and watering of laboratory animals
• Clean and disinfect animal cages, cage racks, sterilize cages, sterilize bedding.
• Transport or assist in transporting, loading, or unloading cages, animals, supplies, as needed for the care of laboratory animals or conduct of research.
• Observe animals' appearance and activity for obvious signs of illness, disease, discontent, and their general physical condition; report observed signs of illness, disease, injury or unusual activity to VMU Supervisor and/or Animal Health Technician.
• Observe environmental conditions in assigned animal wards and reports deficiencies such as temperature, humidity, air exchange or lighting conditions to VMU lead caretaker or supervisor.
• Assist in setting animal room temperature, humidity, light cycle under direction of the VMU supervisor or with lead animal caretaker; charts temperature, humidity readings as necessary.
• Maintain accurate animal inventory sheets for every principal investigator who has animals in his/her assigned area.
• Maintain accurate animal inventory sheets for every principal investigator who has animals in his/her assigned area.
• Maintain supply and equipment inventories in assigned areas, and reports.
• Identify laboratory animals' bye ear tags, ear notches, or tattoos as directed by VMU supervisor.
• Restrain and handles commonly used animal laboratory species using applied techniques in handling and restraint. Catches, handles and maintains control of docile but agile animals.
• Determine which animal can be placed together and which one must be housed separately.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 1 year and 1 day, with extension up to 4 Years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

Work Schedule: Duty days and hours will vary, will include some weekends and holidays.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Salary : $21