Veterinary Technician (Animal Health Tech)

The Animal Health Technician works in the Department of Wildlife Health Sciences (WHS), Smithsonian National Zoological Park (NZP) in Washington, DC providing veterinary technical support and completing veterinary tasks for the WHS Veterinary Hospital and medical programs. 

In this position, you will:

• Provide technical support to veterinarians and consultants in animal anesthesia, treatment, surgery, dentistry, radiology, and preventative medicine.
• Monitor hospital equipment on regular and recurring basis and notify proper offices for service on equipment if warranted.
• Assist veterinary staff in taking and developing radiographs for diagnostic purposes, collecting blood, urine, or fecal samples, preparing blood smears, completing diagnostic test, and completing clinical pathology forms. 
• Assist in maintenance of medical and surgical records.
• Maintain inventories and supplies utilizing standard operating procedures for ordering, purchasing, and stocking supplies. 

Experience Required

• Requirements Conditions of Employment Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation May need to complete a Probationary Period Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
• Conditions of Employment Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions on OPM website.

Qualifications Basic Qualifications:

• Examples of qualifying specialized experience include work: As a laborer, manager, or owner of a livestock ranch or farm involving direct work with livestock.
• With livestock in a feed lot. As a Livestock Market Inspector.
• As an Animal Welfare Inspector.
• As an assistant to a veterinarian who works with livestock.
• In addition to the basic qualification requirement above:

Experience:

• You qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal Service.
• Current agency employees qualify for this position if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal Service.
• For this position, specialized experience is defined as working as veterinary technical support in delivering health care to a wide variety of non-domestic animals; providing clinical laboratory support by maintaining records and medical equipment. 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.
• Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience.
• Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

Or Education:

• To qualify at the GS-09 grade level based on education, applicants must successfully complete 2 full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the work of the position.

Or a Combination:

• Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications.
• If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.
• For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education:

• If you are qualifying by education and/or you have education completed in a foreign college/university described above, it is your responsibility to provide transcripts and proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study.
• For instructions on where to fax these documents, see the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Education This position does not have a positive education requirement.

Perks

• Comprehensive Benefits Package

Salary

• $68,405 - $88,926 per year