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Summary This position is a Animal Caretaker (Fisheries), WG- 5048-5 working at the Colman National Fish Hatchery in Anderson, California. Responsibilities This is a temporary appointment intended for seasonal work that is less than 6 months or 1040 hours from the date of appointment/service year. It is expected this position will be terminated upon completion of the seasons work. The agency may non-competitively rehire an eligible temporary seasonal worker in subsequent years who works less than 6 months or 1040 hours in their service year. As a Animal Caretaker (Fisheries) your duties will include, but are not limited to, the following: Actively participates in the entire production cycle of hatchery fish, including spawning, egg care, feeding, hatching, fry care, and the rearing and release of fish, while making decisions on care based on personal observations. Operates forklifts with a lifting capacity of less than 10,000 pounds, maneuvering them to load, transport, and stack goods and materials using both automatic and manual controls. Conducts general maintenance tasks for buildings, grounds, and facilities, including using hand tools and power equipment for tasks such as trash removal, lawn care, minor repairs, and vehicle cleaning. Physical Effort: The role requires heavy physical exertion, including frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing/pulling items weighing up to 75 pounds, with occasional lifting of 80-100 pounds. Prolonged standing, walking, bending, and climbing are necessary, along with manual dexterity for handling live fish. The work often involves rapid movement in high-pressure situations, such as spawning operations, to minimize mortality rates. Working Environment: The work environment is quasi-industrial, exposing the incumbent to hazards such as running water, varying weather conditions, wet and slippery surfaces, strong odors, and loud noise. Indoor tasks are conducted in well-ventilated areas, while outdoor work may involve navigating rough terrain. Safety procedures are vital to mitigate risks, and protective gear is required to prevent injuries and exposure to harmful substances. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications By 06/09/2025 of this announcement, you must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Handbook X118C, Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupation. http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c/ Although no specific amount of experience, education or training is required, applicants must meet a minimum level of ability in relation to the position and the Assessment Questionnaire in order to be rated qualified for consideration. To be qualified candidates must meet any screen out element(s) listed at an "acceptable" level, and must achieve an average rating of at least "acceptable" on all of the elements. Only education, training, or experience acquired before the closing date of this announcement will be considered. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements. The screen out element for this position is: ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF AN ANIMAL CARETAKER WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION, to follow routine schedules and work methods to provide for the normal needs of hatchery fish, such as 1) catching and handling fish with nets or hands; 2) providing regular/scheduled feed; 3) recognizing obvious changes to fish appearance and activity such as pregnancy, fighting, or refusal to feed; and 4) keeping records such as fish size, weight, sex, and age. 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. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information PCS: Not Authorized Telework: This position is not suitable for telework. Additional Vacancies: One or more positions may be filled from applications received under this announcement in the advertised office or other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offices in the local commuting area. Temporary Benefits: Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information, visit Leave Administration. Effective January 2015, employees on temporary appointments may be eligible for health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and, if eligible, will receive the same government contribution as full-time permanent employees. To be eligible for consideration, temporary employees working full-time or part-time must be on appointments expected to last at least 90 days or be on an intermittent work schedule and expected to work 130 hours per month for at least 90 days. Employees electing to participate in the FEHB will be responsible for the employee share of the premium while on the official agency roles, which is deducted from bi-weekly earnings. After separating from federal employment, employees will be offered to continue participation in FEHB under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) option. Employees electing to continue coverage under the TCC provision will be responsible for the full premium amount plus a 2% administration fee. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Department of Interior (DOI) Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) procedures apply in filling this vacancy. These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements) for the position with a score of 80 or above on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. Applicants claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee\_guides/career\_transition.asp. Reasonable Accommodation: The USFWS provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Please visit USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process.