Biological Science Technician

Summary The Biological Science Laboratory Technician provides daily care and support for research animals while maintaining a clean - safe - and compliant laboratory animal environment. Responsibilities include cage washing and sanitation - preparing cages and equipment - handling and transporting animals in accordance with established protocols - monitoring animal health and welfare - and assisting the Veterinary Medical Officer and research staff with routine animal husbandry and facility operations. Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/30/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and has held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements: Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Research activity or control program work. Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment. Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records - animal environment - and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment - or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work - but only performed assigned tasks - would not qualify as specialized experience. AND You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: knowledge of basic principles of a biological science to assess readings and measurements taken; tests executed - observations made - work completed - samples collected; and interpreting data. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Teamwork 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion - such as regular and recurring walking or bending - walking - or climbing ladders to observe - collect - or record research data. In the laboratory there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity. The work requires exceptional hand/eye coordination. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Duties This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 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 Major duties include but are not limited too: Performing duties relative to the study of the morphology of constituents of animal or human blood related hematological procedures Washing - sanitize - and prepare animal cages - equipment - and support areas for reuse Monitoring animal health and promptly report abnormal conditions to veterinary staff Maintaining animal housing areas in compliance with sanitation - safety - and animal welfare standards Receiving - handling - transporting - and properly identify research animals within the facility Maintaining accurate records of animal care - cage wash activities - and facility operations Assist the Veterinary Medical Officer and research personnel with routine animal care and facility support activities Following all applicable safety - biosecurity - and animal welfare regulations to ensure the highest standards of care and research support Work Schedule: Intermittent 1 weekend a month - rotating weekends - 4 hours shifts per weekend or per weekend day Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description/PD#: Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal)/PD10720A #J-18808-Ljbffr