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Student Trainee (Veterinary)

Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

If you are interested in an exciting and rewarding career that has an impact on the health of animal agriculture, consider the USDA Pathways Internship Program – Veterinary Services Saul T. Wilson Jr., Internship.  Students interested in the Internship should click on the following link for more information: Wilson Factsheet
 
As a student trainee the employee receives varied assignments designed to provide on-the-job training and experience in activities conducted by Veterinary Services.

What Does the Saul T. Wilson Jr., Internship offer you?

Employment While Attending School: A minimum of 640 hours of paid employment during the course of your Internship for Pathways work requirements.  The work requirements must be completed prior to, or concurrent with, the completion of Saul T. Wilson Jr., Internship educational requirements to be considered for possible conversion, without further competition, to a permanent appointment with APHIS upon successful completion with a D.V.M. degree, training, and other work requirement(s).

While enrolled in school, you can complete your work requirements during the summer months and vacation periods.  The work schedule during the academic year is negotiable. 
 
Your Pathways duty station will be determined by the agency, and will be based on where you reside during the summer months and school breaks.  Your schedule during the academic year is negotiable.  During school breaks and summers, travel to and from the official duty station, and housing expenses, will be at the student’s expense. Relocation expenses will not be paid. 

Selection(s) are anticipated by July 2018. After agreeing to the conditions of the internship by signing all applicable agreements, the student selected will begin receiving tuition benefits at the start of the fall semester. 

This position is part of the Pathways Program as a Student Trainee for a comprehensive mentorship and career development program intended to prepare the employee for a career in the field of Veterinary Medicine.  Candidates who successfully complete the program may be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent position as a Veterinary Medical Officer.

APHIS is an emergency response agency. This means that all Agency employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some time during their careers with APHIS. For details click: APHIS Emergency Response

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
02/05/2018 to 02/07/2018
Salary
$14.30 to - $20.80 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 04 - 05
Location
Location Negotiable After Selection, United States
MANY vacancies
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Travel for training and work assignments may be required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Internships
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Promotion potential
09
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Announcement number
PATHIVS-APHIS-2018-0239
Control number
490263700

This job is open to

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Duties

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The duties described are for the GS-09.  At the GS-04/05 grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity. The duties may include, but are not limited to:

  • Performs support work related to the regulatory process of program management and/or animal health information systems, including information gathering and data collection; data verification, tracking, coding, and entry; and document review and literature searches.
  • Observes and/or performs testing and identification activities for programs designed to manage disease in various livestock commodities such as cattle, swine, and cervids.
  • Draws blood samples for laboratory testing and brands reactor animals.
  • Conducts elementary statistical, quantitative, or qualitative analysis.
  • Assists veterinarians and laboratory support personnel assisting in a variety of routine duties relative to animal disease control and eradication.
  • Assists higher level employees with the operation of more sophisticated equipment or systems in the laboratory.
  • Attaches numbered tags to tested animals ears and records tag numbers and animal descriptions on blood test record forms.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Proof of student status must be submitted with the application.
  • All applicants must be in good academic standing.
  • Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

Special Conditions

  • This is a Pathways position effective in the fall of 2018.  As applicable, applicants are required to submit proof of acceptance to veterinary school by the closing date of this announcement. However, if graduating in spring 2018 and not yet accepted to veterinary school, the applicant/student is required to submit a declaration with their application, stating they have applied to veterinary school for the 2018-2019 school year, and will submit the letter of acceptance within two weeks of being contacted for supplemental information and documentation, if you meet eligibility and initial application requirements.
  • If selected for the Saul T. Wilson Jr., Internship program, students must be enrolled for the fall 2018-2019 academic year on a full-time basis.
  • If selected, official transcripts will be required prior to entrance on duty. 
  • Transcripts (official or unofficial) and proof of current enrollment must be included with our application.  See the "Required Documents" section for more information.
  • A Pathways Participant Agreement will be required if you are selected for a position. The agreement must be signed by all applicable parties prior to entrance on duty.
  • Selection and retention in this position is contingent on a successfully completed adjudicated FBI National Criminal History Check (fingerprint check) and a background investigation.
  • Schedule will be determined when student is selected.
  • This Internship confers eligibility for a noncompetitive conversion to a permanent or term position in the competitive service contingent upon meeting all applicable Internship Program requirements and the needs of the agency. You will be considered for conversion to a permanent or term position upon the successful completion of your Internship. However, please note that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee the agency will opt for conversion.
  • Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee’s duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection.
  • Pre-employment drug testing may be a required.
  • Travel occurs on an occasional basis and visits to remote locations or isolated rural areas may be required where you may be subject to regular and recurring risks associated with working around animals.
  • May require use of protective equipment.
  • There is a requirement for diagnostic tests and vaccinations in order to gain access to the NVSL/CVB facilities.

Qualifications

To qualify, you MUST meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

The following Selective Placement Factor (SPF) requirement is being used to determine whether an applicant fully qualifies for this position. Therefore, it is MANDATORY that all applicants meet this requirement in order to receive further consideration for this job vacancy. Applicants are required to submit all transcripts and proof of enrollment to support the selective placement factor. Applicants who fail to meet the selective placement factor may lose further consideration.

SELECTIVE FACTOR:
 
Students must be enrolled in a degree seeking program at the undergraduate level in preveterinary, biomedical science, veterinary medicine, animal science, public health, or a closely related field of study.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

GS-4: Completion of 2 full academic years (60 semester or 90 quarter hours) of post-high school study or an associate's degree.
GS-5: Completion of all requirements for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.

Education

All academic degrees or course work must be completed in an educational institution that has obtained accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  For a list of schools that meet this criteria, see http://www.ed.gov/.

Additional information

  • More than one selection may be made if another vacancy occurs within 90 days of the issuance of the certification of eligibles.
  • Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact: USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
  • E-Verify: Federal law requires agencies to use the E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. If you are selected as a newly hired employee, the documentation you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 on your entry-on-duty date will be verified through the DHS 'E-VERIFY' system. Under the system, the new hire is required to resolve any identified discrepancies as a condition of continued employment.
  • It is the policy of the Government not to deny employment simply because an individual has been unemployed or has had financial difficulties that have arisen through no fault of the individual. See more information at: http://www.chcoc.gov/transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?TransmittalID=6465

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

  • Category rating procedures will be used to rank and select eligible candidates. The following quality categories will be used: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. Within each quality category, veterans' preference eligibles will receive selection priority over non-veterans.
  • Your final category placement will be based on your responses to the assessment questionnaire.
  • If, after reviewing your resume and / or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score can / will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not selecting you.

To view the application form, visit: https://aphis.usda.ntis.gov/cp/?event=jobs.previewApplication&jobid=0D9F4134-AA41-4392-BEEA-A87A00B8FB8D

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