Animal Care and Use Administrator

Defense Health Agency • Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As the Department of Defense's lead laboratory for the development of medical countermeasures against chemical threat agents, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), a Defense Health Agency Research & Development (DHA R&D) asset, is increasingly called upon to provide expert analytical and consultative services related to medical chemical defense research and to the medical management of chemical casualties.

Requirements

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position is designated Tier 3, Non-Critical Sensitive, Moderate Risk and requires the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Secret Security Clearance Level as a condition of employment.
• Appointment to this position is subject to a Two-year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirement.
• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• This position requires the wear and use of prescribed personnel protective equipment, DoDM 6055.18.
• This position is subject to TDY or business travel requirements to various locations up to 10% of the time.
• This may require travel via privately owned vehicles, commercial transport platforms, and/or military aircraft, ships, and vehicles.
• Immunizations required.
• USAMRICD is participating in an alternative personnel system known as the Personnel Demonstration Project (PDP). The DJ-03 payband is equivalent to the GS-11 step 1 to GS-12 step 10 level.
• In keeping with the Demonstration pay fixing policies, employees earning a salary that falls within this payband equivalent, may not receive an immediate pay increase (promotion) if appointed to this position.
• Future pay increases within the payband will be accomplished through the pay for performance management system.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 2 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
• Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests : If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
• Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
• Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
• If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
• You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
• To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
• One year of specialized experience which includes applying federal and DoD regulations to maintain a compliant animal care and use program, managing protocol databases to track study details and animal usage, coordinating compliance data to prepare required annual regulatory reports, AND support training and audit processes to document personnel compliance.
• This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (DJ-02/GS-09).

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.
• A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the percentages.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) administrator responsible for processing and maintaining all Animal Use Protocols (AUPs) and associated amendments and reports.
• Ensure compliance with Federal and DoD regulations and guidelines for animal care and use.
• Coordinate submission of annual reports to regulatory and accrediting agencies.
• Maintain accreditation records and animal welfare documentation to support the AAALAC International program requirements.
• Organize facility inspection and program review for the IACUC and applicable agencies, recording findings and logging identified deficiencies and corrections.
• Organize and attend twice monthly IACUC meetings and verify committee quorums.
• Maintain official meeting agendas and committee minutes in accordance with Federal and DoD regulations.
• Maintain records of mandatory compliance training and occupational health requirements for all research personnel and IACUC members.
• Serve as an administrator to summarize results of post-approval monitoring sessions, adverse events, and compliance concerns.
• Serve as an administrator of research activities involving animal care and use to ensure investigator compliance with IACUC-approved protocols, Federal and DoD regulations and Institutional policies, guidelines, and SOPs.
• Maintain institutional compliance databases to input and track animal protocol usage numbers.
• Monitor protocol renewal deadlines and track upcoming expirations using established tracking methods to proactively alert investigators.
• Perform tasks at the request of the IACUC Chair and Research Support Division Chief.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Learn more about federal benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree