Animal Caretaker

Animal Caretaker

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Anderson, California

Salary Range: $22.56 - $26.31 Per Hour

Job Summary: This position is an Animal Caretaker, WG- 5048-5, working in Anderson, California, for the Coleman National Fish Hatchery.

Major Duties:

• 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 an Animal Caretaker 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.

Qualifications: By 11/21/2025 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.

How to Apply: Review the appointment eligibility criteria in the application preview linked below. The eligibility section of the application allows you to choose how you wish to be considered for this vacancy announcement. You will ONLY be considered for the eligibilities that you select "yes" to and submit the required supporting documentation, as listed in the Required Documents section or the application text. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents section. Click 'Apply' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents. To preview the assessment questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12836056. Please ensure you check the acknowledgement checkbox then click the Submit Application button to submit your application. Applications must be received by 11/21/2025, 11:59pm ET to receive consideration. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, in Applications tab, click the position title you applied to for the status. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact the Human Resources Office via email at fwshiring@fws.gov.

Application Deadline: 2025-11-21