Kennel and Canine Care Technician

About the role

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) safeguards the Congress, Members of Congress, employees, visitors, and Congressional buildings and grounds from crime, disruption, and terrorism. We protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional and legislative responsibilities in a safe, secure and open environment.

What you will do

• This position is location within the Canine Training Section, Special Operations Division, Operational Services Bureau, Office of the Assistant Chief of Police for Uniformed Operations.
• The purpose of this position is to perform duties associated with the care and feeding of working canines; perform work associated with kennel and canine administrative accountability; update and maintain canine medical records; and monitor kennel facilities and grounds maintenance requirements.
• Makes appropriate provisions for the health, safety, and care of assigned canines.
• Serves as liaison between handlers and veterinary personnel.
• Feeds, waters and medicates canines in accordance with approved procedures as to diet and treatment.
• Distributes and places prepared diets in the canine kennels in a timely manner.
• Determines amount and type of food and water to be given.
• Observes special dietary requirements, such as adding vitamins and providing food supplements to induce/improve appetites.
• Observes canines for obvious signs of illness, disease, discontent, and general physical condition.
• Conducts routine and limited emergency care and treatment of assigned canines.
• Determines pulse, temperature, and respiratory rate.
• Collects specimens for laboratory exams.
• Irrigates wounds, removes foreign material and applies bandages.
• As directed, administers medications and annotates in canines medical records.
• Cleans ears, cleans teeth, bathes and grooms canines, as appropriate.
• Monitors the daily maintenance and upkeep of kennel facilities.
• Cleans and sanitizes animal facilities, as appropriate.
• Flushes crates, cages and pens, hauls refuse, sweeps and scrubs floors with hose using a germicidal cleanser.
• Observes area for proper temperature, function of light timers and changes air and water filters, as necessary.
• Maintains room temperature charts which records observation of the daily condition of the animals.
• Maintains and inspects kennel facilities, equipment, and outdoor areas on a daily basis to ensure no hazards exist to threaten the health, safety, and well-being of canines and assigned personnel.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen.
• Successful completion of a background investigation is required.
• Must complete a one-year probationary period.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid REAL ID U.S. drivers license.
• May be required to work overtime to include weekends and federal holidays based on activities associated with canine training and receiving working canines.
• Will be required to operate motor vehicles to transport canines to medical appointments, emergency medical care, and to transfer them between kennel facilities.
• Must be physically and mentally able to handle adverse conditions, to include adverse weather conditions and adverse conditions in the maintenance and cleaning of kennels.
• You will be exposed to dirt, dust, and height.
• Subject to cuts, bruises, kicks, bites, scratches and ticks from canines.
• Must be able to work inside in often poorly lighted or insulated areas, and outside exposed to extreme weather conditions.
• Inside work often exposes animal caretakers to unpleasant odors and noises.
• Duties involve considerable physical effort including lifting various items such as canines, feed, supplies, occasionally weighing up to seventy-five (75) pounds.
• Duties also involve bending, climbing and working in tiring and awkward positions.
• May use greater strength or agility to capture and restrain stronger canines.

Education

There is no education substitution for experience in this series and/or grade.

How you will be evaluated

Evaluation Factors: Please address all Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) within the narrative responses so that your experience can be evaluated properly. We will review your resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for this job.

If you meet the minimum requirements for this job, we will evaluate your application materials to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your qualifications, accomplishments, experience, and education as they relate to the requirements listed in this vacancy announcement.

Failure to successfully pass a full field background investigation and all segments of the pre-employment evaluation process will result in disqualification from further consideration under this vacancy announcement.

Documents you must provide

• The following documents are required and must be received by the closing date of this announcement: 1.
• Your resume: Page limit is two (2) pages and should include a description of related job duties as well as dates of employment (mm/yy).
• Margins cannot be smaller than .5 all around and the font no smaller than 11-point.
• Other supporting documents: - Veterans Preference Documentation, if applicable. - College transcript(s), if qualifying based on education, or other documentation to prove possession of the basic requirements for this position.

What to expect next

After a review of your application materials is made, you will be notified of your eligibility status. If you are referred to the hiring official, you will receive further notification. If further evaluation or interviews are required, you will be contacted.

Please note that if you are not selected for this position, the USCP may not be able to provide specific feedback or disclose the reasons for your disqualification, due to confidentiality and legal considerations related to the hiring process.

Additional information

Additional Conditions of Employment with the USCP: As per the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) and the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019, criminal history information will only be collected following a qualifications review and after a tentative offer of employment has been made.

A criminal history does not automatically exclude an applicant from employment with the USCP. Criminal History Check -- Must successfully pass a comprehensive criminal history check of the past 10 years if offered employment. A criminal history check will be performed on applicants who accept an offer of employment.

Credit Check -- Must successfully pass a credit check.

Applicants must not be in default or delinquent on any Federal guaranteed student loans.

Applicants must demonstrate a competent financial history.

Financial delinquency including collection accounts, liens, repossessions, or garnishments may be a basis for disqualification. Selective Service Registration -- Male applicants must provide verification of registration with the Selective Service System or must verify exemption from the Selective Service System registration because of age or military status.

Female applicants are exempt from Selective Service System registration. *** Fingerprint Check -- Applicants' fingerprints will be submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a check of their criminal history record. Background Investigation -- Must successfully complete all components of the USCP full field background investigation.

There are few automatic grounds for rejection in the USCP background investigation process. Issues of misconduct, such as illegal drug use, arrests, or convictions, may not be automatically disqualifying.

However, deliberate misstatements, omissions, or intentionally withholding required information at any phase of the hiring process will result in a candidate's disqualification regardless of the nature or reason for the misstatement or omission. The primary reason candidates fail a background investigation is due to deliberately withholding or omitting material facts.

Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process.