Duties

Summary

This position serves as a Pest Controller within the Environmental Management Service in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Maryland VA HealthCare System in located in Loch Raven, MD.
Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Controls and eradicates a wide variety of common insects and pest common to the installation and surrounding area, i.e. bed bugs, roaches, rats, mice, spiders, termites, fleas, ants, bees and other know pests. Increasingly use a combination of past management techniques, known as integrated pest management (IPM) is a vital function of the VAMHCS pest control problem.
~ Assists EMS management by functioning as a subject matter authority in difficult pest-related problems. Provide pest related expertise and support to staff, new hires, visitors and patients.
~ Keeps track of materials and ensures equipment functions properly at all times.
~ Conducts pest control inspections, correct pest control problems by applying product, baiting and monitoring and communicate regularly with office personnel and EMS management to ensure top quality customer service.
~ Locates, identifies, destroys, repels pests and design control strategies. Incumbent uses his/her knowledge of pesticides biology and habits along with an arsenal of pest management techniques applying chemicals and setting traps, operating equipment, an even perform minimum modifying of structures-to alleviate pest problems.
~ Conducts schedule and un-scheduled on-site inspections of building and ground to determine type of infestation and correct treatment. Plans treatment and work sequences for best time suitable for the most effective control of insects and rodents without interfering with normal operations of the VA medical Center and affective services and/or patient care areas.
~ Selects, properly mixed and supplies general and restricted - use pesticides and herbicides to control pests in various environments, such as patient rooms, hospital, CBOC, CLC, offices, resident housing, canteen area, storage areas improved and unimproved grounds.
~ Performs pest management of vacant resident housing and dormitory rooms. Surveys and inspects vacant rooms and houses and applies appropriate chemicals to all receptacles, cracks and crevices where pest may hide.
~ Monitor bug lights at current duty station and may also be required to observe and change bug lights and traps at other locations within the VAMHCS.
~ Identify, detect, trap, get rid of and control bed bug population.
~ Educate staff, patient and other customer in the control and prevention of bed bugs.
~ Conduct weekly inventory of supplies and maintain local established stock levels for proper storage of all pesticides and germicides required by the pest management program.
~ All other related duties as assigned..

Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm. Monday - Friday. However, subject to changed based on needs of the service.
Position Description Title/PD#: Pest Controller/15046A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
8

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/22/2021.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards .

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position requires a current, valid Pesticide Applicator Certificate/license issued by Maryland Department of Agriculture with the following endorsements:
VII - Industrial, Institutional, Structural & Health Related.
A- general (e.g. cockroaches, fleas, crickets, ect.)
D - Rodents

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:

• Inspect
• Materials
• Pest Control
• Plan and organize work
• Work with Others

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/Working Conditions: Lifts and handles materials weighing over 50 pounds, and carries solutions and equipment weighing up to 40 pounds. Work frequently requires standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing and working in tiring an uncomfortable positions for extended periods. May occasionally worked in cramped and/or inconvenient surrounding requiring manipulation of equipment in awkward positions for prolonged periods. may occasionally move furniture and equipment.
Work is performed inside and outside. Inside work is frequently performed under buildings that are often dirty, dusty and damp. Inside work may include areas with minimum ventilation and/or limited access .Outside work frequently requires exposure to hot sun and occasionally bad weather.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Financial disclosure not required.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• OF-306
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .