Gardener

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

• Performs a full scale of ground keeping tasks to include seasonal planting fertilizing transplanting and pruning.
• Operates a variety of hand and power garden tools such as fertilizer spreader portable sparer hedge trimmers weed eaters pruning and shears.
• Operates stores and maintains equipment such as commercial pressure power lawn mowers edger trimmer pruners and weed eaters.
• Provides corrective action for plant management insect and disease control.
• Performs pressure washing driveways building exteriors sidewalks exterior railing and other miscellaneous landscape features.
• Operates highly spiraled carpet cleaning equipment scrubs strips waxes and polishes floors using heavy powered scrubbers buffers pressure washers etc.
• Drives forklifts as needed to transport heavy loads such as soil plants pallet and ice melts.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the deployment mixing application and current laws and guideline of restricted use pesticides.
• Maintains landscape in a healthy disease-free and attractive condition.
• Performs trench digging minor sprinkler head/risers repair work raking and other duties associated with normal lawn and flower bed maintenance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

To qualify for this position you must meet the following requirements:

Selective Placement Factor (Screen-Out) - A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

The SPF for this position is: Requires a valid/current state Drivers License. (Please DO NOT provide a copy of your drivers license. We cannot accept pictures. This requirement will be verified during interview.)

and

Performing gardening tasks (e.g. fertilizing seeding transplanting sodding aerating trimming/pruning etc.); using a variety of hand and power-operated garden tools and equipment (seeders spreaders trimmers shears sprayers); driving forklifts as needed to transport heavy loads such as soil plants pallet and ice melts; and providing corrective action for plant management insect and disease control. (This experience must be documented on your resume.)

Physical Effort: The work requires frequent walking standing pushing of carts bending crawling and stooping. The employee must be able to lift heavy objects such as fertilizer salt plant material and maneuver loaded wheelbarrow. Often lift and handle materials weighing over 23 kilograms (50 pounds) and carry chemical solutions and equipment weighing up to 18 kilograms (40 pounds) for extended periods.

Working Conditions: The majority of work is done working outside the employee is subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun and sometimes to chilly or rainy weather. Being exposed to dirt dust mud and sometimes to chemical sprays and dusts they may wear protective clothing such as gloves safety shoes and boots. There is chance of minor injuries such as bruises cuts and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls.

During periods of extreme weather such as heavy rain or severe heat the employee may be given assignments to assist other members of the section in moving materials and equipment housekeeping and other tasks which may be outside the range of groundkeeper.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position the job element method is used to match what you the applicant can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision