Hybrid Gardener en Department of Veterans Affairs

Gardener

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Perry Point, Maryland

Salary Range: $30.18 - $35.17 Per Hour

Job Summary: Incumbent is charged with performing all gardening and gardening-related tasks at the Perry Point Veterans Administration Medical Center. Jobs include, but are not limited to, fertilization, transplanting, laying sod, preparing sod and seed beds, aerating, pruning, trimming, and applying a wide range of chemicals to plants, turf, flowers, and trees.

Major Duties:

• Duties may include: Has leadership responsibility for the proper preparation of shrub and flower beds, maintenance of the BMP micro-bioretention areas, bio swales and shoreline maintenance initiatives. Responsible for assisting in the scheduling, at least 6 months in advance, of work necessary and materials needed to give proper pruning, cutting and fertilization of shrubs, trees, grass, and other vegetation. Informs the supervisor as to the number of employees needed and type of skills required to accomplish assignments and projects. Must be capable of using measuring instruments to correctly mix chemicals, pesticides and herbicides and other chemical formulation on shade trees, ornamental plants and turf and turf pest control. Must be able to measure area and circumference for depth excavation and placement of shrubs, flowers and mulch. Must have knowledge of insect infestation of trees and lawns and be certified in the use of insecticides and fungicides to correct these problems. Use seeders, tillers, sprayers, chippers, gas weed eaters and various hand tools. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 07:00am - 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#Gardener: /PD21013O Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/01/2025. 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. 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: 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 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: The work requires the expenditure of a high degree of physical and mental effort in the preparation of and the utilization of sod, flower beds, mixing of insecticides and utilizing various lawn equipment. Incumbent frequently climbs ladders to prune trees, and frequently lifts objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, and other gardening supplies and equipment up to and including 100 lbs. The gardening tasks require considerable walking, stooping, climbing, and lifting. Working Conditions: Incumbent will be subject to long hours outdoors in cold, snow, wet weather, hot weather, dust, pollen exposure and insect stings. Also, is subject to injury from lifting, handling toxic materials such as chemical over-spray, and from the hazards of operating high-power lawn maintenance equipment.

How to Apply: All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/01/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12769624. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. 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/.

Application Deadline: 2025-08-01