Hybrid Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) en Department of Veterans Affairs

Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

Location(s): Johnson City, Tennessee

Salary Range: $22.9 - $26.72 Per Hour

Job Summary: The Gardener works in the Grounds Transportation Unit of Engineering Service under the direct supervision of the Grounds Transportation Unit Supervisor with assistance from the lead gardener, who coordinates, schedules and assigns all grounds and gardening maintenance, transportation operations, equipment usage, and aerial lift work. Work includes gardening, mowing, leaf collection, snow removal according to seasonal or periodic demand, and station plans.

Major Duties:

• Major duties include but not limited to; The incumbent works in -the Grounds Transportation Unit of Engineering Service under the direct supervision of the Grounds Transportation Unit Supervisor with assistance from the lead gardener, who coordinates, schedules and assigns all grounds and gardening maintenance, transportation operations, equipment usage, and aerial lift work. Work includes gardening, mowing, leaf collection, snow removal according to seasonal or periodic demand., and station plans. Incumbent conducts seasonal gardening tasks including fertilizing, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, laying sod, aerating, pruning (trees and shrubs), trimming, and applying· chemicals to grounds, plants and lawn according to .schedules, project plans and regulations. The incumbent make determinations pertaining to suitability, weather, percent of moisture in the soil, and stage of plant growth to maintain the horticulture and beautify the station grounds. The incumbent will start and maintain seasonal nursery or cold frame beds to assist inventory of proper plants on hand for specific seasons. The gardener will select necessary fungicides, insecticides, herbicides for control of common plant diseases insects and weeds. Gardening practices also include seeding, treating soil,, mowing, removing, bra9ing, and cabling trees or plant life which are diseased or injured, edge and weed a vast lawn, leaf collection, and mulching. Gardener is responsible to maintain a mulch pile for beds and grounds. The Incumbent operates vehicles grossing 5,000-22,000 pounds such as, cars, vans, trucks, buses and other vehicular means of patient transportation., The incumbent is assigned vehicles to transport patients and employees around and to and from the station. The incumbent is responsible to enter vehicle usage and patient transport data into computer systems. He/she drives long distances. to swap government vehicles and provide road side assistance to other government drivers. The incumbent is responsible for the operation of a tractor w/attachments (disc, tiller, gill to prepare ground for seeding, etc.), farm type vehicles, any make or model of motor vehicle or motorized equipment, skip­loader, street sweeper, backhoe/ dump-truck, ambulance or wheelchair van, lawn mowers of various sizes and configurations, four wheel tractor, aerial lift, bobcat, van or cargo vehicle and push/pulled operated equipment as assigned. The incumbent is assigned to clean up all areas for trash, paper, and any items needing disposal. The incumbent may load and unload patients from patient transport vehicles, cargo trucks and other conveyances; uncrates and unpacks supplies and equipment, operating hand. The incumbent is required to have knowledge in securing patients and cargo to prevent damage to self and others. The incumbent must poses skills in operating a variety of motor vehicles including tractors and accessories; mowers of any kind, vans, patient transport vehicles, dump trucks, busses, and cars. He/she is responsible to perform maintenance on vehicles/hand tools, tractors, lawn mowers, string trimmers, blowers, etc. Work Schedule: Monday Thru Friday 6:00am to 2:30pm or 7:00am to 3:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)/PD60220A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/30/2025. PREFERRED: Class B Commercial Drivers License is preferred. 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: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments 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: : Work requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, turning, and moving of hands, arms, feet and legs: Strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment arid the jerking, and jolting from operating over rough surfaces. Climbing ladders to trim, prune, cut and work on shrubs ·and trees required. Frequently lifts heavy items, such as fertilizer buckets or bags, grass seed, equipment, and furnishings up to 100 pounds. Because of the location of some of the controls and attachments, the operator is frequently required to work in awkward or strained positions. The Incumbent will be subject to a certain degree of discomfort from having to work outside for long periods of time. Exposed to long periods of hot sun, dust, freezing temperatures, bad weather (rain, damp, snow and hail), vibrations and jolting from some equipment. Also subject to injury such as strains, fractures, cuts and bruises. from lifting and handling heavy materials and equipment. He/she is exposed to chemicals, pesticides, humus, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

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 07/30/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12761727. 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. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete. 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: 2025-07-30