This position is located within the Grounds Section of the Facilities Management Service at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Operates backhoe front-end loader to load top soil and mulch for transfer to a truck; Recommends plants for particular planting purposes such as shade, boundary lines, grounds cover, corrosion control, or pleasing appearance; Works from project plans, master landscape and long range plans; Applies restricted and general use pesticides, herbicides and insecticides; Performs general labor including snow removal, moving furniture, cutting grass and cleaning such as removing debris and cleaning out sewer manholes; Prepares soil for planting seeding, thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing aerating, mulching spraying and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees; Plans work sequences and conducts inspections of ground for evidence of conditions conducive to damage and infestation by insects.; Select the best location for plant growth and development, considering soil conditions, hardiness of plants, foliage at various stages of growth, flowering periods and the overall landscape plane; Uses pest management products; Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 7:00am-3:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

Qualifications

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: A current, valid applicator license for chemicals in category 6 for ornamental and shade trees AND category 7 for lawn and turf. Note: Your certification(s) must be submitted with your application to be considered for the position. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Work requires standing, stooping, kneeling, and crawling. The Gardener frequently handles, lifts, and carries equipment that weigh up to 40 pounds. Much of the work is performed on ladders, scaffolds, and platforms. Work is primarily performed outside in the hot sun, high humidity, cold temperatures, rain, or snow. 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 SafetyInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)MaterialsMeasuring InstrumentsTechnical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and Equipment IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]