This position is a Gardener in the Maintenance and Operations Section of the Facilities Management Service, Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The incumbent performs professional gardening work concerned with the maintenance and improvement of the 24 acres at the Medical Center.

Duties

Prepares the soil for plants, seeds, thins, transplants, trims, prunes, fertilizes, aerates, mulches, sprays, and dust grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees using independent judgment and decision making. Directs laborers and Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) staff or other assigned personnel including volunteers. Prunes plants to remove dead, dying, diseased wood from shrubbery and trees and enhance natural form, unless an artificial appearance is the goal. Performs tasks outside the area of gardening to support the other duties and responsibilities of the Maintenance and Operations Section during periods of extreme weather, labor shortages or heavy workloads, etc., the incumbent may. Assists with snow and ice removal using hand tools and other equipment in addition to chemicals of various types without injury to plant material. Operates all types of equipment utilized in operations, including operation of ride-on mowers, utility vehicles, large pick-up trucks, front loader skid Bob Cat, tractors, and snow removal equipment. Operates safely heavy equipment, i.e., front loader Bob Cat, Large Trucks, Utility Vehicles Installs landscaping materials. Ability and knowledge to select the correct plant for the best results considering the soil conditions, sun/shade, adverse climate conditions, moisture, foliage at various stages of growth, flowering periods, weed control, insect control, drainage, and wild animal control, as well as for low maintenance. Performs a wide range of gardening work independently and consults gardening books or catalogs regarding physical characteristics of plants and plant requirements for sun, water, minerals, and soil mixture. Installs and removes external holiday lights and decorations. Communicates effectively in both verbal and written formats to both supervisors and peers. Assist in snow and ice removal using hand tools and other equipment in addition to chemicals of various types without injury to plant material. Uses knowledge of and complies with State Motor Vehicle Regulations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Other shifts as required by the needs of the service. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Work is performed over 24 acres and requires frequent walking and the use of a tractor for transportation of equipment and materials. Frequent bending, stooping, and standing are required due to the nature of the work. The Gardner will climb ladders to prune plant material or to place Christmas lights. Required to lift of heavy objects such as fertilizer, salt, plant material and maneuver wheelbarrows. Most of the work is done outdoors. The position is subject to discomfort from long periods of heat and humidity, cold, win, rain, and snow. There is exposure to chemical sprays and dust. The incumbent is provided with protective clothing. 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 SafetyMaterialsTechnical 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 Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center 1 Medical Center Drive Clarksburg, WV 26301 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]