The Gardener (Tractor Operator) in the Grounds Section of Engineering Service requires knowledge of gardening procedures and skill in growing and tending lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Involves preparing for plants, seeding, and thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, mowing, aerating, mulching, spraying, and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Incumbent is required to work with a minimum amount of supervision to perform a wide variety of duties.

Duties

This position is part of the Engineering Service at George E Wahlen Veterans Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT. The incumbent has the duties of Gardener (Tractor Operator) in the Grounds Section of Engineering Service. The work of this position requires knowledge of gardening procedures and skill in growing and tending lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The work involves preparing for plants, seeding, and thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, mowing, aerating, mulching, spraying, and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees. He/she is required to work with a minimum of supervision to perform a wide variety of duties to enhance and maintain. Duties of the position include and are not limited to: The incumbent must consider seasonal schedules and/or project plans for the medical center's grounds and study the local suitability of the weather, degree of moisture in the air, soil and stages of plant growth to decide when and where the work will be accomplished. Must determine the quantities of plants, seeds, etc. needed for specific areas. Using own judgment, directs and performs tasks such as watering of all lawns, policing grounds, snow and ice removal, use of hand and power tools, mowing of lawns utilizing push type and riding lawn mowers, weed eaters, weeds flower beds, trims shrubs and trees, and mulches shrubs and flower areas. Cleans all engineering storage areas when required. Responsible for the maintenance and minor repair of all equipment utilized by grounds maintenance. Will accomplish snow removal when requested and under the direction of the Maintenance Supervisor. This might entail change of shifts, after hours, weekends or holidays; will report for duty as directed or called for. Accomplishes all other duties assigned to provide grounds maintenance of the medical center. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener - Tractor Operator/PD10582A

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/29/2023. 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. Required Experience: The incumbent must possess knowledge of the use of grounds equipment, mowers, weed-eaters, snow blowers, hand tools, tractor, edger, fork-lift and street sweepers, and will be required to do maintenance and preventive maintenance of all grounds equipment. 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 SupervisionHorticultureMechanicalVehicle Maintenance 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 tasks require frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing of carts, lawnmowers, edger's and wheelbarrows. Work task may involve occasional lifting and carrying heavy (approximately 50 pounds) with frequent lifting and carrying of moderately heavy objects (up to 40 pounds) such as grass seed, trash bags, ice melt, containers, trimming and waste. Other physical effort involves pulling, climbing, working with hands over head. Must have the ability to be on feet for extended periods of time either standing, walking or working off ladders. Climbs ladders to prune and/or trim shrubs and trees. Working Conditions: Primary work will be in the exterior grounds and parking areas of the medical center. Incumbent is required to use all the proper tools and safety equipment to protect himself/herself, staff, patients and visitors. Other assignments can be in any area of the Medical Center. Will be exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruises and insect bites. Work is often dirty and dusty. Work is inside and outside, and off ladders and scaffolds. Outside work will involve exposure to a variety of weather conditions as is expected in the Salt Lake City area.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Damon Martin
• Phone: 801-582-1565 X2683
• Email: [email protected]