The Gardener Work Leader is assigned to the Grounds and Transportation Unit within the Engineering Service of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. The incumbent serves as the Head Gardener and Grounds and Transportation Work Leader under the direct supervision of the Supervisor Gardener.

Duties

Major duties include: Leads ten or more workers to accomplish Grounds and Transportation Unit duties and assignments. Performs work alongside unit employees. Coordinates schedules and assigns all grounds maintenance work, according to seasonal demand, station plans, or immediate demands. Follows local and national safety rules and guidelines. Provides assistance to the Supervisor to maintain a grounds maintenance program. Gives on the job training to new employees in accordance with established procedures and practices. Maintains current knowledge and answers questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc. and obtains needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems that come up. Amends or rejects work not meeting established standards. Plans, measures and lays out work using broad knowledge of grounds maintenance with general and precision techniques. Ensures that needed plans, blueprints, materials and tools are available. Makes independent judgments and decisions within the framework of oral and written instructions. Perform tasks that involve the full scope of landscaping, maintenance, and upkeep of the station grounds, which is heavily populated with trees, shrubs, bushes, rose bushes, and flower beds. Consistently communicates and interacts with customers in a courteous, tactful and helpful manner. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Mon-Friday Dayshift; may periodically be required to work other shifts when the situation dictates the need. Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener Work Leader/PD071170 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/07/2023. 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. 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: Decision MakingHorticultureManages ResourcesMechanicalTechnology ApplicationVehicle Operation 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: Work will be performed over 250 acres and, as such, 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 Head Gardener/Work Leader will climb ladders to prune, plant material or perform tasks such as placing Christmas lights. Incumbent will be required to lift heavy objects such as fertilizer, salt, plant material and maneuver loaded wheelbarrows. Working Conditions: The majority of work is done outdoors. The Head Gardener/Work Leader will be subject to discomfort from long periods of heat and humidity, cold, wind, rain and snow, and will perform responsibilities with minimum interruption under these conditions. Incumbent will be exposed to chemical sprays and dusts. Employee will be provided protective clothing and equipment such as gloves, respirator, safety shoes and boots. The work requires frequent walking, standing, bending and stooping. Climbs ladders to trim and work on trees. Frequently lifts heavy items, such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc. During periods of extreme weather, such as heavy rain or severe cold, the incumbent may be given assignments to assist other members of the section in moving materials and equipment, shop maintenance and other tasks which may be outside the range of gardening. The incumbent may periodically be required to work shifts other than 6:45am to 3:30pm when the situation dictates the need. These assignments will be determined by the Supervisor Gardener in consultation with the Assistant Chief, Engineering Service. The incumbent shall assist in snow and ice removal using hand tools and other equipment in addition to chemicals of various types without injury to structures, roads and plant materials.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address James H Quillen VA Medical Center Corner of Lamont Street and Veterans Way Mountain Home, TN 37684 US
• Name: Paulette Stewart
• Email: [email protected]