This position is located at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Duties

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE. Please note that as provided for in the AFGE/VA Master Agreement the FIRST area of consideration for this position will be permanent employees of the local facility in which this position is being filled, the SECOND area of consideration will be employees at other VA facilities, and the THIRD area of consideration will be all other eligibles. The work 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, aerating, mulching, spraying, and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The incumbent prepares the soil for plants, seeds, transplants, trims, prunes, fertilizes, and aerates, mulches and sprays herbicides, both post/pre-emergent, insecticides, and pesticides. The incumbent considers seasonal schedules or project plans for the assigned area, suitability of the weather, degree of moisture in the soil, and stage of plant growth in deciding when and how they will do their work. He/she performs turf and landscape maintenance including mowing, trimming, aeration, thatch control and removal, general pest control, pruning and care of woody plants and trees, and planting, transporting of annual and perennial plant material. Safely operates all types of equipment utilized in cemetery operations, including tractors, excavators, dump trucks, and utility vehicles. When necessary incumbent may assist in interment operations, and must be able to operate backhoes or excavators for excavating grave sites. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work schedule: May be required to work Monday through Friday to include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener/ PD135640 The full performance level of this position is WG-8. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must possess a valid state driver's license.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,12/21/2023. Your background must demonstrate work involved in gardener activities, including soil preparation, pest control, and landscape maintenance. 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 Qualification Standard Handbook X-118C ( www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c). 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. The screen-out element(s) for this position are/is: Ability to do the job without more than normal supervision. Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license. JOB ELEMENTS: Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out element will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)MaterialsOperate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)Technical PracticesWithout more than normal supervision 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: This position requires moderate to heavy physical effort that involves constant reaching, bending, turning and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate different controls on various types of equipment. Work requires frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, walking and exposure to constant vibrations and jolting caused by movement of equipment over uneven and rough terrain and running of other power tools. Position may require independent lifting and moving up to 50 pounds, anything in excess may require assistance to prevent injury. Working Conditions: Work is performed in all types of weather, ranging from hot and humid to wet, windy, and cold. Working conditions also include dust, dirt, mud, and water. The incumbent will be exposed to chemicals and pesticides. Wearing of safety shoes at all times and personal protective equipment as required by the labels of all products used is mandatory. Incumbent may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85dBA for up to eight (8) hours per day. This exposure may adversely affect hearing. Wearing of hearing protection that will contain the noise level of 85dBA or below is mandatory while operating equipment. While wearing hearing protection devices, the employee rnust still be able to hear at a level to perform duties in a safe manner. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Fort Snelling National Cemetery 7601 34th Avenue, South Minneapolis, MN 55450 US
• Name: NCA Human Resources Center
• Phone: (317)916-3660
• Email: [email protected]