The Supervisor Gardener serves as supervisor and principle expert for the Grounds and Transportation Unit of the Engineering Service for James H. Quillen VA Medical Center spanning a region incorporating eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia.

Duties

As the Supervisor Gardener, the incumbent's duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent is responsible for preventive and operational maintenance, calibration and utilization of tools, machines, pieces of equipment, and various types of nonstandard vehicles. Must be knowledgeable about the operation, regulatory guidelines, safety, licensing, and continuing education requirements pertaining to assigned tools, machines, pieces of equipment, and the various types of nonstandard vehicles needed to complete the mission. The incumbent directs management and supervision of training, education and certification schedules; equipment and tool calibration; route and shift schedules; chemical analysis and hazardous chemicals. The incumbent must possess knowledge of budgets, budgeting, budget execution, and fiscal accountability for the Grounds and Transportation Unit. The incumbent must possess Contracting Officer Representative training and is expected to maintain this certification. As such, he/she must be knowledgeable with all contracting web and networked based accounting systems and requirements to certify funds pertaining to assigned contracts. The incumbent must possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of government fleet management requirements, policies, regulations, and principles including those found in the Energy Policy Acts, and related Executive Orders. The incumbent will have knowledge and experience in heavy equipment operation and maintenance including but not limited to excavators, hoes, tractors, busses, loaders, plows, commercial mowers, bailers; street sweepers, and dumps. The incumbent must possess advanced knowledge and understanding of plant species and their cultural requirements. Must be skilled with the range of hand tools and the operation of power equipment to complete the tasks needed to maintain plants in optimum condition and supervises all grounds operations. The incumbent is experienced in handling nursery stock, bedding plants, bulbs, etc., in healthy condition prior to their installation. The incumbent is skilled in plant propagation; sexual and asexual. Skilled in successful transplanting of trees and shrubs required to be relocated due to landscape renovation and building construction. The incumbent must supervise and be experienced with the use of soil amendments to improve soil quality for the culture of specific plants. The incumbent directs and supervises and is able to read, interpret and implement the designs and layouts for seasonal flower beds and other plantings for optimum effect. The incumbent has a thorough knowledge of and directs pruning to improve plant health and appearance. In all cases, directs the natural form will be enhanced unless an artificial appearance is the goal. Supervises the pruning to remove dead, dying, diseased wood from shrubbery and trees and prepares purchase order requests for vendor services when the work cannot be performed by station employees. The incumbent must be a licensed pesticide applicator with an approved Tennessee permit (or in possession of a license from another state). Directs the use of and uses chemical controls when necessary for diseases, insects and weed control. Directs and is able to identify common insect pests, diagnose disease problems and problems due to mineral deficiency, soil pH, cold damage, etc. Records corrective procedures used for optimal results. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday Day Shift Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Supervisor Gardener/PD602420 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/21/2024. 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. Screen Out Element - 'Ability to do the work of the Gardener without more than normal supervision.' 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal SupervisionAbility to Use and Maintain Tools and EquipmentKnowledge of MaterialsTechnical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)Use of Measuring Instruments 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 requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, turning, and moving of hands, arms, feet and legs. Strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces. Climbing ladders to trim, prune, cut and work on shrubs and trees required. Frequently lifts heavy items, such as fertilizer buckets or bags, grass seed, equipment, and furnishings up to 100 pounds. Because of the location of some of the controls and attachments, the operator is frequently required to work in awkward or strained positions. Working Conditions - Incumbent will be subject to a certain degree of discomfort from having to work outside for long periods of time. Exposed to long periods of hot sun, dust, freezing temperatures, bad weather (rain, damp, snow and hail), vibrations and jolting from some equipment. Also subject to injury such as strains, fractures, cuts and bruises from lifting and handling heavy materials and equipment. He/She is exposed to chemicals, pesticides, humus, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

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]