This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief of Operations, Director, Capitol Grounds and Arboretum (CGA), Gardening Division. Serve as a Plant Health Care (PHC) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist and provide expert knowledge for the pest, disease and nutrient management programs with special emphasis on innovative approaches to managing the health of the living assets of the Capitol campus.

Duties

The Plant Specialist will utilize biocontrol, integrated pest management and other advanced scientific plant health strategies and will collaborate with other specialists to safeguard the health of turf, trees and shrubs throughout the Capitol campus. Will also coordinate work performed by fulltime, seasonal and contract staff, and coordinate work activities with special events.  

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• You must possess a valid State motor vehicle operator's license.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: (1) Designing and managing a sustainable and integrated plant health program; (2) Caring for trees, shrubs, herbaceous and turf of the mid-Atlantic region; (3) Applying pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and other plant health related chemicals, and their applicable safety laws and regulations; (4) Utilizing biocontrol methods and techniques; and (5) Using an array of diagnostic tools and skills to identify plant health care issues and determining methods to rehabilitate unhealthy plants. 

Education

Basic Requirements:

Degree: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position.

or

Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education:

Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.

Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.

You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected.

Contacts

• Address Architect of the Capitol 2nd and D Street, S.W. Washington, District of Columbia 20515 United States
• Name: Paulette Dixon-Ellis
• Phone: 000-000-0000
• Email: [email protected]