This position serves as a Gardener/Tractor Operator in the Grounds Maintenance Shop under the supervision of the Supervisory Boiler Plant Operator, with second level direction provided by the Maintenance Control Manager.

Duties

Duties: Prepares seed, flower and bulb beds; transplants trees, shrubs and bulbs; lays sod, prunes, trims and cuts trees, shrubs and hedges. Looks for plant disease and pest activity, diagnoses problems and suggests course of action to supervisor; mixes and applies herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, growth inhibitors, fungicides, sterilants, and other related chemicals as needed and as directed by manufacturer and supervisor. Operates, controls, cleans, adjusts, oils, and mixes fuel for heavy walking type gasoline lawn mowers, riding mowers, tillers, composters, shredders, sod cutters, tampers and vacuum blowers. Operate edger's, weed eaters, trimmers, clippers, chain saws, aerators, sprayers, and other large and small hand and power tools common to garden and grounds maintenance operations. Sets, operates and troubleshoots underground irrigation systems, and considers the suitability of weather, soil conditions, stage of plant growth, and other factors when performing duties. Operates tractors, riding lawn mowers, tractor with gang mowers, forklift, 2-ton dump truck, utility vehicles, and other vehicles with or without loads over all types of terrain in all types of weather and traffic. As Ground Maintenance, the incumbent may perform other duties related to grounds maintenance operations to include loading and unloading supplies and equipment, flagpole erection, trash pickup, emptying trashcans, leaf raking, clearing ice, snow, and other debris during inclement weather, mowing, spading, digging holes, trenches, ditches, etc. Incumbent has advanced knowledge of tree work, such as when to prune, how to prune and removal of dead limbs from large trees; assists other shops and services as needed; and may be called any time of day or night to perform duties associated with inclement weather, emergency or disaster situations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator) / PD011830 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:Measuring InstrumentsTechnical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and Equipment IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Juan Cruz
• Phone: (860) 938-7296
• Email: [email protected]