Incumbent of this position has the duties of gardener in the Environmental Care Section of Facilities Management. The work of this position 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.

Duties

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Planting flowers, shrubs and trees. Computes quantities and species of trees, plants, and seeds needed to develop and maintain specific areas. Knowledge of proper temperature zone, location, and soil condition for particular purposes (shade, boundary lines, ground cover, erosion control, angle of slope, or pleasing appearance.) Constructs a good soil base to prepare and develop garden beds. Ability to compute quantities of plants, and seeds required for a specific area. Ensure planted material is in proper depth and location for optimum foliage feeding and root feeding. Sets up and calibrates spreaders and sprayers. Trimming and pruning of weeds, trees, shaping trees and shrubs. Watering and fertilizing. Operates wheel mounted tractors and associated equipment. Operates trucks equipped with power lift gates, dump beds, and snow plows. Responsible for routine maintenance, loading supplies, routine washing and repair of equipment and vehicles used. Responsible for snow removal during the winter season. Will observe safe work practices, exercising proper care, utilization and control of work tools, materials and government property. Knowledge of gardening practices pertinent to the Denver, Colorado area, particularly in diagnosing and controlling plant diseases, planting and transplanting plants and proper watering practices. Use of hand tools, mowing of lawns utilizing push type lawn mowers, weed eaters, weeds flower beds, trims shrubs and trees, and mulches shrubs and flower areas. must be familiar with the cultural and maintenance requirements of vegetation available for landscape used in Colorado. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am-3:30pm (varies for snow) Telework: No Position Description/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator)/PD100440 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/01/2024. 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. 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:Dexterity and SafetyInterpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)MaterialsMeasuring InstrumentsProduction Support ServiceTechnical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and EquipmentWithout 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/Working Conditions: Must be physically fit, as work tasks require frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing of carts, lawnmowers, edger's and wheelbarrows. Work tasks may involve occasional lifting and carrying heavy (approximately 50 pounds) with frequent lifting and carrying heavy objects (up to 40 pounds) such as grass see, trash bags, ice melt, containers, trimming and waste. Must have the ability to be on feet for long periods of time either standing, walking or working off ladders. Climbs ladders to prune and/or trim shrubs and trees.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System 1700 N Wheeling St Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]