Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Prepares soil by considering individual needs of plants.
• Adjusts mineral content through proper mixture of such materials as sand humus topsoil and fertilizer.
• Monitors possible high erosion areas.
• Transplants and lays sod.
• Places seeds and plants in soil at proper depth and takes care no to damage roots.
• Inspects plants for obvious plant diseases (mold brown spots rusts blight and mildew) plant insects (leaf miner scales borers and slugs) and unusual or poor plant growth.
• Operates backhoe power driven lawn mowers street sweepers small tractors edgers clippers and chainsaws to keep the grounds well landscaped.
• Operates one or more vehicles such as sedans vans or pickup trucks which can have an approximate gross weight up to 10000 pounds.
• Removes snow and pretreats parking lots and roadways on property before frozen precipitation falls.
• Transports individuals to and from work details at the VA Medical Center.
• Fabricates signs from stock material using an engraving machine and engraving techniques or from manual type signage that outlines vinyl letters for attachment to various surfaces.
• Uses computerized signage machines to make name inserts for signs.
• Maintains inventory for all signs supplies equipment and materials.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Drivers License Requirement: At a minimum a current and valid state issued Drivers License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested you will be required to provide a copy of your current valid state issued Drivers License.

PHYSICAL EFFORT: The work requires frequent walking standing pushing of carts wheel barrows and lawnmowers. Frequently climbs ladders lifts heavy objects such as equipment bags of fertilizer and grass seed that could weigh in excess of 50 pounds. Position may operate in all kinds of weather in a controlled traffic environment throughout a government installation or establishment. While operating motor vehicles can be exposed to dirt and fumes and to the possibility of cuts bruises and broken bones as a result of accidents while driving or falling objects when loading and unloading vehicle.

Duties require sitting at engraving/sign making equipment for long periods of time. Walking stretching bending stooping and working with ladders are required to measure for placement of signs. Some lifting may be required. Keen eyesight is required to read small print from blueprints. Must have the basic ability to distinguish basic shades of color different sizes and shapes of signs.

WORK CONDITIONS: Duties will be performed inside and outside of buildings. Duties performed outdoors would be subject to all weather conditions; hot cold wet etc. being exposed to dirt dust mud chemical sprays and strong adhesive agents. Must comply with all safety rules regulations codes and practices and will be required to war protective clothing such as gloves safety goggles and shoes. Physical hazards such as tripping falling burns chemicals noise dust and other debris is common.

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:

• Interpret Instructions Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision