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GARDENER

Employer
USAJobs
Location
Washington, D.C
Closing date
Jul 16, 2019
Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Capitol Grounds and Aboretum, Gardening Division. The Capitol Grounds and Arboretum is responsible for preserving and maintaining acres of landscape across Capitol Hill including plantings and infrastructure. The Gardner performs gardening tasks in support of the overall efficiency and effectiveness in the maintenance of the Capitol Grounds.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

This position is designated as an "Emergency Essential Employee." The selectee will be required to work in emergency situations and in inclement weather conditions.

Tour of duty: may include holidays and weekends on a regular and recurring basis. Rotating shift work may also be required at management's discretion. Regular tour of duty may be Monday - Friday or Tuesday - Saturday at management's discretion.

To apply pesticides in the District of Columbia (D.C.), employee must possess a valid D.C. pesticide applicator's license in categories (3A) exterior ornamental plants, (3B) interior plant-scapes and/or (3C) turf grass, dependent upon the pesticides used.

Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

Major Duties

- Plants, transplants and cares for flowers, trees and shrubs. Trims, prunes and aerates plants and plant materials.

- Plants seedlings, bulbs, shrubs and trees in patterns, beds and selected locations to achieve a pleasing appearance of the gardens and grounds. Trims and prunes hedges, shrubbery and other plants.

- Cares for and maintains decorative plants in various rooms and courtyards of the Capitol Grounds. Waters and fertilizes plants and removes dead growth.

- Uses gas, electric and hand shears and pruning cutters to prune and trim to appropriate shape and size according to specific instructions. Uses appropriate pruning techniques to obtain desired configuration for the type of shrubbery in the garden plan. Checks foliage in surrounding areas to observe other plants to determine pruning requirements.

- Recognizes and treats diseases, cold damage and mineral deficiencies. Applies fertilizers. Replaces dead or dying plants.

- Calculates quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer and other materials needed for specific areas.

- Prepares soil from instructions on the proper mixture of such materials as sand, humus, topsoil and fertilizer. Places seeds and plants in soil at proper depth, taking care not to damage roots while transplanting.

- Selects, measures, mixes and applies chemical control agents and fertilizers using foliage feeding, root feeding and soil additive techniques. Roots, grafts, layers and documents soil beds, plants, seedlings, cuttings and seeds using knowledge of chemical composition, depth, moisture, temperature, humidity and ventilation requirements to encourage germination and growth.

- Follows safety rules, regulations and standard operating procedures. Complies with OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner and use of any required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
09

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
  • Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.


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Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.

You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT:

Ability to perform gardening work without more than normal supervision which includes working independently, showing job responsibility and exercising initiative.

Qualification at the WG-6 level: Assists with gardening projects and has a working knowledge of gardening practices in order to maintain a diverse group of plants.

Education

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.

The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.

The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.

This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:

-- Ability to perform gardening work without more than normal supervision. (Screen-out)

-- Technical gardening practices and techniques.

-- Ability to interpret instructions specific to the gardening trade.

-- Ability to use and maintain gardening tools and equipment.

-- Knowledge of materials and supplies common to the gardening trade.

-- Dexterity and Safety.

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.

We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).

If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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