Duties

Summary

This position is located at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC); Office of the Chief of Operations; Capitol Grounds and Arboretum; Gardening Division. The ideal candidate will assist the Gardener Supervisor with the responsibility for the management, planning, operation and appearance of the AOC gardens and grounds to meet the highest standards of horticultural excellence. The position is Emergency Essential.

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Responsibilities

Tour of Duty: Day (7:00 AM - 3:30 PM)

*** This position is essential. The selectee is required to report to work during adverse weather emergency and will be required to work overtime in emergency and inclement weather***

-- Applicants must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired state driver's license at the time of application.

-- Employee must apply to become a pesticide Registered Technician in the District of Columbia within 30 days of the effective date of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

--In the absence of the Gardener Supervisor, exercises the full range of supervisory duties and responsibilities over the gardener workforce. Participates with managers and supervisors in the initial planning of current and future work schedules, budget requests, staffing needs, estimates and recommendations to schedule projected work. Assists the Gardener Supervisor to plan work operations and determine the sequence, priority and time to perform particular operations. Exercises administrative authority to plan the use of workers, equipment, facilities and materials. Plans work assignments based on general work schedules, methods and policies set by higher level supervisors. Coordinates work with supporting and related work functions controlled by other unit supervisors, contractors and USCP. Determines the workers needed to accomplish specific projects. Redirects individual workers and resources to accomplish unanticipated work.

--Investigates work-related problems such as excessive costs or low productivity and determines cause. Implements corrective actions to resolve work problems. Recommends solutions to staffing problems and work operations directed by other supervisors. Orders supplies, equipment, tools and materials necessary for the functioning of the crew and sees that they are properly used, stored, maintained and inventoried.

--Performs administrative and technical supervisory functions for subordinates. Assigns duties to and evaluates their performance. Manages the organizational unit's budget and workload. Develops performance requirements for subordinates and ensures a mutual understanding of the performance standards. Resolves complaints and grievances as delegated by higher level supervisors.

--Provides leadership to ensure support for equal employment opportunity (EEO) goals and requirements. Practices non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory employment actions and prevents unlawful discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, age or disability. Provides for employee skills enrichment through job related coaching, mentoring and training. Fosters a culture of learning, sharing, cooperation and teamwork that improves efficiency and effectiveness throughout the organization.

--Utilizes a thorough knowledge of and compliance with applicable AOC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner and to initiate or take corrective action on unsafe conditions in managed areas. Provides or receives training, either on the job or through classroom training, to ensure that required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilized. Routinely checks to verify that subordinates are using all required PPE.

Prunes and Trims Plants:

--Assists the Gardener Supervisor with the direction of and performs tasks in planting, transplanting and caring for flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns. Cultivates the soil; adds fertilizers; plants seeds, seedlings, bulbs, shrubs and trees; waters; mulches; applies pesticides; trims, prunes and transplants when necessary; and arranges plants in designs and patterns.

--Assists the Gardener Supervisor with the direction of or performs tasks related to lawn and turf maintenance. This includes amending, aerating, disking, edging, fertilizing, grading, leaf removal, leveling, mowing, raking, seeding, sodding, spraying, trimming, watering and weeding.

Propagates and Cultivates Soil and Plants:

--Assists the Gardener Supervisor with implementing the Division's insect and disease control program utilizing an Integrated Pest Management philosophy. Recognizes insects and plant pathogens. Directs subordinates to and carries out an effective spray schedule. Ensures that pesticide application records are properly completed and submitted. Observes and enforces all safety precautions in accordance with the pesticide product labels, EPA and AOC Capitol Grounds guidelines.

Support of AOC Special Events:

--Actively participates in special events and programs with AOC staff, USCP, Sergeants at Arms, Construction Management Division and Superintendent of Buildings to coordinate and ensure specific goals. Directs and assists Division staff to set up and take down security fencing and barricades for emergencies, demonstrations, concerts, the Inauguration and other special events.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
Yes

Promotion Potential
08

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.
• You must have a valid, unexpired driver's license at time of application.
• Must apply for pesticide Registered Tech within 30 days of employment.

REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY PESTICIDES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, Title 20, require each employee that performs pest control activities in the District of Columbia, including governmental and state agencies, progress from being a Registered Technician to a Certified Applicator and subsequently a "Licensed Pesticide Applicator".

Employees hired on or after January 1, 2016 must submit an application to become a Registered Technician to the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) within 30 days of the effective date of employment.

A Registered Technician is required to take two exams in order to become a fully Licensed Pesticide Applicator as follows:

The Registered Technician is required to take a general core exam within 180 days after submitting the application to DOEE. Registered AOC employees hired before October 1, 2014 are not required to take the "general core" exam. Employee will have the opportunity to take the test two times.

A second exam called a Category Exam must be taken within 3 years of becoming a Registered Technician. This is a requirement to become a fully Licensed Pesticide Applicator. Employee will also have the opportunity to take the test two times.

A Registered Technician who is unable to pass the category exam within a subsequent 3 year period will be ineligible to apply pesticides. Employee will have the opportunity retest twice for both exams.

Within one year after becoming a Certified Applicator, an employee can apply to become a Licensed Pesticide Applicator. Employees who possess this license must complete refresher training and renew the license each year in order to retain the license.

Qualifications

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

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

-- Have ability to supervise employees in the performance of gardening work. (Screen-out)

-- Possess a valid, unexpired driver's license at the time of application.

-- Apply to become a pesticide "Registered Technician" in the District of Columbia within 30 days of the effective date of employment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the required licenses or registration are not obtained within the time periods specified, the incumbent will be terminated for failure to meet the conditions of continued employment.

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 http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6 .

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 supervise employees in the performance of gardening work. (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.

-- 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.

Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the "Required Documents" section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
No

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.

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

Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC's Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.

If Veterans' preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).

Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

Your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this job announcement.

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.