Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

Summary
This position is located in the Environmental Management Service & Grounds Section of the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

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Duties
Performing seasonal gardening tasks and cultivating a wide variety of plants in flower and shrub beds throughout the Medical Center campus;
Preparing soil for plants, seeding, thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying and dusting of ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees as instructed;
Consulting with the grounds supervisor regarding the physical characteristics of plants and their requirements for health growth;
Recommending changes for improvement in the overall landscape plan and obtaining approval on projects which require unplanned expense or significant periods of time within the framework of good gardening practices;
Inspecting plants, trees, and shrubs for disease, insects, and/or unusual or poor plant growth;
Planning and carrying out the scheduled seasonal preparation of flower beds and ornamental planting areas;
Transplanting trees, shrubbery, and plants when relocation is required due to construction or building maintenance issues;
Watering, fertilizing, planting, pruning, and trimming plants, shrubs, trees, and other tasks and projects as assigned;
Performing grounds maintenance tasks to include lawn mowing, trimming, fertilizing, watering, weed eating, edging sidewalks, blowing leaves, ensuring entranceways are free of debris and obstacles, etc.;
Replacing mulch in flower beds and ornamental gardens, removing weeds by hand, tools, application of chemicals, etc.;
Operating a street sweeper for roadway and parking lot maintenance;
Applying sand and other materials where ice has accumulated (sidewalks, entranceways, steps, roadways) due to winter storms in order to maintain a safe environment;
Operating high reach manual equipment for pruning tall trees and shrubs, removing dead tree limbs, cleaning out gutters, or removing debris from rooftops, etc.;
Pruning and trimming shrubs and trees and other plants to remove obvious defects and excess branches to obtain proper balance between roots and top growth to modify or retain the natural form;
Performing gardening duties for interior gardens such as the Plant Atrium and Serenity Garden;
Moving indoor potted plants from the greenhouse to interior locations for events and presentations;
Operating Motor Vehicles, pick-up trucks, vans, and heavy equipment like back hoes, etc. to haul equipment to and from work sites, pickup supplies, and transport lawn maintenance equipment throughout the facility;
Collecting trash, garbage, and contaminated waste as needed;
Assisting in the pick-up and delivery of vehicles for routine maintenance;
Performing related duties as required.
Work Schedule: M-F 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
LICENSE REQUIREMENT: This position requires the possession of a valid state driver's license. Do not submit your license with your application; it will be collected at interview. ~AND~
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be eligible for this position, your resume must reflect the ability to perform the duties of the Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) without more than normal supervision.
PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: This position requires walking, standing, bending, pushing, pulling, stretching, and stooping for long periods of time. Carries materials, equipment and objects of varying weights, sizes and shapes up to 100 lbs. Frequently, ladders are used for pruning and trimming large shrubbery and trees and cleaning out building gutters, etc. Requires muscular effort to operate Motor Vehicles, as well as loading and unloading materials and supplies. Muscular effort and coordination are also required to operate the various controls on power lawn equipment. Work is performed primarily outside. Working conditions are often dirty and noisy, subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun and to cold and rainy weather in the winter. There is exposure to grass clippings, brush, environmental smell/odors, chemical sprays, fertilizer dust, pollen, etc. On occasion, work is required in areas that may pose health hazards if proper precautions are not taken. Working conditions are such that the worker must constantly be mindful of safety precautions to limit the possibility of accidents, contamination, and personal injury or injury to others within the work area.
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:

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

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.
Education
This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (910) 488-2120.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Financial disclosure not required.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Review our benefits
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your ...