Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals . Note: Federal employees with permanent status or individuals eligible for special appointing authorities may also apply to Job Announcement # 19A-SR-304890-MPA-SF.

• Collaborates with Smithsonian Gardens and Smithsonian Facilities staff in the planning of horticultural and gardening methods and principles.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with internal and external stakeholders to: persuade others, form and preserve professional connections, and provide technical guidance.
• Provides oversight, planning, implementation and evaluation of all grounds related horticultural programs including: design, installation, and development and maintenance activities.
• Composes various documents related to the supervision, training, and promulgation of Smithsonian Gardens staff, policy, and scholarly research.

Conditions of employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
• May need to complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on the web at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Qualifications

In addition to Basic Requirement below you must also have the following experience:

GS-11:You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.  For this position specialized experience is defined as providing oversight of and performing horticulturist duties in a public garden, commercial landscape or nursery setting. Those duties must include: assigning tasks and managing the daily operations for a horticulture staff; collaborating with gardening and landscape architecture professionals to plan, execute, and complete horticultural projects; and providing oversight for a horticultural program.

Or Education 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph. D. degree or Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Or a Combination: Education and experience may be combined to meet the basic qualifications. For a full explanation of this option please see the Qualification Standards. 

GS-12:You qualify for this position if you possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal Service or comparable pay band system.  For this position specialized experience is defined as providing oversight of and performing horticulturist duties in a public garden, commercial landscape or nursery setting. Those duties must include: assigning tasks and managing the daily operations for a horticulture staff; collaborating with gardening and landscape architecture professionals to plan, execute, and complete horticultural projects; providing oversight for a horticultural program; and establishing and analyzing policies and procedures for a horticultural program.

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.

Part-time and/or unpaid experience related to this position will be considered to determine the total number of years and months of experience. Be sure to note the number of paid or unpaid hours worked each week.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

• Skill in interpersonal techniques (e.g. to negotiate and persuade others, to establish and maintain effective working relationships).
• Knowledge of the theories, methods and principles of horticulture science or related plant science.
• Ability to coordinate, organize and establish priorities of self and others.
• Ability to communicate in writing to a wide range of individuals and organizations.

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum qualifications will be assigned to one of three category groups based on job-related criteria: Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above. Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above. Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree. This category rating process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three", but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position.

Important Note:

The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.