Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is comprised of approximately 70 positions organized into Administrative Services Division, Public Programs Division, Horticulture Division and an Operations Division. The USBG is dedicated to demonstrating the aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological importance of plants to the well-being of humans. To meet this mission, the USBG provides memorable, educational experiences to over 1 million visitors annually and hosts numerous congressional events each year.

Tour of duty is other than Monday through Friday Flexible schedule includes weekends, evenings and Holidays on a regular basis.

** The selectee will be designated as an “Emergency Essential Employee” and will be required to work in emergency situations.

MAJOR DUTIES:

Supervision

• Exercises the full range of supervisory responsibilities for a team of gardeners assigned to the Plant Collections Section; Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for employees, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system; Provides advice and counsel to employees related to work and administrative matters. Develops performance improvement plans (PIPs), recommending personnel actions as necessary; Initiates disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area; Provides for employee skills enrichment and development through identification of opportunities for coaching, mentoring and training.

Collections Evaluation, Planning and Design

• Performs evaluation, planning and design of specialized areas of horticulture. These areas include, but are not limited to, USBG plant collections and their growing environments and displays. Critically evaluates plant collections, their growing environments, and displays for overall quality of health, aesthetic, educational, safety, efficiency, and sustainability features.
• Prepares and plans projects for both short and long-term as they relate to USBG priorities, mission and master plans. Project planning includes all aspects of overseeing growing collections plants for display installation, as well as other considerations such as hardscape, labels, irrigation, aesthetic elements, equipment, and labor.
• Designs collections displays for maximum effect for aesthetics, education, safety, and sustainability. Investigates new varieties of plants to be added to the collections for display at the USBG and participates in the selection of plant sources.
• In conjunction with the Plant Curator, exchanges materials, ideas, and information with other conservatories, museums and gardens.
• Works with the Landscape Architect and Learning and Engagement employees to design displays and hardscape elements.
• Works closely with the Plant Curator, Botanist, Plant Records Specialist and gardeners to properly accession, label plants, and maintain detailed accession records in accordance with the Collections Management Plan and Curatorial Policy. 

Greenhouse and Display Maintenance

• Manages and participates in all aspects of greenhouse and collections preparation and maintenance for optimal plant health and aesthetics. Uses expert knowledge of greenhouse control systems to determine, manage and create ideal cultural conditions for a wide diversity of plant material. Supervises display maintenance.
• Works with the Supervisory Horticulturists, Horticulturist, Arborists, Plant Health Care Specialist, and Gardeners across sections to cultivate and ensure safe and healthy plants.
• Works with Plant Health Care Specialist to oversee plant health and an integrated pest management program for all Collections areas.
• Collaborates with other divisions and sections of the USBG to develop, execute and maintain educational collections displays.
• Operates a wide variety of motor vehicles and equipment in accomplishing exhibit installation, greenhouse operations and plant delivery.

Plant Cultivation

• Oversees and coordinates the propagation, growing and maintenance of a wide variety of standard and non-standard plants for long term and seasonal displays, showcasing the USBG Plant Collections. These include, but are not limited to orchids, economic plants, medicinal plants, tropical plants, plants of arid environments, carnivorous plants, and ferns. Cultivation also includes a variety of specialty plants and growing conditions. 
• Explores methods to improve planting, cultivating, nutrient management, and insect and disease control to achieve optimal plant quality and health in greenhouse, nursery, and display situations. 

Administration

• Coordinates employee schedules to ensure daily coverage. Approves schedules, leave and premium pay through an electronic system.
• Contacts vendors, obtains quotes and prepares orders of plants and hard goods for supervisor’s review and authorization.

Conditions of employment

• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• You must meet education requirements at the time of application.
• You must possess a valid, unexpired state motor vehicle driver's license.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

To apply pesticides in the District of Columbia (D.C.), the incumbent must possess or be able to obtain within 1 year of employment, a valid D.C. pesticide applicator’s license in categories (3A) exterior ornamental plants or (3B) interior plant-scapes.

Experience supervising a workforce covered by a collective bargaining agreement is desirable, but not required.

Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position.  You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions.  It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards

Specialized Experience:

One (1) year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.

To be creditable, candidates must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service.

Examples of specialized experience include the following: (1) Planning horticultural projects and activities, including plant collections, installation, maintenance and displays; (2) Evaluating and diagnosing horticultural issues in greenhouse grown plant collections to determine the proper corrective action; (3) Modifying or adapting standard techniques, processes and procedures and promoting knowledge and understanding of plants; (4) Assessing and applying strategies and plans to overcome significant practical gardening problems; and (5) Leading or supervising employees in the performance of horticultural work.

OR

You may substitute education for specialized experience. In order to substitute education for specialized experience, you must have three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study related to the duties of the position.

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 knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) 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 knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

• Ability to organize and direct complex horticultural projects, set priorities and deadlines to meet established goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of greenhouse environments and environmental control systems.
• Knowledge of the principles, concept, and practices of botany and horticulture.
• Knowledge of plant collections, characteristics, and nomenclature.

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 not hiring you or disqualification for 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.