Clarification from the agency

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

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

MAJOR DUTIES:

The selectee serves on the USBG’s supervisory team, contributing leadership and guidance to the organization’s operations and museum quality collections.

Supervision

• Exercises the full range of supervisory responsibilities for the Horticulture Branch, which includes a Gardener (Envirocycler/MVO), a Laborer (Recycler/MVO) and three (3) Gardener Supervisors. The Gardener Supervisors individually oversee the Collections Section, the Exhibits and Displays Section and the Gardens and Grounds Section. Develops the annual schedule for all Horticulture employees and specialty schedules as needed (e.g., exhibits, emergencies, holidays). Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for employees, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Writes detailed performance plans for employees that direct and guide their cultural care of plants and maintenance of the living collection, supervision of employees and support of the USBG mission and values, as applicable to their positions. Provides advice, counsel and mentoring 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.

Horticulture Facilities Operations and Maintenance

• Manages and participates in all aspects of greenhouse facility maintenance, both at the Production Facility (PF) and Conservatory, ensuring environments are optimal for plant health and aesthetics. Manages and maintains the greenhouse climates to ensure proper growing conditions for all plants in the facility. Manages the horticulture operations of the Production Facility in the Blue Plains area of D.C. Supervises daily and long-term projects in the facility, including storage of materials and trash, compost and recycling collection. Manages the landscape maintenance of the entire facility. Schedules and oversees the seasonable planning of horticultural requirements at the PF. Manages the tool and equipment inventory for the Horticulture Division. Oversees coordination of supply storage for the Horticulture Division.

Collections Evaluations, Planning and Design

• Provides leadership for the 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. Oversees display designs 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, educational institutions 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 Gardener Supervisors to properly accession, label plants, and maintain detailed accession records in accordance with the Collections Management Plan and Curatorial Policy. 

Plant Cultivation

• Supervises, coordinates and mentors employees in 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. 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. 

Administrative Responsibilities

• 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.
• Serves as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for PF landscape maintenance and USBG apiary service contracts and other contracts as required.

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 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.

** The selectee must have a valid pesticide applicator's license OR must obtain a pesticide applicator's license within 6 months of hire date.

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: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled.  To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.
 
Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-12) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following:

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, methods, and techniques of horticulture;
• Leading and/or supervising employees in the performance of horticultural work, project operations and maintenance activities;
• Comprehensive knowledge and experience with greenhouse facilities and plants, plant health, pest, disease and nutrition management, and advanced techniques in horticulture; and 
• Assessing horticultural programs and operations and applying strategies and plans to resolve problems, improve performance and ensure compliance with program policies, procedures and operations.

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, concepts, and practices of botany and horticulture.
• Knowledge of plant collections, characteristics, and nomenclature.
• Contract Management

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).