Clarification from the agency

The closing date of this announcement has been extended to 09/26/2022. See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

This is a developmental position in which the incumbent performs progressively more complex duties and responsibilities on a gradual basis leading to the full performance level of GS-13.

** 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 Plant Curatorial Team, which includes botany and plant records. 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 the collections development, verification, labeling, and database management and maintenance. 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. Resolves problems for subordinates. Approves schedules, leave, premium pay, and certifies timesheets through an electronic system. Provides for employee skills enrichment and development through identification of opportunities for coaching, mentoring and training.

Plants Collections Management and Development

Determines, approves and oversees plant acquisitions for the USBG, including the accessioning and deaccessioning of plant material in accordance with the USBG Curatorial Policy. Provides expert assessment of the living plant collection, including developing short- and long-term plans for the collection’s composition, acquirement and succession. Chairs the USBG Collections Committee. Working closely with the Plant Specialist, Botanist and Plant Records Specialist, oversees the living collection database, directing data entry, ensuring its accuracy, and supervising regular and systematic inventories of the Garden’s living collection. Leads the process for plant accreditations applications. Participates in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) program. Provides expertise, planning and oversight for the safeguarding or deaccessioning of plants during all Garden renovation and construction projects. Organizes and manages plant-collecting expeditions (domestic and international) for acquisition of new living plant materials in accordance with the USBG Curatorial Policy. Provides leadership in domestic and international plant exchanges on behalf of USBG, obtaining and completing documentation necessary for legal requirements and agreements.

Horticulture Advice, Guidance and Outreach

Organizes and implements training of USBG staff in living collections management and curatorial practices. Working with gardener supervisors, develops and maintains a plant propagation program that includes pollination, spores, seeds, division, cuttings, and tissue culture, as applicable. Coordinates with Plant Health Care Specialist to recommend proper growing conditions for plants, considering cultural factors and nutrient and pest management protocols to achieve optimal plant growth. Collaborates with the Conservation and Sustainability Horticulturist on a range of issues related to rare or endangered plant species and sustainability topics and practices. Consults with and advises affiliated agencies and institutions on matters related to plant collections development and management. Represents the USBG in national and international meetings related to mission and living collection. Supports the USBG’s communication and outreach efforts by conducting interviews and contributing to articles and postings related to the USBG mission and living collection, in coordination with the Public Affairs Specialist.

Science Programs

Locates and reviews pertinent scientific literature in order to identify appropriate plant collections management protocols and methods in conjunction with the Conservation and Sustainability Horticulturist, Horticulture Manager, Supervisory Horticulturist, and Gardener Supervisors. Manages plant introduction and release program. Working closely with the Deputy Executive Director and Horticulture Manager, plans, coordinates, and evaluates sustainability, conservation, and scientific programs and projects. 

Educational Program

Provides assistance to the Learning and Engagement Division in promoting horticultural education and in coordinating consultation requests. Teaches classes, leads tours, offers workshops, and presents lectures to Garden audiences, professionals, and other stakeholders. Provides subject matter expertise for exhibits, interpretation, programs, resources, and other educational products.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

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.

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-12 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-11) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following:

• Broad knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, methods, and techniques of horticulture and plant curation.
• Leading and/or supervising employees in the performance of horticultural and curatorial work, including accessioning, deaccessioning and conservation activities; 
• Broad knowledge and experience with living collection curation and management; and 
• Assessing horticultural programs and operations and recommending strategies 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 horticultural projects and activities, set priorities and deadlines to meet established goals and objectives.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts, and practices of horticulture and living curation management.
• 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).