Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens. Note: Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the required pesticide registration and license are not obtained or transferred within the one year probationary period from the effective date of appointment, the incumbent will be terminated for failure to meet the conditions of continued employment.

This position is essential. The selectee will be required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations. Core hours for this position are from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm with the option of an alternative work schedule. Tour of duty may include holidays and weekends on a regular and recurring basis. Rotating shift work may also be required at management’s discretion.

Major Duties Include:

Supervisory

• Performs administrative and technical supervisory functions for subordinates. Assigns duties and evaluates performance. Manages the organizational unit’s budget and workload to include material purchases and service contract development and oversight. Develops performance requirements for subordinates and ensures a mutual understanding of the performance standards.
• Provides leadership to ensure support for equal employment opportunity (EEO) goals and requirements. Provides for employee skills enrichment through job related coaching, mentoring and training. Fosters a culture of learning, sharing, cooperation and teamwork that improves efficiency and effectiveness throughout the organization.
• Assigns work to employees directly and through work leaders and provides technical direction and/or assistance in accomplishing the work. Observes work in progress, investigates work related problems and determines causes. Implements corrective actions to resolve work problems.
• Plans and established leave schedules. Determines training needs of subordinates and arranges for its accomplishment. Interviews candidates for vacancies and recommends employees for promotion or reassignments. Initiates proposals for formal disciplinary action as needed.
• Provides or receives training, either on the job or through classroom training, to ensure that required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilized.

Control of Plant Diseases, Insects and Weeds

• Recognizes unusual plant diseases. Recommends or personally applies appropriate chemical compounds for the conditions noted based on the specific condition of the plants. Looks for plant diseases such as blight, brown spot, mildew, molds and rusts, plant insects (borers, leaf miners, scale, slugs) and unusual or poor plant growth. Applies proper treatment to alleviate the conditions. Records corrective procedures used.
• Utilizes complex fertilizing practices and methods for increasing or decreasing the presence in the soil or lime, calcium salt or sulphur to neutralize acid or alkaline soil conditions in line with specific plant requirements. Makes use of foliage feeding, root feeding and soil additive methods to fertilize different varieties of plants.

Plant Cultivation and Displays

• Designs and creates displays and exhibits of plants throughout the Supreme Court Buildings and Grounds. Performs the entire range of tasks that support the planning for and creation of displays of varieties of flowers, grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
• Maintains and cares for displays of interior subtropical, tropical and arid plants and trees. Plants and preserves trees, shrubs, hedges, flowers, gardens and lawns for the exterior historical landscape of our Nation's Supreme Court.
• Recycles organic end products and conserves water and energy resources by integrating sustainable practices and materials.
• Chooses flowers and plants for decorative gardens surrounding the Supreme Court buildings. Maintains plant displays which change with the seasons and involve thousands of plantings. Follows the Historic Landscape Master Plan to transplants trees, shrubs and flower gardens, interpreting landscape plan symbols and signs.
• In readiness for special events, prepares the Supreme Court Grounds for access by the public. Answers questions from the visiting public by providing horticultural information such as origin and general care; nomenclature and growth requirements for healthy plants, lawns, trees and shrubs; and climatic requirements.

Horticulture Practices and Groundskeeping

• Prunes and trims plants and shrubs to maintain good plant health and treat unusual plant conditions. As needed, makes difficult repairs on extensively damaged plants. Prunes and trims to shape and size as instructed and in accordance with the Historic Landscape Master Plan. Mows and maintains lawn grasses.
• Performs trash clean-up and removal. Uses sweeper; walk-behind, hand-held and riding leaf blowers; rake; pitchfork; and shovel. Using various chemicals and fertilizers, prepares and treats soils for planting. Adjusts sprinklers and operates and maintains power equipment including tillers, tractors, plows, bobcats, fork lifts, power trimmers, leaf removal equipment, blowers and snow removal vehicles and equipment for use in parking areas, roads and walk-ways.
• Performs preventive maintenance on tractors, mowers, spreaders, edgers, sweepers, hand tools and blowers.
• As needed, directs and assists with removing snow and ice from parking lots, ramps, sidewalks, steps, streets and walkways.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
• Must possess a current valid and unexpired state driver's license.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.

Requirements:

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.

Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  
  
You must meet the screen-outs listed below.

1.  Applicants must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired state driver's license at the time of application.

2.  Applicants must possess a valid and unexpired District of Columbia (DC) pesticide applicator's license in categories 3A, 3B, and 3C to apply pesticides in DC or be registered with the DC Department of the Environment to apply pesticides under the direction of a licensed pesticide applicator within 60 days after the effective date of appointment.

Up-to-date pesticide applicator's licenses that are held in states that have reciprocity with DC may be transferred within 60 days from the effective date of employment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the required registration and license are not obtained or transferred within the one year probationary period from the effective date of appointment, the incumbent will be terminated for failure to meet the conditions of continued employment.

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 job elements for this position 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 job elements and competencies:

-- Ability to lead or supervise.

-- Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.

-- Technical practices.

-- Ability to interpret instructions and specifications.

-- Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.

-- Dexterity and safety.
 
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.