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Gardener

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Hot Springs National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Open to the first 101 applicants or until 11/21/2024 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

This job is being announced concurrently with an open to the status candidates announcement under MW-1543-HOSP-25-12608442-ST

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/14/2024 to 11/21/2024
This job will close when we have received 101 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$21.41 to - $24.98 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 6
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Hot Springs, AR
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MW-1543-HOSP-24-12563906-DE
Control number
819093600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job is open to United States citizens and nationals (residents of American Samoa and Swains Island) and those eligible under ICTAP/CTAP

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Duties

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Hot Springs National Park was authorized by Act of Congress on April 20, 1832, as Hot Springs Reservation, and in fact, it is the oldest protected area within the National Park System. The first National Park Service director was referred to Hot Springs National Park as "America's first national park." The thermal springs flowing down the side of Hot Springs Mountain are the primary resource of the park, but unlike thermal features, such as geysers of Yellowstone, the hot springs have not been preserved in their unaltered state, but are protected and managed to conserve the production of uncontaminated thermal water for public use.

Hot Springs National Park is uniquely situated in that it is both surrounded by, and surrounds, different parts of the city of Hot Springs (pop. 35,000) and Garland County (pop. 140,000). The park is not only well known for its thermal springs and related bathing activities, but also for its mountain lands and over 26 miles of mountain trails. Hot Springs National Park is also recognized as a significant historical resource and representative of an important stage in the development of the American conservation movement. Bathhouse Row, a national historic landmark district, showcases one of the few collections of historic bathhouses remaining in the United States. The park contains over 5500 acres. The park website is http://www.nps.gov/hosp

Hot Springs National Park receives approximately 3.2 million visitors who take advantage of the baths, massages and hiking trails, while others collect drinking water at park jug fountains, stroll along Bathhouse Row taking in the history and culture of the "American Spa", or drive to scenic overlooks on the park's mountain roads.

Little Rock, a major metropolitan area, is approximately 50 miles to the northeast. Memphis, TN is 3 hours from the park and Dallas, TX is approximately 5 hours away.

The county hosts six K-12 school districts with 2 being in the city of Hot Springs. Housing is readily available and affordable. The city is home to 2 excellent hospitals, with a contingency of physicians and specialists. Hot Springs has excellent dining and shopping. City of Hot Springs website: http://www.hotsprings.org

The duties of this position will include, but are not limited to:

  • Provide proper care and maintenance of maintained landscapes that include, but not limited to, park lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
  • Transplanting trees
  • Determining quantities of plants, seeds, and other materials needed for proper preparation and growth
  • Selects and sprays areas with approved herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to control plant diseases
  • Maintains landscapes such as mows, weed-eats, and edges lawns; trims shrubs, trees and hedges;
  • Maintains areas with appropriate fertilization methods to ensure healthy growth.
  • Knowledge of plant and gardening procedures and standard methods to use, and technical knowledge of chemicals and amounts for proper use.
  • Knowledge of the use of farm-type equipment with attachments as well as hand and power equipment used to maintain landscapes.
Physical Demands: The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending, and stooping. The incumbent occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc.

Working Conditions: The work is done outside or in greenhouse. In working outside, the gardener is subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and sometimes in chilly or rainy weather. On a regular basis the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being applied to trees and shrubs. The incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as normal safety items such as gloves, boots, glasses, etc. Because of the duties performed there is the chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You must be able to possess an Arkansas Applicator's license within a year of hire.
  • You may be required to work evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  1. Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Technical Practices
  3. Use of Measuring Instruments
  4. Ability to Interpret and Follow Instructions and Specifications, etc.
  5. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  6. Knowledge of Materials
  7. Dexterity and Safety
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

ICTAP/CTAP Clearance- Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible. If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

How you will be evaluated

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

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Drivers license
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments

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