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Gardener Supervisor

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Office of NPS Liaison to the White House
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Office of NPS Liaison to the White House, in the President's Park Division. The incumbent of this position serves as a gardener supervisor, IPM coordinator, and lead pesticide applicator. The incumbent is also responsible for directing the setup and removal of special events at President's Park.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/19/2025 to 12/03/2025
Salary
$41.25 to - $48.02 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WS 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
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
NC-1616-WHHO-25-12804563-ST
Control number
850284600

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Duties

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The major duties of the Gardener Supervisor position include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Direct a crew of non supervisory gardening and ground maintenance employees with primary concern for the best method for production of annual plants, potted plants, and turf.
  • Supervise employees engaged in pruning and trimming trees and shrubs to obtain the shape, size, and growth characteristics desired. Apply standard fertilizing procedures to sterilize soil, increase or decrease and/or adjust the pH factor in line with plants requirements. Check work in progress to make sure work assignments and instructions are carried out
  • Supervise pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide application within the park.
  • Plan the distribution of work to subordinates and balances the work load and determine manpower, equipment and materials needed to complete work. Enter and track data by using the Parks FMSS system, or similar maintenance management system.
  • Set up temporary infrastructure to support special events and law enforcement partner needs on park land.
  • Maintain records on all work performed and is responsible for time and attendance reports, leave records and equipment sheets. Counsel and evaluate employees for performance ratings.

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 will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • This position is designated as emergency personnel.
  • 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.
  • Incumbent will be required to obtain and maintain certification through the NPS National Chainsaw Safety Program in order to operate a chainsaw in the performance of duties.
  • Incumbent will be required to obtain and maintain clearance through the NPS respiratory program in order to wear a respirator in the performance of duties.
  • Incumbent will be required to wear prescribed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suitable for the job, equipment, and working conditions.
  • As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period. Please visit the Additional Information section for more details on the conditions of probationary periods for this position.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/03/2025-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 for each federal position listed as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of qualifying experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

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

  1. Ability To Lead Or Supervise (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Technical Practices: theoretical precise, artistic
  3. Knowledge of Materials
  4. Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  5. Ability to Interpret Instructions, specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  6. Use of Measuring Instruments
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.

Condition of Employment
In addition to the above qualifications, applicants must possess, or be able to possess within 6 months of employment, a Pesticide Applicator License/Certification. Those who cannot meet this requirement will no longer receive consideration.

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 at the grade level(s) of this announcement.

Additional information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

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


Physical Demands: Physical duties include frequent walking, standing, bending, lifting, crawling, climbing, stretching, pushing, pulling, and kneeling. Work requires physical effort such as frequently lifting and moving heavy objects over 50 lbs., hooking up equipment and attachments to vehicles, loading and unloading vehicles, etc. During the course of normal duties, incumbent may occasionally be required to climb ladders and scaffolding, work below ground level, remain in strained or cramped positions for extended periods of time, and work on slopes or stairs.

Working Conditions: 35% of time performing sedentary administrative work, including sitting to complete work on computers, reading digital and paper documents, typing documents and correspondence, answering phone calls, and attending meetings. Work outside and in greenhouses and is subject to discomfort from working long periods of time in hot sun and high humidity, in winter weather, inclement weather, and cold temperatures. Subject to potential exposure to poisonous insects, wildlife, insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals in the performance of duties. Because of the duties performed, there is the chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, scrapes, and the occasional possibility of serious injury from working with machinery, in areas of high traffic along roadways, or other conditions.

Continued Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position. 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. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. Headers may be slightly larger but must remain legible. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Candidates who apply under Competitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are highly qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Best qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

Candidates who apply under Noncompetitive Merit Promotion procedures will undergo a quality review to determine if they are minimally qualified based on the content of their resume and their responses to the questionnaire. Qualified candidates will be referred if all required supporting documentation has been provided.

You will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
  • Ability To Lead Or Supervise
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments


In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessments, including a panel resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

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