Clarification from the agency

This position is open to all United States Citizens and Nationals. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

Videos

This position is located organizationally in the Division of Horticulture (AFM-HS), Facilities Management (AFM), National Gallery of Art. 

In this position, you will: 

• Prepare and disperse horticultural chemicals as required, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Maintain proper records associated with all applications of horticultural chemicals in areas of responsibility. Maintains DC pesticide license and relevant categories related to ornamentals and turfgrass. 

• Prepare and implement maintenance and planting schedules. Schedules include pruning, mowing, edging, fertilizing, pesticide and herbicide application, water requirements and proper timing for each function. They also formulate renovation schedules for different landscape areas as needed. Possess' knowledge and ability to select and use proper equipment to complete project tasks; has ability to perform basic maintenance and repair of equipment if necessary. The incumbent creates schedules for special projects in association with sculpture installation or building renovation. 

• Serve as assistant snow removal coordinator sufficient to devise and implement snow removal plan. Ability to monitor local weather to schedule staff when needed; determine the have proper equipment and supplies ready for each storm, i.e.: salt, shovel, fuel, equipment, and manpower; monitor the progress of staff during the storms; and ensure that the site is accessible during and after storms.

• Disperse horticultural information in response to inquiries from the public, horticultural staff, contractors, and other National Gallery of Art staff. Provides direction to staff and volunteers on daily basis to ensure tasks are completed correctly.  

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation.
• Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.

Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. For information on qualification requirements, see Qualification Standards Handbook for General Schedule Positions viewable on OPM Website. It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit appropriate documentation prior to the closing date. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant experience as it relates to this job announcement. Be clear and specific when describing your work history since human resources cannot make assumptions regarding your 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). Your resume must include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

THIS POSITION IS BEING ADVERTISED CONCURRENTLY UNDER MERIT PROMOTION PROCEDURES UNDER ANNOUNCEMENT # NGA-26-123-MP. 

Qualifications

Applicants can substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

Two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master's or equivalent graduate degree related to the position. 

Submission of transcripts is required if substituting education.

Specialized Experience Statement: Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. For this position, specialized experiene includes:  experience maintaining a garden for a museum or cultural institution and experience operating and maintaining various irrigation systems for multiple large gardens.  

OPM Qualifications Standard: General Schedule Qualification Standards

Individual Occupational Requirements: Horticulture Series 0437

Associated Group standard: Professional Work in the Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Group, 0400

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES THE SELECTEE TO CURRENTLY HAVE OR BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE A DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR'S LICENSE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF ONBOARDING. 

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.

Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below:

Horticulture - Knowledge of cultivating flowers, plants, and trees.

Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.

Category Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of the three quality categories: The quality categories are defined as: Qualified, Well Qualified, or Best Qualified.

Qualified Category = Does not exceed the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement.

Well Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and demonstrates proficiency in the Critical Competencies defined below. (This category must be met to be considered under ICTAP procedures)

Best Qualified Category = Meets the basic qualifications requirements described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement and excels in the Critical Competencies defined below. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of many," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent or higher will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).