Clarification from the agency

Special authorities include: Former overseas employees and foreign service employees. Clarification for these authorities is provided in the questionnaire. First AOC (Area of Consideration) is Facility employees; Second AOC is VA Agency; Third AOC are all other eligible applicants.

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Lead duties and responsibilities include:
Leads a WG-9 Pest Controller, five WG-8 Gardeners and 2 CWT Patient Therapy Workers by passing on instructions from the Operations Foreman. Starts work each day by instructing individual employees in what tasks are to be accomplished that day. Sets the pace for the work group. Demonstrates proper work methods. Incumbent works independently in determining material needs for facility landscaping projects and submits request to supervisor for approval. Part time works with Operation Foreman for equipment needs. Checks work while in progress and when completed to ensure the foreman's and supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedure, methods, and deadlines have been met. Assures that all facility, VA, OSHA and all applicable safety procedures are followed. Keeps the foreman posted on. all evolutions/tasks in progress and answers questions concerning overall work operations and problems. Incumbent may be required to maintain daily logs and to assist in gathering information for the AMIS report. Gives performance recommendations to Operations Foreman and gives on the job training. Conducts inspections of facility grounds, including but not limited to the baseball stadium, and warehouse areas. Prepares greenhouse and nursery bedding plants, soil beds, fertilizes, weeds, aerates and prunes trees and shrubs. In addition, plants and transplants trees, shrubs, ground covers and flowers.

Operates such hand and power equipment as tampers, materials handling trucks, forklifts, brooms, rakes, shovel, picks, mattocks, saws, sprayers, chainsaws, jackhammers, push type and power mowers, tractor driven mowers, tillers, aerators and thatchers, trailer pulled and PTO driven sprayers. Operates tractors weighing up to approximately 10,000 gross vehicle weight (GVW), with 3-point hitch, front-end loader and backhoe attachments and genie boom.

Operates such motorized vehicles as pickup trucks, utility trucks, dump trucks, and stake bed trucks with a GVW of up to 22,000 pounds. Incumbent receives general supervision from the Grounds Foreman who outlines areas of responsibility. Incumbent is expected to research problems thoroughly and implement solutions. Incumbent is a fully approved and trained backup patient transportation motor vehicle operator as needed. Responsible for the completion of all work in areas assigned. Responsible for determining what materials, tools and equipment will be needed, including rough drafts of orders for required materials and equipment. Responsible for ensuring the required supplies, tools and equipment are made available at the job site at the required time, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 08:00am to 4:30pm (PST)
Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener Leader/PD021500
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• You must maintain a valid, state issued Driver's License. Driving physical may be required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may 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.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/22/2026.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The ability to do the position of a Lead Gardener in applying the necessary skills and techniques required to accomplish all aspects of the position. This includes knowledge of all Facilities Management Grounds Operation's processes, procedures, equipment and supplies necessary to complete any task assigned. Incumbent must also possess the ability to convey the knowledge through written and oral instruction. Ability to safety operate, maintain, design, devise, and adapt equipment used in Turf Management that will facilitate attainment of patient treatment objectives. Knowledge of coordinating and expediting workloads, shop layout and material handling, industrial processes and shop safety and fire regulations. Ability to use and maintain the tools for the Gardener's trade in a safe and effective working condition. Knowledge of plant characteristics so as to be able to identify, correct and/or prevent grounds related problems such as nutrient imbalances, pest infestations, poor drainage, crowding and improper lighting. Knowledge of basic landscaping concepts and procedures so as to be able to make recommendations for improvements and to impellent landscape plans. Ability to create a yearly grounds maintenance management plan and submit to a supervisor for review and discussion. Ability to obtain and maintain training and certification for motor vehicle operators. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Lead or Supervise
• Materials
• Motor Vehicles
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment

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; religions; 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: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Position requires manual dexterity, good physical condition and stamina. In addition, incumbent should be able to lift and move objects weighing about 50 pounds and occasionally over 80 pounds. Work may require the use of ladders, crawling, considerable walking, and bending and stooping.

Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors and outdoors in very hot and in very cold and wet weather. Areas of work are sometimes cramped, dusty, noisy and dirty.Works with fertilizers and chemical control agents using the appropriate safety procedures and/or protective clothing and equipment.Work requires use of motor vehicles and ground transportation that may be jarring, bumpy and dusty.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary/Rank etc
• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
• References, current or recent supervisor

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.