Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the Hershel "Woody" Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia and CTAP Program participants ONLY.

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The Tractor Operator Leader is the working leader of the section and is responsible to the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor. He/she performs professional lawncare and property maintenance concerned with the improvement of the 107 acres at this Medical Center and is specifically involved with the culture of its existing and proposed trees, shrubs, lawns, flower beds and interior plantings. He/she independently coordinates all Grounds operations on the hospital's campus, has responsibility for the work of the unit, works with M&O technical section to perform preventative maintenance functions, checks work assignments, and keeps abreast of the work in progress. The Tractor Operator Leader assigns work to, leads, and trains employees of the unit and will typically lead the following: Tractor Operators WG-5705-7, Gardener Assistants WG-4003-4, and Laborers WG-3502-3.

The Tractor Operator Leader duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Tasks necessary to maintain the landscape at this facility in a healthy, disease-free and attractive condition. This includes mowing operations that utilize industrial mowers, weed eaters, various hand tools, cleaning and clearing of landscape, emptying exterior trash cans, flower bed maintenance, back hoe operations, and snow removal snow operations.
• Provides corrective action for problems involving plant management, insect and disease control for both exterior plantings and interior plants based on the particular species. Determinse when corrective action is needed to improve health, vigor and appearance of plants by fertilization, pruning, transplanting, pest control, etc., based on knowledge of plants and their growth habits.
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records on work performed, such as fertilizer and pesticide usage schedules with the pertinent information recorded about the material applied, application rate, etc. and uses this data to ensure optimum plant care and for reporting purposes.
• Prepares purchase order requests for plant material, equipment, materials and supplies as needed and works with contractors through the completion of service contracts.
• The incumbent will be provided references to consult as needed for specific lawn or plant problems. He/she will locate other sources for solutions to gardening problems and make determinations on how problem conditions are best treated.
• Responsible for maintaining cleanliness and condition of all parking areas including the main floors of the parking garage. This includes trash pickup, maintaining potholes or other surface deficiencies on roadways, maintaining condition and location of car stops, installing or removing signage (as directed), and supervision of the operation of an industrial street sweeper to help maintain these areas.
• Responsible to create and maintain a seasonal Snow Detail list. This list of personnel from a variety of Engineering disciplines is recruited for the sole purpose of clearing snow, ice, etc. from Medical Center roads, grounds, and sidewalks. During Snow Detail call out, the incumbent assumes the role of supervisor for all people on the detail.
• Coordinates and is usually involved with the cleaning of exterior surfaces of 29 separate buildings at this Medical Center. This includes cleaning exterior walls, gutters and downspout systems, roof drains, and other areas as defined by Engineering management.
• Responsible for the oversight and maintenance operations of the facility' s above ground fuel storage tanks (AGT) and underground fuel storage (UST) tanks. Responsibility consists of monthly cleaning debris and to safely remove and contain water and fuel oil from UST spill buckets. Maintains appropriate fuel inventory in each tank.
• Responsible to, at times, operate passenger vehicles, trucks (gross weight 22,000 pounds), power equipment, snow removal equipment (gross weight 17,000 pounds), mobile air compressor and all other related equipment of the unit. In the operations of the above, may transport patients, both ambulatory and wheelchair, operate passenger busses on scheduled or special runs from one locations to another (gross weight 36,000 pounds).
• During periods of extreme weather, labor shortages or heavy workloads, etc., the incumbent will be assigned tasks outside the area of gardening to support the other duties and responsibilities of the Grounds and Services Section. Incumbent is responsible to perform all external moves and large internal moves (as directed) of furniture and/or equipment, based on availability and workload.
• Serves as supervisor of the Grounds Section in the supervisor' s absence.

Work Schedule: FT, Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Tractor Operator Leader/PD180180
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
• Pre-employment physical 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, 06/26/2026.

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

• Industrial Equipment Operation
• Leadership
• Physical Strength
• Speaking
• Standards

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.

MENTAL APPLICATION, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEGE
The incumbent must possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of plant species and their cultural requirements. He/she must be skilled with the range of hand tools and the operation of power equipment to complete the tasks needed to maintain plants in optimum condition.

The incumbent is experienced in handling nursery stock, bedding plants, bulbs, etc. , in healthy condition prior to their installation. He/she is experienced with the various planting procedures for the planting of nursery stock bare-root, balled, containerized and the related care needed until plants are established. He/she is skilled in plant propagation; sexual and asexual. He/she is skilled in successful transplanting of trees and shrubs that landscape renovation and/or building construction require to be relocated.

The incumbent is experienced with the use of soil amendments to improve soil quality for the culture of specific plants, trees, and grass.

He/she is able to read, interpret and implement the designs and layouts for seasonal flower beds and other plantings for optimum effect.

The incumbent has a thorough knowledge of pruning to improve plant health and appearance. In all cases, the natural form will be enhanced unless an artificial appearance is the goal. He/she prunes to remove dead, dying, diseased wood from shrubbery and trees and prepares purchase order requests for vendor services when the work cannot be performed by station employees.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS:
The incumbent is a licensed pesticide applicator with an approved local permit (or in possession of a license from another state). He/she uses chemical controls when necessary for diseases, insects and weed control. He/she is able to identify common insect pests, diagnose disease problems and problems due to mineral deficiency, soil pH, cold damage, etc. He/she records corrective procedures used and the results achieved.

The incumbent must have a valid state driver's license plus a CDL Class "C" to drive all types of vehicles on this station, including GSA and VA owned vehicles and equipment. The class "C" CDL qualifies as "Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds of any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross weight not in excess of 10,000 pounds comprising vehicles designed to transport 16 of more passengers including the drive".
Additionally, the incumbent's CDL license must possess the following endorsements:

1. Passenger
2. Air Brake

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS OVER THE POSITION
The incumbent serves as the first-line leader for the Grounds Section. The incumbent will coordinate work, leave, and maintenance schedules with the Maintenance and Operations Supervisor. Once approved by the Supervisor, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing and monitoring schedules as required.

The incumbent contacts vendors and salesman as a routine function of the position. This is required for maintenance and repair of grounds equipment. Incumbent orders material as necessary for the grounds section, including supplies and consumables.

The incumbent performs duties under the general administrative supervision of the M&O Supervisor. Work is checked through occasional observation for adherence to operating techniques and established procedures. Work is reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with long range plans and acceptable standards. The incumbent keeps the M&O Supervisor informed of any problems that arise.

Incumbent must be flexible and available for rotating shifts and working alone, at which time, may be called upon to make emergency decisions without the assistance of a supervisor. All duties must be performed in accordance with applicable operations manuals, codes and VA policies, both written and verbal. Therefore, the incumbent must be knowledgeable of all pertinent Engineering and Medical Center policies and memorandums.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:
Physical Effort: Work will be performed over the entire 107-acre campus. The campus, by its nature, has flat ground and hills with steep grades that will be difficult to navigate. This position requires walking, standing, bending, sitting, crawling and climbing. Incumbent must have good vision, with or without glasses. May lift or carry tools, equipment, ladders, scaffolding, parts and supplies up to 50 pounds. May occasionally lift and carry items over 50 pounds. Physical activity in response to emergency situations and call backs is expected.

Working Conditions: The majority of work is done outdoors. The incumbent will be subject to discomfort from long periods of heat and humidity, cold, wind, rain and snow, and will perform responsibilities with minimum interruption under these conditions. He/ she will be exposed to chemical sprays and dusts. He/she will be provided protective clothing and equipment such as gloves, respirator, safety shoes and boots.

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.

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.