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Gardener (Tractor Operator)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

This position functions as a Tractor Operator for the Marion VA Medical Center, Marion, IL within the Maintenance and Operations section (M&O) of the Engineering Service.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$30.54 - $35.68 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 8
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
CBSS-13031495-26-CAT
Control number
881407600

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ONLY open to internal Marion , IL VAMC Employees.

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Duties

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MAJOR DUTIES

Operates equipment used in landscape maintenance and turf management.
Safely operates motorized equipment and vehicles, such as riding and push-type lawn mowers, soil aerator, sod cutter, weed eaters, power trim edgers, chain saws, hedge trimmers, axes, street cleaners, backhoe, farm-type tractor with implements, snow removal equipment, skid loaders, fork trucks, dump trucks, etc. Backhoes, and front-end loaders are used to push, pull, pile, or load materials such as sand, gravel, earth, or refuse.
Uses equipment which is fitted with a front-end loader to maneuver to a specific spot to transfer material; adjusts the attachments for proper level, angle, or depth, according to the work to be done.
Work is performed on rolling or sloped terrain.
Performs small engine repair, sharpens blades, and performs preventative maintenance to include inspecting, maintaining, and replacing belts, hoses, filters, fuel lines, and greasing equipment.
Responsible for the overall appearance and maintenance of the external grounds and facilities of the Marion VA Medical Center in Marion, IL.
Performs seasonal tasks such as fertilizing, seeding, cutting grass, laying sod, aerating lawns, and general pruning and care of trees, shrubs and plants.
Performs pruning trees and shrubs to maintain proper balance between root and top growth to keep natural shape.
Removes defects and excess branches using man lifts for tree trimming and shaping to eliminate damage to buildings, fences and other property but maintaining natural shape.
Plans and carries out gardening work based on project plans, master landscape, long-range facility plans, and supervisor guidance, making independent judgments within the framework of good gardening practices.
Recommends plants for particular purposes, such as shade, boundary lines, ground cover, erosion control, or pleasing appearance.
Performs gardening and grounds keeping tasks such as fertilizing, preparing seed beds, and grounds for planting, seeding, laying sod, aerating, planting, transplanting, pruning, trimming, and applying pesticides and herbicides to plants, turf, flowers and trees considering individual needs of specific plants to have a healthy growing media. Increases or decreases mineral content with lime, calcium salt, and sulfur to achieve a proper Ph balance (alkaline or acidity) in soils for specific plants. They consider weather, moisture in the soil, and stage of plant growth and calculates quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer, and other landscaping materials.
Selects and mixes fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides for the control of common plant diseases, insects, and weeds.
Operates weed sprayers, both towed and handheld, to apply herbicides and other chemical treatments for weed control on lawns landscapes. Cuts vegetation and clears land via snow and bush hogging.
Prepares equipment by mixing and loading chemicals according to safety procedures and manufacturer instructions.
Performs heavy and burdensome labor tasks necessary for the maintenance of grounds such as building and correctly sloping plant terraces and applying sod on steep slopes with staples to prevent sod from slipping until a root base can be established.
Removes debris of grass after mowing, weeding parking islands and plant beds, rakes leaves, sweeps and general clean-up of grounds.
Maintains and replaces fence posts and signage as needed.
Drives a pick-up truck with a dump bed which have a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds and up to 26,000 pounds.
Operates and performs routine maintenance on electric-powered wheeled vehicles, such as utility carts, lawn mowers to support grounds and facility. Responsible for snow and ice removal on facility grounds and may have to work irregular hours to ensure snow and ice is removed in a timely manner to mitigate safety risks to employees and patients.
Utilizes and sets up/removes a plow attached to a truck to spread gravel across parking lots and driveways, smooth out the ground, fill holes and low spots with dirt, and plow snow.
Responsible for salting or utilizing ice melt products on sidewalks and on all entrances to the main facility, to all out-buildings, and to all roads within facility grounds.
Responsible for minor renovations to include asphalt topping and maintenance of curbs.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F 7:00am-3:30pm
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized
Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator)/PD10526A

Requirements

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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, 08/27/2026.

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:

  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Drive Safely
  • Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
  • Materials
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Technical Practices
  • Without more than normal supervision


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/Working Conditions:
Work requires frequent walking, standing, bending, reaching, pushing carts and wheelbarrows, bending, and stooping. The gardener occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim shrubs and trees and frequently lifts heavy objects up to 50 pounds, such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc.
Connects and disconnects tractor from heavy towed equipment. Incumbent uses heavy physical effort in constantly reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to simultaneously manipulate different sets of controls when operating tractor equipment and attachments.
Considerable strain is caused by the constant vibration of the equipment and the jerking and jolting from operating over rough surfaces.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

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.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

Agency contact information

Christopher Turpen
Phone
615-225-3521
Email
christopher.turpen@va.gov
Address
Marion VA Medical Center
2401 West Main Street
Marion, IL 62959
US

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