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Gardener

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Operations Division, Lake Washington Ship Canal

Summary

About the Position: In this role, you will perform seasonal gardening tasks including fertilizing, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, pruning, and applying regulated chemicals. You will maintain the historic Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and canal grounds, ensuring they are aesthetically pleasing through proper watering, lawn care, propagation, and irrigation operations.

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
$29.77 - $34.68 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 6
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Temporary Duty (TDY) travel is approximately 5%.
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
CEDE-26-13047236-DE
Control number
882068900

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Duties

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  • Plant, transplant and fertilize a large variety of shrubs, flowers, grasses and trees.
  • Considers the seasonal schedules or project plans for their area, suitability of the weather, degree of moisture in the soil and stage of plant growth in deciding when and how they will do their work.
  • Figures quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer and other materials needed for specific areas.
  • Prepares soil from instructions on the proper mixture of such materials as sand, topsoil and fertilizer.
  • Trim and prune trees, shrubs, flowers, etc. to shape and remove excess growth.
  • Prune trees to ensure proper balance between roots and upper growth.
  • Adjust irrigation, fertilization and mineral content of soil to meet the requirements and characteristics of each type of plant, tree, shrub, or grass.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
  • Obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License.
  • Must complete the Defensive Driving Course within 6 months of appointment.
  • Pre-employment physical is required, to include the ability to wear a respirator.
  • Position is under the Medical Surveillance Program.
  • Obtain and maintain a commercial Public Applicator Pesticide License with the following endorsements: insecticide, herbicide, ornamental within 1 year of employment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision.

Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Gardener~ without more than normal supervision. I have the ability to perform common gardening and grounds maintenance tasks. I can perform horticultural upkeep tasks such as weeding, mowing, pruning, trimming, planting, watering, and applying fertilizer on a regular basis; perform grounds maintenance tasks; operate irrigation systems and operate power tools such as power sweepers, lawn mowers, blowers and sanders. I work under normal supervision of a work leader or journey-level employee who observes tasks in progress and upon completion to make they are properly performed. - Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-out Element)
  • Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc.
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Dexterity and Safety
  • Knowledge of Materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instruments
  • PHYSICAL EFFORT: Incumbent exerts moderately heavy physical effort lifting objects from 40 to 80 pounds. The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending and stooping. Occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and frequently lifts objects, such as bags of fertilizer, grasses, seeds, etc. Physical dexterity is needed to handle tools and work around machinery or equipment.
  • WORKING CONDITIONS: Work may be done outside or in a greenhouse. While working outside is subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot and in chilly or rainy weather. Duties require exposure to dirt, dust, mud, and chemical sprays. May wear protective clothing, such as gloves, headgear, safety shoes, and boots. There is a chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasionally the possibility of a more serious injury.

Additional information

  • Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
  • You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
  • This position requires a 1 year probationary period 1 during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
  • Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
  • Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
  • If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
  • This is a(n) Installations Career Field position.
  • Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
  • Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government.
  • May require working outside in all kinds of weather.
  • Requires employee to wear protective equipment.
  • Not Eligible for Telework.
  • The following incentives MAY BE authorized: Student Loan Repayment, Advanced In-hire, Recruitment Incentive, Relocation Incentive, and/or Advanced Leave Accrual.

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.

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position.

Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category.

  • Best Qualified. Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.
  • Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.

You may claim Military Spouse preference.

You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria (2) be rated well-qualified for the position and; (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), we do not just construct infrastructure; we engineer the future of our Nation. From securing vital water resource infrastructure and restoring fragile ecosystems to designing world-class facilities for our armed forces and responding to natural disasters, our work touches lives every day.

By joining USACE, you will have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact, meaningful projects, collaborate with a diverse network of dedicated professionals, and advance your career. Here, your skills do not just build structures; they build national resilience, protect local communities, and support a safer, stronger tomorrow.

Build Strong With Us - explore our opportunities and engineer your legacy today.

Agency contact information

Army Applicant Help Desk
Website
https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=app_inq
Address
RH-W2SJ02 US ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT-SEATTLE
DO NOT MAIL
Seattle, WA 98124
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.usace.army.mil/Careers/

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