Gardener
What you'd do
This position is located in the Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, VAHCS, Environmental Management Service in Phoenix, AZ. The incumbent in this position will be responsible for maintaining grounds, parking lots, and sidewalks; designing landscaping; installing and repairing sprinkler systems; and operating power-driven lawn equipment.
Major duties
Major duties and responsibilities include: Plans and designs landscaping. Installs, repairs and maintains sprinkler system. Operates and maintains various power-driven lawn equipment such as gas operated sweepers, mowers, weed eaters and trimmers. Keeps grounds and areas around compactor clean. Plants trees, shrubs, succulents and performs a wide range of gardening duties. Submits requests for parts and material to accomplish duties. Maintains area of assignment on a daily basis. Empties waste container, removing debris from grounds, sidewalks, steps, smoking shelters, roads and parking areas including garage. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 40 hours a week, schedule to be determined by needs of the service; Summer Season hours: April-October 4:00am-12:30pm, Winter Season hours: November-March 5:00am-1:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
What you need to qualify
This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License. PHYSICAL EFFORT: Work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing carts and wheelbarrows, bending and stooping. Occasionally climbs ladders and frequently lifts heavy objects. WORKING CONDITIONS: Most work is done outside. The incumbent is subject to discomfort for long periods in the hot sun and occasionally chilly or rainy weather. Exposed to dirt, dust, mud and may come in contact with chemical spray. The incumbent will need to wear protective clothing such as gloves, safety shoes and glasses. There is a chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts and scrapes. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.