Gardener

Veterans Health Administration • Tuscaloosa, AL

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as Gardener within the Transportation & Grounds Section of Engineering Service performing a variety of tasks related to exterior and interior gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance in support of the mission and goals of the Medical Center. The incumbent is required to maintain a Valid State Driver's License.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Operation of Equipment/Machinery
• Physical Strength and Agility
• 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.
• This position requires walking, standing, bending, pushing, pulling, stretching and stooping for long periods of time; carries materials, equipment and objects of varying weights, sizes and shapes up to 100 lbs.
• Frequently ladders are used for pruning and trimming large shrubbery and trees and cleaning out building gutters, etc.; requires muscular effort and coordination is also required to operate the various controls on power lawn equipment.
• Work is performed primarily outside.
• Working conditions are often dirty and noisy, subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun and to cold and rainy weather in the winter.
• Incumbent will be exposed to grass clippings, brush, environmental smell/odors, chemical sprays, fertilizer dust, pollen, etc.
• On occasion, work is required in area that may pose health hazards if proper precautions are not taken.
• Working conditions are such that the worker must constantly be mindful of safety precautions in order to limit the possibility of accidents, contamination, and personal injury or injury to others within the work area.

Nice To Haves

• Experienced, skilled and knowledgeable in watering, fertilizing, planting, pruning and trimming plants, shrubs, trees, use of chemicals and pesticides application.
• Use of a wide variety of hand and power tools used in gardening and landscape maintenance such as but not limited to high-powered and agricultural type tractors and implements, bobcat skid steer loader, excavator, riding push mowers, spreaders, sprayers, edgers, shears, pruning tools, chain saws, scissor lift, high lift, forklift, etc.

Responsibilities

• Plans, propagation and cultivating a wide variety of plants in flower and shrub beds throughout the medical center campus.
• Prepares soil for plants, seeding, thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying and dusting of ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees.
• Works from landscape plans, make independent judgments and is responsible for the results of his/her work reflecting good gardening practices.
• Consults gardening books or catalogs regarding physical characteristics of plants and their requirements for health and growth.
• Determines proper conditions and methods for planting and cultivating, i.e., types and amount of fertilizer to use, amount of water, space, etc.
• Inspects plants, trees and shrubs for disease, insects, and/or unusual or poor plant growth.
• Transplants large and small trees, shrubbery and plants to areas when relocation is required due to construction or building maintenance issues.
• Schedules gardening tasks and may be assisted by lower level employees, volunteers and/or students in preparing planting areas.
• Provides guidance and direction on specific tasks to be accomplished.
• Duties include general grounds maintenance tasks to include lawn mowing, trimming, fertilizing, watering, weed eating, edging sidewalks, blowing leaves, ensuring entranceways are free of debris and obstacles, etc.
• Required to utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) provided and must be familiar with the material safety data sheets (MSDS) of chemicals that he/she utilizes.
• Required to maintain a valid state driver's license for the operation of motor vehicles, i.e., pick-up trucks, vans, etc.
• Performs other related duties in support of the Transportation & Grounds section as assigned.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed