Gardener (Seasonal)

National Park Service • Death Valley, CA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Gardener performs seasonal gardening and grounds maintenance to establish and maintain the health and appearance of lawns, plants, and landscaped areas. Tasks include planting, transplanting, pruning, mowing, fertilizing, inspecting for disease and pests, applying chemical treatments as directed, and operating vehicles and equipment needed for the work. Positions may be filled for a six-month seasonal period, with duration potentially varying due to weather, project needs, or funding. The seasonal periods listed are May–November at Death Valley National Park, March–December at Yosemite National Park, and April–September at Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The likely entry-on-duty period is March–May 2027.

Standard duties include fertilizing; preparing seedbeds; transplanting; laying sod; aerating; deadheading; staking; dividing and watering plants; applying chemicals under supervisory guidance; mowing, edging, and watering lawns; sowing seed and placing mulch; removing or treating non-native plant species; and preparing soil mixtures. Additional WG-06 duties include transplanting trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants; calculating quantities of plants, seeds, and materials; pruning and trimming trees and shrubs; and potentially operating pickup trucks, tractors, and attached equipment.

The position requires outdoor work in extreme hot and cold temperatures and operation of vehicles in varied traffic and weather conditions. Physical demands include frequently lifting items over 50 pounds, climbing ladders or scaffolding, and working around power tools and equipment. Work may involve on-call assignments, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, or shifts. Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed, and occupancy of government quarters may be required. A uniform may be required; a uniform allowance will be provided.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Appointment is subject to a background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirements.
• Must participate in the Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer Program.
• Must be at least 18 years old to operate government vehicles; a valid driver's license is required when operating a government or private motor vehicle as part of official duties.
• Must be at least 18 years old, or at least 16 and meet one of the listed education, vocational training, school-authority, or student-employment conditions.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds; the position frequently requires lifting items over 50 pounds.
• Must be physically fit and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities identified for the job-related factors.
• Must demonstrate ability to perform the work without more than normal supervision (screen-out factor).
• Must demonstrate ability to interpret instructions and specifications, use and maintain tools and equipment, dexterity and safety, knowledge of materials, technical practices, and use of measuring instruments.
• Must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and average at least 2 points across all job elements to be considered qualified.
• Must describe relevant experience and training in the resume; the resume must support assessment questionnaire responses.
• May be required to complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
• May be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and/or shift work.
• May be required to occupy government quarters.

Responsibilities

• Perform seasonal gardening tasks, including fertilizing, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, laying sod, aerating, deadheading, staking, dividing plants, and watering.
• Apply chemicals to plants according to directions and under supervisory guidance and instruction.
• Mow, edge, and water lawns; lay sod, sow seed, and place mulch to maintain or restore lawn appearance.
• Pull or treat non-native plant species.
• Prepare soil mixtures using materials such as sand, humus, topsoil, and fertilizer according to instructions.
• For WG-06 duties, transplant trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants by preparing planting holes and soil and protecting roots during removal and relocation.
• Calculate quantities of plants, seeds, and other materials needed for specific areas.
• Prune and trim trees and shrubs to achieve desired shape, size, and growth characteristics and to remove diseased limbs or excess branches.
• Operate vehicles, such as pickup trucks, to transport supplies and materials to work sites, as needed.
• Operate farm-type tractors and attached equipment, such as rotary or flail mowers, augers, and tillers, as needed.
• Inspect plants and landscaped areas for disease and pest conditions.

Benefits

• A uniform allowance will be provided.
• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type and other factors.

What This Job Offers

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