Gardener

National Gallery of Art•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Gardener works in the National Gallery of Art’s Division of Horticultural Services, which maintains ten acres of exterior landscape, including the West and East Buildings and the six-acre Sculpture Garden. The division also cares for four interior gardens, twelve greenhouses, four cold frames, and specialty gardens; provides floral and foliage arrangements for more than 250 special events annually; and supports exterior cleaning, trash removal, and snow removal contracts. Its work includes interior and exterior landscape maintenance, greenhouse maintenance, operation of landscape equipment, and special-event setup. The position performs gardening and landscape maintenance in an assigned area, including care of annual bedding plants, tropical foliage plants, woody plants, herbaceous perennials, and turf. It also supports irrigation upkeep and snow and ice removal. The Gardener must be able to wear a uniform, use a respirator and other protective clothing, work with hazardous chemicals, and be available for recurring weekend and holiday hours and recall during weather or other emergencies.

Requirements

Must be a United States citizen.
Must pass a pre-employment background investigation and be suitable for Federal employment.
Must have a valid driver's license and submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record; the position requires operating a government or private motor vehicle for official duties.
Must wear a uniform and comply with National Park Service uniform standards.
Must obtain a Pesticide Applicator's License in interior plant-scapes, turfgrass, or exterior ornamental plants within 90 days of employment.
Must be able to wear a respirator and other protective clothing, participate in a health surveillance program, and work daily with hazardous chemicals.
Must be available for recall to work sites during weather and other emergencies, and for recurring weekend and holiday hours.
Must be able to walk, stand, push, bend, stoop, kneel, pull, and climb throughout the day.
Must demonstrate ability to perform the work without more than normal supervision, interpret instructions, use and maintain tools and equipment, knowledge of materials, dexterity and safety, and use of measuring instruments.
For WG-06: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility to the WG-05 level in Federal service or the private sector, working in gardens or greenhouses in a museum or cultural institution setting.
For WG-08: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent in responsibility to the WG-06 level in Federal service or the private sector, independently performing a full range of gardening duties, including plant identification, diagnosing plant stress or pest issues, interpreting planting plans, and safely operating horticultural equipment.

Responsibilities

Prune, water, weed, plant, fertilize, clean, mulch, and control pests in assigned areas according to industry standards.
Prepare and conduct new installations and perform fertilization, chemical weed control, and pest control for annual bedding plants, tropical foliage plants, woody plants, and herbaceous perennials.
Monitor and maintain turf, including mowing, fertilizing, weeding, insect and disease control, aerating, overseeding, sodding, and edging.
Monitor and maintain irrigation system components and notify the lead horticulturist of deficiencies.
Remove snow and ice using appropriate equipment and spread ice-melting material as needed in hardscape areas to maintain safe access to museums, gardens, support facilities, and parking lots.
Operate and maintain horticultural tools and equipment as needed.