Gardener Supervisor

Summary The Gardener Supervisory will be assigned to Grounds-keeping, Environmental Management Service (EMS), Health Administration (VHA), Phoenix VA Healthcare System, Desert Pacific VA Healthcare Network (VISN 22), Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Phoenix, AZ. Responsibilities Supervision and Oversight: Plans, schedules, coordinates and directs work assignments, orders supplies, materials, and evaluates employee performance. Advises employees of performance expectations and explains new work techniques, as required. Provides proper guidance and direction, continuous feedback on strengths and weaknesses. Holds employees responsible for satisfactory completion of work assignments and recommends performance ratings in accordance with regulations. Recommends restructuring positions when necessary to achieve the most effective and economical utilization of personnel. Investigates grievances and complaints, resolving them informally where possible, and notifies supervisors of those of sufficient importance or seriousness. Recommends training based on needs assessment and mission requirements. Maintains work reports and records relating to section, e.g., progress, production, cost, personnel, equipment, materials, and time and attendance. Takes positive action to implement affirmative action/EEO initiatives identified in the installation Affirmative Employment Plan. Takes action to prevent or correct situations that may give rise to complaints of discrimination and/or sexual harassment. Cooperates fully with counselors, investigators, and examiners. Project Coordination: Supervises an ad-hoc assembly of employees to accomplish specific tasks. Works closely with the Phoenix VA HCS Landscape Architect and Landscape Coordinator to achieve a high-level healing environment for our Veterans'. Personnel Management Responsibilities: Conducts classes on safety and will enforce regulations on conduct and safety. Schedules and may approve sick or annual leave of subordinates. Evaluates overall performance of Grounds/Laborers. Provides advice, counsel, and instructions to accomplish the assigned function. Interviews candidates for vacant positions, recommends selections, promotions, or reassignments. Work Schedule: Forty (40) hours a week, days off are determined by the needs of the service. Summer Season: April - October 4:00 am - 12:30 pm Winter Season: November - March 6:00 am - 2:30 pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Pre-employment physical required Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications PHYSICAL EFFORT: The Gardener Supervisor must be physically able to direct the accomplishment of the above work. He/she must be capable of standing, bending, climbing ladders and scaffolds, and in general have use of his/her limbs. The Gardener Supervisor must visit all those areas where subordinates will be working for the purpose of instruction and/or inspection. AND WORK CONDITIONS: The work involves frequent walking, standing and sedentary desk work. Occasionally requires stooping, bending, working on ladders or scaffolds, or working in cramped or awkward positions. The Gardener Supervisor is subject to hazardous conditions, working under extreme temperatures, hot and cold, and in inclement weather. The Gardener Supervisor must be aware of this and be able to cope with same. The Gardener Supervisor may be exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruised and broken bones. The Gardener Supervisor may also be exposed to contagious disease when working in patient areas. Safety procedures must be followed, and appropriate protective safe gear must be worn, as required for the specific work area or task. 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: Administration and Management Infection Control Lead or Supervise Manages Resources Project Management 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. Education Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at . The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.