Gardener

Summary This position is located within the Facilities Management Service at the Asheville VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC. The primary duties of the Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) involve all aspects of grounds maintenance and operating grounds maintenance equipment. Responsibilities The major duties include but are not limited to: Assists in taking soil samples for analysis by others in making seasonal decisions regarding the application of chemicals and fertilizers; Sweeps, shovels and cleans drains; Cleans parking lots, streets, roadways, entrances and sidewalks; Digs and fills in holes, ditches, trenches with pick and shovel; Breaks up pavement with jack hammer and fills in and levels holes in damaged roads; Mows lawns and weed eating; Trims and prunes shrubs and trees; Grows and maintains flowers, shrubs and lawns; Applies herbicides and insecticides; Collects and disposes of outside debris and garbage; Removes snow from roadways, sidewalks, parking lots, steps and entrances with safe operation of shovels, snowplows, sweepers, sand spreads, trucks and other equipment and spreads ice melt by hand; Maintains all power equipment including adjusting blades on mowers for cutting height, preparing gas/oil mixtures, minor repairs on the equipment, changing tires and checking oil, daily routine maintenance to keep equipment in operational order; Drives motor vehicles including electric cars and pickup trucks ranging from half ton to 2.5 ton to haul equipment to and from work sites, pickup supplies, transport lawn maintenance equipment and haul linen/laundry; Operates tractor-type equipment for seasonal lawn mowing and snow removal; Operates rototillers, sod cutters, air compressors, brush chipper, fertilizer spreaders, etc.; Uses axe or chain saw and operates power posthole digger when necessary; Assists mechanics or tradesmen in their duties as required to maintain all equipment and move furniture and equipment; Performs various manual labor tasks for other departments and all sections of Facility Management Service and does other manual labor work as assigned; Performs maintenance of the exterior signage at the medical center; and, Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Multiple tour options - final shift decision will be made upon selection and will be based on the needs of the organization. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. NOTE: Pest Control License: The person in this position will be required to obtain a pest control license for the use of fungicides, herbicides and insecticides used for the ground's maintenance. Obtaining the license will be paid by the VA. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 AND WORK CONDITIONS: Frequent walking, standing, bending, and stooping are required for the various grounds' duties. Climbing of ladders is required to prune and trim trees. Frequently lifts and moves objects weight over 50 pounds and may operate (push type) power mower on grades. Pushes heavy equipment including push mowers and wheelbarrows. Occasionally requires working on lifts for cleaning gutters of buildings, on scaffolding, etc. Work is generally performed outside in all kinds of weather including heat and freezing conditions. Work is dirty, dusty, and noisy. Equipment operated requires special care to avoid serious injuries. Must utilize proper personal protective equipment. Subject to falls, bruises, cuts, and occasional broken bones. There is potential exposure to fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. 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. Driver's License Requirement (SCREEN OUT): A current and valid state-issued driver's license is required for this position to operate the government vehicles. 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 and valid state-issued Driver's License. If selected from out of state, you will be required to obtain a valid North Carolina driver's license within 60 days of relocating. You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: 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. 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. 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. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.