Summary This incumbent in this position serves under the Maintenance Supervisor of the Facilities Operations Section, Maintenance & Operations (M&O), Facilities Management Service located within Northern Arizona VA Health Care System (NAVAHCS) located in Prescott, AZ. This position's primary purpose is to serve as a Gardener, providing sprinkler/irrigation system repair, preventative maintenance, and performing grounds maintenance to the landscaped areas and throughout the facility. Responsibilities The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Cutting, edging, aerating, thatching, grooming, weeding, fertilizing lawns; Trimming and weeding shrub beds and flower beds; Planting shrubs and flowers and transplanting both large shrubs and small trees; Trimming and pruning trees as instructed to ensure both health and aesthetic appeal; Making recommendations to the supervisor as to when to fertilize, plant, or transplant trees and shrubs; Applying a wide range of chemicals to plants, turf, flowers, and trees, maintaining a detailed log of chemical usage as per federal, state, and local requirements; Installing, repairing, and maintaining irrigations systems; Power washing buildings, emptying trash receptacles, and picking up trash or debris around outdoor picnic or seating areas; Operating and maintaining various high-powered, specialized lawn and grounds-maintenance equipment such as mowers, tractors, front-end loaders, street sweepers, backhoes, forklifts, main lifts, edgers, speeders, tillers, thatchers, aerators, sprayers, weed eaters, blowers, and hand tools; Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 08:00am - 04:30PM Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener/PD143640 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical required 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 To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/22/2024. EXPERIENCE: 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. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Operation of Equipment/Machinery Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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. Physical Requirements: The incumbent may be required to stand, bend, stoop, kneel, climb, crawl, and work in awkward positions for prolonged periods. The work can sometimes require strenuous physical exertion. Must be able to handle or carry weights up to 50 pounds, and occasionally more. Assistance is usually available for handling of heavier material and equipment. Operates power tools/equipment for extended periods of time exposing employee to vibrations and noise levels that exceed 85 decibels. Heavy exertion is required at frequent intervals. Work requires pushing, pulling, lifting, reaching, walking, climbing, stooping, ability for normal mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, normal hearing and vision. Must have physical capabilities for working inside and outside in excessive heat and cold, noise, confined areas, inclement weather and on intermittent slippery or uneven surfaces that can be found at or in transit to or from work sites. May receive minor cuts and abrasions while performing these duties. Must be able to work from utility work vehicles, ladders and aerial work platforms, and work in awkward and uncomfortable positions. Working Conditions: Incumbent works primarily outdoors and around multiple forms of landscaping machinery. Work involves frequent walking, standing, and occasional desk work. The position requires stooping, bending, or working in cramped conditions under extreme temperatures (hot and cold), and in inclement weather and/or awkward positions. Incumbent must be able to work in noisy, dirty, dusty, greasy, and sometimes humid environment. Incumbent may be assigned to work in areas/confined spaces where certain potentially harmful physical and chemical agents are present. These agents may include, but are not limited to fumes, dust, noise, heat, ionizing, and non-ionizing radiation, chemicals, etc., Incument is subject to hazardous conditions which may include the risk of scrapes, cuts, bruises, burns, contusions, infections, broken bones, hearing, and respiratory ailments. Incumbent must be aware of these risks and be able to cope with them. Education Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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.