Gardener

SummaryThe position Is located In the Facility Management Department of the Facility Support Directorate located In the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) In North Chicago Illinois, The James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is larger than just a single facility, but rather a system of facilities throughout Northeastern Illinois which provide medical care and dental services to U.S. Military Veterans, Recruits, Active Duty and eligible beneficiaries.ResponsibilitiesThe purpose of this position Is to perform a variety of duties involved In the development, care and maintenance of plants, shrubbery, trees, and lawns within various areas of this medical center (i.e., recreational areas, general areas, etc.). There are 64 separate structures on the station with a gross floor area of approximately 1,8 million square feet across 106 acres and multiple campuses. -Performs a variety of duties related to the development, care and maintenance of plants, shrubbery, trees and lawns within various areas of this medical center.-Incumbent mows lawns and turf areas and trims trees and shrubs.-Develops flower beds and landscapes areas to enhance and beautify assigned work sites.-Treats all turf, shrubs and seed areas with various nutrients and chemicals in accordance with EPA regulations and requirements.-Plants trees and shrubs as directed. Maintains all ornamentals by trimming, pruning and irrigating.-Operates power mowers, power aerifiers, thatch removers, tractors and trailing equipment such as discs, plows, rakes, power sprayers and lawn rollers.-Applies various fertilizers to new lawns and repairs established lawns by properly installing new sod, seeding as necessary and by applying appropriate fertilizer.-Assigned to function as a truck driver during inclement weather and/or dormant winter months, as directed by the needs of the medical center.

Assigned to operate select pieces of snow removal equipment to remove snow from sidewalks, walkways, roadways, etc. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30 pm

Position Description Title/PD#: /556-06584ARelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorizedRequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsTo qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/11/2020. 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. The screen-out element for this position is: ability to do the work of a Gardener without more than normal supervision.Dexterity and SafetyUse and Maintain Tools and EquipmentWithout more than normal supervisionWork Practices 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: May occasionally be required to lift items weighing up to 50 pounds without assistance. Hand trucks, dollies and other workers are available for assistance with heavier items. Must be capable of stooping, kneeling, crawling, standing, walking, squatting and working in awkward and/or uncomfortable positions. May occasionally work in cramped spaces which involves muscular strength and sustained physical effort. May also be required to work at variable heights to accomplish assigned tasks. Working Conditions: Incumbent will be subject to working in varying temperatures between working in poorly ventilated areas or under inclement weather conditions. Hazards include working in dusty, dirty, and oftentimes noisy locations. Assigned work will subject employee to the possibility of broken bones, cuts and bruises, exposure to dust, foul odors, dampness and the hazards of power machinery used during the performance of daily assignments. May also be subject to falls from ladders/scaffolds during the performance of assigned duties.EducationAdditional InformationReceiving 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. Financial disclosure not required. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.