This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/690388600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
This position is located in the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Horticulture Division, Gardens and Grounds Section. This specialized section is responsible for maintaining the majority of the USBG's Gardens and Grounds. The selected Gardener works to assist other gardeners in the section but may be assigned to any section of the Horticulture Division as the work priorities demand and for purposes of advanced training.
Learn more about this agency11/21/2022 to 12/07/2022
$23.44 - $31.78 per hour
WG 06 - 08
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent - Permanent, Full Time
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status
Excepted
09 - Full Performance Level is WG-09
No
Yes
USBG-2023-034
690388600
Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens.
The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a living plant museum that informs visitors about the importance, and often irreplaceable value, of plants to the well-being of humans and to earth's fragile ecosystems. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. Since 1934, it has been administered through the Architect of the Capitol. The Garden has been recognized as a museum and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This accreditation is a widely recognized seal of approval that recognizes a museum's commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.
*** This position is essential--Employee is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations***
Tour of duty will be other than Monday through Friday and may include weekends, evenings and holidays on a regular and recurring basis.
The position may be filled at the Gardener journey-level or worker-level. Developmental assignments will be given with the goal of attaining the full performance level. Duties quoted below are at the WG-8 level.
Major Duties:
The selectee will be responsible for assisting other gardeners in the section to propagate and cultivate a wide variety of plants as follows:
Transplants, Aerates, Prunes and Trims Plants
- Plants, transplants and cares for trees, shrubs and flowers.
- Uses knowledge of seasonal schedules, project plans, weather suitability, soil moisture and plant growth stages to ensure optimum growth of a wide variety of plant species.
- Plants seedlings, bulbs, shrubs and trees in patterns, beds and in selected locations to achieve a pleasing appearance of the gardens and grounds.
- Cares for and maintains a wide variety of temperate plants as part of the USBG living collection; Waters and fertilizes plants and removes dead foliage and spent flowers and prunes according to ANSI, ISA and horticultural standards.
- Prunes a wide variety of plants utilized as specimen plantings, hedge rows and focal points; Prunes plants to obtain the desired configuration for the garden plan. Monitors plants in surrounding areas to determine pruning requirements.
Propagates and Cultivates Soil and Plants
- Utilizes various fertilizing techniques, as required, to provide optimum growth and health of plants.
- Recognizes and controls cold damage, mineral deficiencies and plant diseases.
- Selects, measures, mixes and applies appropriate chemical control agents to control weeds, common plant diseases and insects as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
Prepares, Roots, Grafts, Layers and Documents Plants and Beds
- Utilizes horticultural knowledge to properly prepare planting beds to encourage optimum plant growth and health.
- Adjusts plant maintenance to safely accommodate thousands of daily visitor movements and takes initiative to inform and answer questions.
- As required, directs a small group of staff, volunteers and summer employees in the performance of plant maintenance.
- Follows all relevant safety rules, regulations and standard operating procedures; Utilizes knowledge of and must comply with all OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner; Provides or receives training, either on-the-job or through classroom training, to ensure that all safety practices and equipment are fully utilized; Uses required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Removes snow and ice from sidewalks and steps in inclement weather; Applies salt, sand and other melting agents to clear areas and ensure safe conditions.
Applicants must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired State driver's license at the time of application.
You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.
You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT:
-- Ability to do Gardening Work Without More Than Normal Supervision.
Qualification at the WG-6 level: Assists with gardening projects and has a working knowledge of gardening practices in order to maintain a diverse group of plants.
Qualification at the WG-8 level: Is able to work gardening projects independently and has knowledge of methods for propagating and cultivating a diverse group of plants.
Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm
The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.
Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:
Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self-assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education and/or experience is cause for non-selection or disqualification from further consideration.
The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.
To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application.
We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.
Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.
If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).
If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to USAJOBS Help Page.
NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.
All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature.
If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.
You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.
You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/690388600. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
Learn more about
The mission of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is to serve Congress and the Supreme Court, preserve America's Capitol and inspire memorable experiences. The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of 18.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 570 acres of land throughout Capitol Hill. The AOC provides a welcoming and educational environment for millions of visitors through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and the US Botanic Garden. Learn more at https://www.aoc.gov/careers. The AOC prides itself on its Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empowerment (RISE).