Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

Summary

This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Durham VA Health Care System, Engineering Service, in Durham, NC.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: Prepares soil by considering individual needs of plants. Adjusts mineral content through proper mixture of such materials as sand, humus, topsoil, and fertilizer. Monitors possible high erosion areas. Transplants and lays sod. Places seeds and plants in soil at proper depth and takes care no to damage roots. Inspects plants for obvious plant diseases (mold, brown spots, rusts, blight, and mildew), plant insects (leaf miner, scales, borers, and slugs), and unusual or poor plant growth. Operates backhoe, power driven lawn mowers, street sweepers, small tractors, edgers, clippers, and chainsaws to keep the grounds well landscaped. Operates one or more vehicles such as sedans, vans, or pickup trucks, which can have an approximate gross weight up to 10,000 pounds. Removes snow and pretreats parking lots and roadways on property before frozen precipitation falls. Transports individuals to and from work details at the VA Medical Center. Fabricates signs from stock material using an engraving machine and engraving techniques, or from manual type signage that outlines vinyl letters for attachment to various surfaces. Uses computerized signage machines to make name inserts for signs. Maintains inventory for all signs, supplies, equipment, and materials. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Qualifications

Driver's License Requirement: At a minimum a current and valid state issued Driver's License is required for this position. 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, valid state issued Driver's License. PHYSICAL EFFORT: The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts, wheel barrows, and lawnmowers. Frequently climbs ladders, lifts heavy objects such as equipment, bags of fertilizer, and grass seed that could weigh in excess of 50 pounds. Position may operate in all kinds of weather in a controlled traffic environment throughout a government installation or establishment. While operating motor vehicles can be exposed to dirt and fumes, and to the possibility of cuts, bruises, and broken bones as a result of accidents while driving or falling objects when loading and unloading vehicle. Duties require sitting at engraving/sign making equipment for long periods of time. Walking, stretching, bending, stooping, and working with ladders are required to measure for placement of signs. Some lifting may be required. Keen eyesight is required to read small print from blueprints. Must have the basic ability to distinguish basic shades of color, different sizes, and shapes of signs. WORK CONDITIONS: Duties will be performed inside and outside of buildings. Duties performed outdoors would be subject to all weather conditions; hot cold wet, etc. being exposed to dirt, dust, mud, chemical sprays, and strong adhesive agents. Must comply with all safety rules, regulations, codes, and practices and will be required to war protective clothing such as gloves, safety goggles, and shoes. Physical hazards such as tripping, falling, burns, chemicals, noise, dust, and other debris is common. 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: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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.