Summary The incumbent is responsible as a gardener in the Grounds Section of Facilities Management. The work requires knowledge of gardening procedures and skill in growing and tending lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Work involves preparing for plants, seeding, and thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying, and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Required to work with minimum supervision in enhancing/maintaining EOVAHCS appearance. Responsibilities Major duties and responsibilities include: Must have a knowledge of gardening practices pertinent to the Muskogee, Oklahoma area, particularly in diagnosing and controlling plant diseases, planting and transplanting plants and proper watering practices, Determines the proper @type, time of season and application of fertilizers and herbicides for contractor application. The work of this position requires knowledge of gardening procedures and skill in growing and tending lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Will accomplish snow removal when requested and under the directions of the Grounds Supervisor which might entail change of shifts, after hours, weekends or holidays; will report for duty as directed or called for. They need to be able to determine volume, using measurements from varied sources including measuring tape, measuring cups, etc. They must be able to compute quantities of plants, and seeds required for a specific area. They must be able to use linear measurement tools to determine material requirement for required space. They follow manufacturer's instructions on product labels regarding the depthand spacing of seeds, application of chemicals and fertilizers, and use gardening procedures which are routinely performed in the local area. Must anticipate routine repair of equipment and seasonal requirements to insure the maintenance of a high degree of quality and professional appearance. They plan and carry out their work according to the schedule or project assignment, keeping within the framework of established gardening practices. Incumbent will perform maintenance and repair on all sprinkler systems. Is responsible for ensuring that all equipment is maintained, is oiled and in safe operating condition before uses, must properly clean and check equipment before storing and report to supervisor any equipment not in proper or safe operating condition. They must also clean all engineering storage areas when required. Responsible for the maintenance and minor repair of all equipment utilized by groundsmaintenance. The work involves preparing for plants, seeding, and thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying, and dusting of grass, ground cover, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The incumbent must be familiar with the cultural and maintenance requirements of vegetation available for landscape used in Oklahoma. Will use appropriate safety equipment and/or tools for the task being performed. Is responsible for abiding by all OSHA and EPA safety rules and regulation as they pertain to performing the maintenance work and will abide by all hospital and safety regulations. Will observe safe work practices, exercising proper care, utilization and control of work tools, materials and government property. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:00am-2:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator)/PD11947A 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 Subject to background/security investigation Pre-employment physical required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/10/2026. 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. Preferred Experience: Ability to effectively utilize fungicide or other chemicals as correlated to the WG-06 Position Description. 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: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments 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: Incumbent must be physically fit, as work tasks require frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing of carts, lawnmowers, edger's and wheelbarrows. Work task may involve occasional lifting and carrying heavy (approximately 50 pounds) with frequent lifting and carrying of moderately heavy objects (up to 40 pounds) such as grass seed, trash bags, ice melt, containers, trimming and waste. Other physical effort involves pulling, climbing, working with hands over head. Must have the ability to be on feet for long periods of time either standing, walking or working off ladders. Climbs ladders to prune and/or trim shrubs and trees. Working Conditions: Primary work will be in the exterior grounds and parking areas of the medical center. Incumbent is required to use all the proper tools and safety equipment to protect himself/herself, staff, patients and visitors. Other assignments can be in any area of the EOVAHCS. Will be exposed to the possibility of cuts, bruises and insect bites. Work is often dirty and dusty. Work is inside and outside, and off ladders and scaffolds. Outside work will involve exposure to a variety of weather conditions as is expected in the Muskogee, Oklahoma area Education There is no education substitution at this grade level. 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. 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.
