Summary This position will function as the Gardner (Tractor Operator), for the South Texas Veteran Health Care System (STVHCS) and is located within the Engineering Service. The position is responsible for maintenance of the grounds of the medical center, and any facility Engineering is responsible to maintain. Responsibilities Major Duties: Incumbent is responsible for the care, maintenance, refurbishing and upkeep of all exterior areas of the facility, to include building entrances, grounds, patios, roads, parking lots, parking garages and other paved surfaces, walks and smoking areas and shelters. Incumbent cultivates and prepares beds for the planting of grass, ground cover, trees, shrubs and bedding plants. Incumbent takes into consideration the seasonal schedule, suitability of weather, the degree of soil moisture and stage of plant growth in deciding when and how to accomplish assigned or needed work. Incumbent knows when and how seeds should be harvested and when bulbs should be planted or removed from the ground for growth and storage. Incumbent has skill and transplanted or replaced due to overgrowth for their location. Incumbent can compute quantities of plants, seeds and other material needed for specific areas. Incumbent has the skill to reproduce plants through cutting, rooting grafting, and layering processes and maintain good records of the number and kinds of plants started, fertilized and used and growing conditions that were maintained. Incumbent has knowledge of shrubs and trees to determine when they have reached proper stage for trimming and pruning to remove obviously diseased limbs or excess growth. Incumbent has the ability to read and interpret a wide variety of written or verbal work requests, blue prints and sketches, instructions, installation guidelines or orders to accomplish assigned work. Incumbent must be able to read and interpret, understand and apply appropriate safety labels, warnings and instructions on products and equipment being used. Must be knowledgeable of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), appropriate chemical storage and proper chemical disposal. At end of day incumbent properly cleans and stores all tools, equipment and material. Incumbent utilizes a wide variety, single function power equipment in accomplishing duties. These include riding and walk behind lawn mowers, chain saw and pole trimmers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers and leaf blowers, utility vehicles and light pickups. Inspects, operates cleans and performs operators maintenance on all equipment utilized that day. Incumbent has detailed knowledge of plants and gardening procedures, proper methods of pruning hedges. Incumbent has detailed knowledge of different sprinkler systems and components such as what @type of sprinkler head to utilize in which circumstances. Incumbent has skill and knowledge to properly apply the correct @type of amount of fertilizer that is routinely used for grass, flowers and plants. Incumbent is responsible for keeping areas being worked on clean and safe on an on-going basis. Incumbent is responsible for using anti-fall devices and procedures outlines in the hospital's policies and procedures. Incumbent is responsible for following safe work practices using appropriate containment barriers or practices to mitigate infection control risks and using appropriate barricades to protect the public and patients from working being accomplished. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00AM - 3:30PM, This position may require On-call and weekend duties Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator)/PD00112A 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, 03/20/2026. 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. 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: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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/Working Conditions: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; Straight pulling; Pushing; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking; Standing; Crawling; Kneeling; Repeated bending; Climbing, legs only; Climbing, use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor; vehicle; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Mental and Emotional Stability Education 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.
