Career Seasonal Gardener

Full Job Description

This position is located in a National Park Service Unit.

The primary purpose of the position is to perform journey level gardener duties that are necessary for the proper maintenance and care of landscaped areas.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Work demonstrating the ability to perform the duties of this position without more than normal supervision.

(SCREEN OUT) If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration.

In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job.

Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone.

Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. This is a Career-Seasonal position.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.

Selectee is guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year, with the work schedule determined upon appointment.

Work schedule and periods of non-pay status are contingent upon funding and operational needs.

On an annual basis, employee signs a "career-seasonal" agreement with the supervisor which defines the work schedule for that year.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, you will be placed in a pay status and can expect to work a minimum of 13 pay periods not to exceed a maximum of 25 pay periods.

Though your non-pay time may be reduced, you will still be placed in non-pay status for a minimum of 1 pay period in accordance with NPS policy.

Additional work must be in concurrence with applicable regulations and policies.

Volunteer Experience: 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.

This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service.

In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will 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.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized.

In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.

This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001). Major Duties:

Major Duties: Performs a wide variety and range of gardening work using independent judgment within the framework of good gardening practices.

Prepares soil beds, turf, flower gardens, hedges, walkways, garden fixtures and other planting areas considering the individual needs and characteristics of woody and herbaceous plants.

Works from project plans, master landscape, and long-range plans, making independent judgments within the framework of good gardening practices.

Duties may involve assignments related to irreplaceable historic landscapes designated as protected. Mows and edges lawns to maintain appearance. Determines proper mowing heights.

Removes rocks, leaves, limbs, and trash from grounds and garden areas. Sweeps and rakes walks and parking areas. Performs all snow removal operations as needed.

Plants and/or transplants a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, plants and trees.

Performs soil tests to determine deficiencies and corrects these deficiencies through application of the appropriate soil amendments.

Propagates plants from seeds and cuttings in greenhouse and gardens. Understands and employs best practices for water and fertility in greenhouse operation.

Performs maintenance and limited repairs of watering/irrigation equipment and greenhouse facility