Seasonal Gardner (MVO)

Full Job Description

The typical seasonal period is April through June but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: May 2026.

Duty Location is: Death Valley National Park To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Have the ability to do the work of a Gardener WG- 5003-04 without more than normal supervision.

(SCREEN OUT) Perform physically demanding activities associated with gardening including stooping, bending, twisting, reaching overhead and working on your knees, pushing, pulling, working on a ladder with tools, lifting up to 50 pounds and working outdoors throughout the year under various weather conditions.

Experience with seasonal gardening tasks, such as in the application of herbicides and fertilizer, soil preparation, pruning and trimming of plants.

Prepares soil-mixing materials such as sand, humus, topsoil, and fertilizer in accordance with instructions.

Maintain operations and maintenance records via computer spreadsheets, and specialized water programs.

Must possess ability to lay sod, aerate lawns, and prune and trim shrubs and hedges for a neat appearance.

Experience with frequent walking, standing, pushing of lawnmowers, carts and wheelbarrows, bending, stooping, and climbing in and out of vehicles.

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.

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.

ICTAP/CTAP Clearance- 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:

The Pacific West Region is recruiting for TEMPORARY seasonal positions not to exceed 6 months (1,039 hours) work in a service year.

Dates of employment will vary depending on funding, weather conditions and visitation.

Within regulatory limitations, the length of initial appointment may be shortened or extended depending on work availability and funding.

Major Duties: Performs seasonal gardening tasks such as fertilizing, preparing seedbeds, transplanting, laying sod, aerating, deadheading, staking, dividing plants, and watering Operates and performs minor operator maintenance on light duty motor vehicles such as pickup trucks, panel trucks, flatbed trucks, carryalls, sedans, crew cab pickup trucks, which typically have an approximate gross vehicle weight of up to 4500 kilograms (10,000 pounds).

Prepares soil-mixing materials such as sand, humus, topsoil, and fertilizer in accordance with instructions. Applies herbicides and fertilizer.

As instructed, prunes woody vegetation including shrubs, vines, and ornamental and fruit trees.

Inspects for obvious plant diseases (molds, brown spots, rusts blight, and mildew), plant insects, and unusual or poor plant growth, reports conditions to supervisors.

Mows, edges and waters lawns to maintain appearance. Lays sod, sows seed, places mulch to maintain or restore lawn appearances. Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Effort: Work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of lawnmowers, carts and wheelbarrows, bending, stooping, and climbing in and out of vehicles.

Occasionally climbs ladders to trim and/or prune vegetation/trees. Frequently lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer grass seed, etc.

Working Conditions: Work is done outside or in a greenhouse. In working outside, the gardener is subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun, and sometimes to chilly or rainy weather.

In some instances the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being used on trees and shrubs.

The employee will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as, normal safety items such as gloves, boots, glasses, etc.

Because of the duties performed, the incumbent is subject to minor injuries such as cuts, scratches, bruises, and scrapes.