Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• 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 not 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

Requirements

• Current and valid state issued Driver's License required (photographs not accepted with application; must be provided if interview requested)
• Physical effort: 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; may operate in all kinds of weather in a controlled traffic environment throughout a government installation; 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 performed inside and outside of buildings; outdoors subject to all weather conditions; 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 wear protective clothing such as gloves, safety goggles, and shoes; physical hazards such as tripping, falling, burns, chemicals, noise, dust, and other debris are common
• Qualification assessment: applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications using the job element method; knowledge, skills and abilities compared to job elements needed for success; screen‑out element (WG‑2 and higher only) applied; those who meet screen‑out are considered for further rating; potential eligibles rated against remaining job elements; while a specific length of training and experience is not required, responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of experience on resume; experience credited based on time actually spent in appropriate activities; part‑time experience credited proportionally; volunteer work (including National Service programs) counts toward qualifying experience
• Job elements assessed: 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 35‑40 hours per week; all experience listed on resume must include month and year start/end dates; part‑time experience credited on basis of time actually spent; applicants must indicate nature of duties and hours per week for each position

Schedule

Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00am‑4:30pm