Gardener

Summary

This position is located in the Facilities Management Service at the St. Cloud VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, MN, and supports year-round grounds maintenance, landscaping, irrigation, snow removal operations, and related facility functions.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

• Maintains lawns, landscaped areas, garden beds, and natural grounds throughout the medical center.
• Plants, transplants, and maintains trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials, selecting appropriate species based on site conditions, hardiness, and seasonal requirements. Prunes, shapes, trims, removes, or replaces trees and shrubs as needed for safety, plant health, or appearance.
• Prepares soil, installs sod, and resolves difficult growth problems using appropriate landscaping techniques including ground covers, edging, rock, and slope treatments.
• Applies fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and related products following established safety procedures and regulatory guidelines.
• Assists with seasonal start up, operation, troubleshooting, and shut down of the facility irrigation system.
• Performs routine maintenance and minor repairs on irrigation components to ensure reliable operation.
• Operates grounds maintenance equipment such as mowers, trimmers, chainsaws, pruners, leaf blowers, wood chippers, hand tools, and related power equipment.
• Operates aerial lifts to perform elevated work such as tree trimming, limb removal, and other assigned grounds projects requiring safe work at height.
• Performs snowplowing and sanding during winter operations and supports road repair activities as assigned.
• Removes snow and ice from sidewalks, building entrances, roadways, and parking lots.
• Applies sand or other traction materials to mitigate slip hazards.
• Directs and assists transitional workers, laborers, temporary employees, and seasonal aides during snow removal activities.
• Uses an assigned Government Purchase Card to buy approved supplies and materials. Reconciles and documents personal purchase card transactions in accordance with VA Handbook 7001.
• Reconciles and documents personal purchasing transactions following established procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm; Some weekend and holiday work may be required

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved

Requirements

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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
• Pre-employment physical required
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification 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 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: Performs frequent walking, standing, bending, lifting, stooping, and climbing associated with grounds and landscaping work. Lifts and carries tools, materials, and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Works outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow. Exposed to dust, noise, fumes, chemicals, and hazards associated with working around power equipment, heavy tools, and snow removal operations. Works indoors for shop support, equipment maintenance, and administrative tasks. Works at elevated heights using aerial lifts during tree maintenance and other grounds activities, requiring use of safety harnesses and fall protection equipment.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

This occupation is being considered for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive (CSI). Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI. The amount of lump sum CSI is determined based on appointment date and may be pro-rated as determined by the end date of the CSI. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI.

This occupation is currently approved for a Veterans Health Administration enterprise-wide Critical Skills Incentive through [insert date]. Candidates may be eligible for a lump sum CSI for a pro-rated amount if onboard prior to the CSI expiration date. Eligible candidates will be required to sign a service agreement agreeing to an obligated service period and failure to complete the obligated service period may result in a debt for the unearned portion of the CSI.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.