WDVA Grounds and Nursery Services Specialist 4, Full-Time - Permanent, Washington Soldiers Home

Description Grounds and Nursery Services Specialist 4 Full‑Time - Permanent Washington Soldiers Home Do you enjoy creating and maintaining safe, welcoming, and beautiful outdoor spaces? The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a skilled Grounds and Nursing Services Specialist 4 to support the upkeep of the grounds at our Washington Soldiers Home. In this role, you’ll perform experienced gardening and landscaping work, caring for all grounds, landscapes, nurseries, and greenhouse areas. The expected shift for this position is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules. Updated as of July 1, 2025: This position is eligible for “Supplement Basic Shift Premium” for 24/7 Facilities. Employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location will receive an additional one dollar ($1.00) per hour of supplemental basic shift premium for each hour of basic shift premium. This shift premium does not apply to overtime hours. The supplemental basic shift premium shall expire on June 29, 2027. At the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of “Serving Those Who Served.” As a national leader in our advocacy for nearly 500,000 Veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to Veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star Families. Duties Some Of What You’ll Be Doing Performs and leads others in preparing and maintaining outdoor floral beds, display areas for planting, soil improvements, and additional amendments, implementing/planting floral displays as designed, maintaining and monitoring floral displays for disease and pest control utilizing chemical, biological and other control measures as appropriate. Cultivate, water, fertilize floral displays; prune and mulch as needed. Remove annual floral displays after frost and clean up beds, trim back and mulch perennials. Prepares beds for all planting of spring bulbs. Maintain turf grass areas; fertilize, pest management, irrigation and mowing. Maintain extensive hedge material; shearing, shaping, and cultural requirement. Mow lawns; trim grass near fences, signposts, building perimeters, road culverts, bridges. Leaf removal using a tractor and a front mounted 72‑inch vacuum power blower. Rake, pick up debris, and keep campus lawns looking attractive. Irrigation of lawns, trees, and shrubs using lawn sprinklers, hoses, and water breakers. Identification of lawn disease and insect damage and control as needed. Apply fertilizers to lawns. Calibrate sprayer per pesticide label recommendation, also fertilizer spreaders. Remove, relocate, and replace soil in area to be seeded. Knowledge of different types of grass seed and where to apply (shade, full sun, partial sun, arid). Restore or renovate bare spots in lawns by reseeding, reseodinq, and dethatching. Operate lawn aerator and fertilizer spreader powered by tractor. Service and maintain power equipment (change oil, check and change hydraulic fluids, radiator fluids, mower blades, aerator tins). Effective use of hand tools and their use, brooms, shovels, forks, rakes, leaf and garden mauls, pick, post hole diggers etc. Qualifications Required Two (2) years' experience in gardening, plant care, landscape construction and grounds maintenance. A college degree involving major study in agronomy, botany, horticulture, soils or closely allied field may be substituted for gardening experience. A combination of education and experience may be considered on a year-for-year basis. Experience must be relevant to the position. Must be able to read, write, speak and understand English to facilitate effective performance of job duties. This includes sufficient written and verbal communication in English, to facilitate effective performance of essential functions. Agency Required Competencies for all positions: The ability to take action to learn and grow. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others. Preferred/Desired Experience in performing grounds and maintenance for a large-scale facility. Special Requirements Must be able to pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check prior to beginning services and every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy 615.000 Background Checks. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. Must comply with annual Tuberculin Screening in accordance with DVA policy 670.000 Tuberculosis Testing. Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs. and be capable of reaching a minimum of 36" using proper technique to stock shelves and access supplies. Employee must also be able to push or pull with sufficient strength and walk, sit, and bend in an unrestricted manner during the entire workday. Must maintain regular and reliable attendance and be willing to work as needed. Must successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in‑service, and other required training. Must become familiar and comply with all DVA policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable. Must sign the confidentiality statement for all employees. Positions requiring travel must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and must be insured if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business. Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future. Supplemental Information Check out this awesome video here to see what it is like to work for the WDVA! Other Information This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or Veteran status. We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call View phone number on click.appcast.io. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service. You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award‑winning diverse and inclusive organization. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. More than Just a Paycheck! Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs. Insurance Benefits Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state. Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax‑deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long‑term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts. To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs. Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre‑tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses. Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction. The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well‑being of employees. Retirement And Deferred Compensation State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site. Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre‑tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options. Social Security All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system. Public Service Loan Forgiveness If you are employed by a government or not‑for‑profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Holidays Full‑time and part‑time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year. Sick Leave Full‑time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. Sick leave accruals for part‑time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday. Vacation (Annual Leave) Full‑time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full‑time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave. Part‑time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro‑rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday. As provided in WAC 357‑58‑175, an employer may authorize a lump‑sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357‑31‑165. Military Leave Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year. Bereavement Leave Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave. Additional Leave Leave Sharing Parental Leave Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Without Pay Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits. Updated 01‑07‑2026 Required Question Do you have two (2) years' experience in gardening, plant care, landscape construction and grounds maintenance? Yes, I attest I have two (2) years' experience in gardening, plant care, landscape construction and grounds maintenance No Do you have a college degree involving major study in agronomy, botany, horticulture, soils or closely allied field may be substituted for gardening experience? Yes, I attest I have a college degree involving major study in agronomy, botany, horticulture, soils or closely allied field may be substituted for gardening experience. Yes, I attest I have a combination of education and experience may be considered on a year-for-year basis. Experience must be relevant to the position. No #J-18808-Ljbffr US DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS