Gardener

Job Title

Gardener/PD656-90380A

Job Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• 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.
• Inspects plants for signs of disease, infestation, or environmental stress and performs corrective actions.
• 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 government vehicles, including pickups, vans, and trucks, to transport tools, equipment, supplies, and materials on and off station.
• 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.
• Provides routine care for small game birds housed on the grounds.
• Performs laundry pick up and delivery when laborer coverage is insufficient due to leave, illness, or other staffing gaps.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.