Gardener

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.

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, Ameri Corps) 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.