Gardener Helper

Duties

*** This position is essential--Employee is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations***

Tour of duty will be other than Monday through Friday and may include weekends, evenings and holidays on a regular and recurring basis.

This position is located in the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Horticulture Division.

The Selectee will be assigned to one (1) of the three (3) sections: Exhibits and Displays Section, Collections Section or Gardens and Grounds Section.

The Selectee will be responsible for propagating and growing seasonal plants that are of the highest horticultural quality. May be assigned to more than one section for training.

The position may be filled at the Gardener Helper WG-05 level or Gardener Helper WG-06 (Advanced) level. Developmental assignments will be given with the goal of attaining the full performance level. Duties quoted below are at the WG-6 level.

Major Duties:

Grows a wide variety of accessioned collection plants for display throughout the US Botanic Garden.

Assists in managing, maintaining, developing and cultivating specialized plant group collections. Propagates and cultivates unusual plants, seeds and plant materials.

Re-plants, divides, roots and prunes plant specimens to achieve and maintain optimum plant health.

Performs propagation of the collection by division, cuttings, seeds and air layering at the appropriate time.

Develops and maintains updated and accurate records including seasonal growing schedules. Assists in properly labeling and accessioning permanent plants.

Works with the Botanist to maintain accurate and detailed accession records.

Operates a motor vehicle when transporting plants and equipment to designated facilities. Records the date, plant name, accession number, quantity and plant destination.

Assists in the installation of aesthetic and educational plant displays, which includes the layout and design of the display, selecting and labeling the plants and maintaining and rotating plants in the exhibit.

Complies with and actively participates in USBG sustainability efforts including composting, recycling and energy reduction programs.

Must be registered with the D.C. Department of the Environment to apply pesticides under the direction of a licensed pesticide applicator within 90 days after the effective date of appointment.

Follows all relevant safety rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures; Utilizes knowledge of and must comply with all OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner; Provides or receives training, either on-the-job or through classroom training, to ensure that all safety practices and equipment are fully utilized; Uses required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
• Must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired State driver's license.
• To apply pesticides in DC, must possess a DC Pesticide Applicator's License
  
  Applicants must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired State driver's license at the time of application.
  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.
    
    Qualifications
    
    You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.
    
    You must meet the following SCREEN-OUT:
    
    WG-5 level: Ability to perform the work of a Gardener Helper without more than normal supervision which includes basic knowledge to grow and maintain a diverse group of plants.
    
    WG-6 level: Ability to perform the work of a Gardener Helper (Advanced) without more than normal supervision which includes working knowledge to grow and maintain a diverse group of plants.
    
    Education
    
    This job does not have an education qualification requirement.
    
    Additional information
    
    Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit OPM vet guide
    
    If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
    
    DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
    
    The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
    
    The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit
    
    The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.
    
    This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
    
    Moving expenses are not authorized.
    
    Relocation expenses are not authorized.
    
    Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
    
    This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
    
    All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
    
    

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