Gardener

Summary

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.

Duties

The Division of Horticultural Services (HS) is responsible for the maintenance of ten acres of exterior landscape; which includes the West and East Buildings of the National Gallery of Art and the six-acre Sculpture Garden. In addition, HS is responsible for four interior gardens, twelve greenhouses, four cold frames and specialty gardens. The division also assumes the responsibility for meeting floral and foliage requirements for over 250 special events per year. Furthermore, the division is responsible for the contract for exterior step washing, sidewalk cleaning, daily exterior trash removal and snow removal. HS is responsible for performing interior maintenance, operation of landscape equipment, exterior landscape maintenance and greenhouse maintenance. In addition, HS preforms special event setup. Duties for this position include: Performing proper pruning, watering, weeding, planting, fertilizing, cleaning, mulching, pest control, and equipment operation carried out in assigned area, following industry standards. Preparing/Conducting new installations, fertilization, chemical weed control and pest control for annual bedding plants, tropical foliage plants, woody plants and herbaceous perennials. Monitoring and maintaining turf, proper mowing, fertilization, weeding, insect/disease control, aerating, overseeding, sodding, and edging. Monitoring and maintaining irrigation system components and notifying the lead horticulturist of deficiencies in order to ensure proper watering of plant material. Removing snow/ice with appropriate equipment, spreading ice melting material as needed in hardscape areas to assure safe access to museums, gardens, support facilities and parking lots.

Qualifications and evaluation

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: Skill in following industry standards when caring for gardens. Skill in preparing maintenance schedules for planting. Skill in caring for turf surfaces. Skill in maintaining irrigation systems. Skill in removing snow and ice from exterior surfaces. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process. If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.

Benefits

Please see Benefits at http://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description. Flexible Spending Accounts - http://www.fsafeds.com/ Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp Retirement Program - http://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The application process is as follows: Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. You must have a USAJOBS account and be logged in. You must have a completed resume no more than 2 pages. (You may use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS) You must respond to all applicant assessment questions, carefully following all instructions provided. You will be able to upload additional supporting documentation, which may include, but not limited to transcripts, notification of personnel actions (SF-50), certifications and verification of veterans status (SF-15, DD-214) The complete application package, including any additional supporting documents required for this position is due in the National Gallery of Art Personnel Office on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. NOTE: Applicants who cannot apply on-line must request a hard copy application packet from the Agency Contact listed in the vacancy announcement. Resumes and/or supporting documentation alone will not be considered without the inclusion of a hard copy application packet. The complete package is due no later than 5:30 PM Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. The National Gallery of Art receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS".

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Your Resume (no more than 2 pages) showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference click here. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a fair workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The EEO policy is found at: http://www.nga.gov/employment-opportunities/equal-employment-opportunity More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. This position is in the bargaining unit. Relocation expenses will not be paid. 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. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: http://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation Veterans Information: http://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities Reasonable Accommodation Requests: The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement.