Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)

If selected you will work with scientists and crop specialists to propagate and grow prohibited and quarantined plants and other plants used to test germplasm for pathogens to prevent the introduction of foreign pests during the importation of prohibited plant germplasm and commercial cultivars for industry, research, breeding or preservation in the National Plant Germplasm System.

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Propagate and grow imported plants as well as healthy and inoculated indicator plants in greenhouses, growth chambers, screen houses, field plots and orchards.
• Prepare soil mixes; sow seeds; plant and transplant seedlings or rooted propagations; budding, grafting, labeling, pruning, fertilizing, and watering herbaceous and woody plants.
• Prepare field plots; plant fruit trees or rootstocks; fertilize, prune, and water trees (using a drip irrigation system).
• Assist crop specialists in conducting lab, greenhouse, and field tests for submicroscopic pathogens: collecting and extracting samples, inoculating and labeling and caring for inoculated test plants.
• Erecting and repairing fences, mowing grass, rouging diseased trees, controlling weeds with physical and chemical removal, and removing trees when field tests are complete.
• Maintain inventories of community greenhouse supplies; run errands to locations in the surrounding area to obtain supplies or deliver items.
• Mow grass in orchard and operates small to medium tractors and government vehicles (trucks and automobiles).

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National

Qualifications

To qualify, you must show you have had training and experience of sufficient scope and quality to provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Your answers to the vacancy specific questions must be supported by the work experience in your resume. For example, if you respond in the affirmative when questioned whether you have experience propagating plants, your resume must include this experience, mindful that experience may not be inferred by job title.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applications will be evaluated in accordance with Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Delegated Examining Procedures and USDA policy using category rating. Applicants who meet basic minimum qualifications will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-veterans. Category placement will be determined based on applicants' quality of experience and the extent they possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) or competencies:
 

• Ability to do the work of a Gardener without more than normal supervision
• Ability to interpret instructions, specifications; other than blueprints
• Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment
• Dexterity and Safety
• Knowledge of materials
• Technical practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
• Use of measuring instruments

Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Those determined to be in the best qualified category will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12345046