Clarification from the agency

Status Candidates (Merit Promotion and VEOA Eligibles) and Special Hiring Authorities

Gardening/Grounds maintenance

• Lawn and terrace repair and maintenance, including but not limited to: Mowing and trimming, vacuuming and raking, aerating and thatching, seeding and sodding, edging and watering.
• Shrub, tree and flower maintenance, including but not limited to: Planting and relocating; watering and stripping; pruning and trimming to obtain a proper balance between roots and top growth, to modify or retain the natural form, and to increase fruit and flower production.
• Incumbent reshapes tree wounds by bark tracing to stimulate the flow of healing sap and growth of tissue over the wound.
• Prior to relocating, incumbent selects the location for best plant growth and development considering soil conditions, hardiness of plants, foliage at various stages of growth, flowering periods, and the overall landscape plan.
• Shrub and flower beds, including but not limited to: Edging, designing preparing, cultivating and propagating. Incumbent must know how to propagate and cultivate a wide variety of plants and perform a wide range of gardening work.
• Plant and disease identification control and treatment; recognizes and controls infrequent plant diseases, cold damage, and mineral deficiencies.
• Chemical applications on lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers, including but not limited to: Fertilizers, fungicides, pesticides, non-selective herbicides, selective herbicides, soil enhancers and enrichers.
• Incumbent knows how to increase or decrease the lime, calcium salt, or sulphur content so that acid or alkaline conditions are neutralized in line with plant requirements.
• He/she uses various foliage feeding, root feeding, and soil additive techniques in fertilizing different varieties of plants.
• Grounds maintenance, including but not limited to: Road repair, snow removal and snow fence installation.
• Medical Center clean-up, including but not limited to: Outside drains and catch basins, areas wells and gutters, paved surfaces, trash cans and compactors, grills, parking lots, service rooms and sub-basements, storage areas, penthouses, fire and electric closets, and hazardous material.
• Furniture/equipment moving.
• Possess a valid State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a class B rating.
• Possess a current pesticide commercial applicator's license for chemical applications.
• Adhere to all state rules and regulations regarding applicators license renewal.
• Operates vehicles and equipment up to 37,000 GVW on surface streets and up to 10-lane interstate highways during heavy traffic conditions, rain and snowy weather conditions.
• Performs preventive maintenance on all assigned vehicles and equipment, including but not limited to: Forklifts, front-end loaders, tractors and mowers, lawn vacuums and curb sweepers, rototillers and augers, lawn rakes and de-thatcher, aerators and sprayers, and dump trucks.

Work Schedule: 6:00am-230pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener/PD94434A

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/12/2025.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading)
• Materials
• Measuring Instruments
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment

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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Incumbent's work requires periodic exposure to heat, cold and inclement weather;
may be subjected to bumps, bruises, cuts, abrasions; is subject to sewer gases, exhaust fumes, dirt, grease, hot pipes, and wet slippery surfaces. Incumbent's work requires climbing on ladders and scaffolds, roofs, trees and equipment; subjected to confined areas, crawl spaces and equipment rooms. Frequently lifts and carry items up to 60 pounds unassisted and over 60 pounds with assistance. Work includes, but is not limited to bending, stooping, kneeling, pushing, stretching, lying under equipment for repairs; subjected to noise levels up to 85 D.B for up to eight (8) hours and chemical spills.

• Position requires participation in a medical surveillance program.

Work is done outside or in a greenhouse. In working outside, the gardener is subject to discomfort for long periods in the hot sun, and sometimes to chilly or rainy weather. Being exposed to dirt, dust, mud, and often to chemical sprays and dust, they may wear protective clothing such as gloves,
safety shoes, and boots. There is a chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and the occasional possibility of broken bones from falls.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Areas of Consideration - Applicants will be considered based on the following areas of consideration.

• First Area of Consideration (Facility Employees) - Current, permanent VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System employees (this includes Outpatient Clinics, permanent employees of the Veteran Canteen Service assigned to this facility, Office of Information & Technology employees assigned to this facility, and Virtual CBOPC bargaining unit employees under station 541 located at the Cleveland VAMC.
• Second Area of Consideration (Other VA Employees) - Current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Employees (VA employees who are located at other VA medical centers).
• Third Area of Consideration - All Preference Eligible Veterans including: CPS/CP: A veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent, XP: A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs but does not qualify as a CP or CPS; or is a purple heart recipient, TP: 5 point preference based on eligible active duty service, SSP (Sole Survivorship Preference): Discharged from active duty from the armed forces, after August 29, 2008, by reason of a "sole survivorship discharge
• Veterans with no preference and all other qualified U.S. Citizens

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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