Gardener (Advanced) Assistant Supervisor Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. SC-2025-029 Department Architect of the Capitol
Salary $40.35 to $46.97 Grade 08 to 08
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/23/2024 Close Date 11/12/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol; Office of the Chief of Operations, Supreme Court Building and Grounds; Operations and Maintenance Division; Grounds Branch. The selectee will share responsibility with the Supervisor for overseeing, managing and directing Advanced Gardener and Laborer shop personnel performing work at the WG-9 or lower level. Will serve as a working supervisor alongside subordinates performing the same work. 

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from all U.S. citizens. Note: Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity. IMPORTANT NOTE: If the required pesticide registration and license are not obtained or transferred within the one year probationary period from the effective date of appointment, the incumbent will be terminated for failure to meet the conditions of continued employment.

Duties

This position is essential. The selectee will be required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations. Core hours for this position are from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm with the option of an alternative work schedule. Tour of duty may include holidays and weekends on a regular and recurring basis. Rotating shift work may also be required at management’s discretion.

Major Duties Include:

Supervisory

  • Performs administrative and technical supervisory functions for subordinates. Assigns duties and evaluates performance. Manages the organizational unit’s budget and workload to include material purchases and service contract development and oversight. Develops performance requirements for subordinates and ensures a mutual understanding of the performance standards.
  • Provides leadership to ensure support for equal employment opportunity (EEO) goals and requirements. Provides for employee skills enrichment through job related coaching, mentoring and training. Fosters a culture of learning, sharing, cooperation and teamwork that improves efficiency and effectiveness throughout the organization.
  • Assigns work to employees directly and through work leaders and provides technical direction and/or assistance in accomplishing the work. Observes work in progress, investigates work related problems and determines causes. Implements corrective actions to resolve work problems.
  • Plans and established leave schedules. Determines training needs of subordinates and arranges for its accomplishment. Interviews candidates for vacancies and recommends employees for promotion or reassignments. Initiates proposals for formal disciplinary action as needed.
  • Provides or receives training, either on the job or through classroom training, to ensure that required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilized.

Control of Plant Diseases, Insects and Weeds

  • Recognizes unusual plant diseases. Recommends or personally applies appropriate chemical compounds for the conditions noted based on the specific condition of the plants. Looks for plant diseases such as blight, brown spot, mildew, molds and rusts, plant insects (borers, leaf miners, scale, slugs) and unusual or poor plant growth. Applies proper treatment to alleviate the conditions. Records corrective procedures used.
  • Utilizes complex fertilizing practices and methods for increasing or decreasing the presence in the soil or lime, calcium salt or sulphur to neutralize acid or alkaline soil conditions in line with specific plant requirements. Makes use of foliage feeding, root feeding and soil additive methods to fertilize different varieties of plants.

Plant Cultivation and Displays

  • Designs and creates displays and exhibits of plants throughout the Supreme Court Buildings and Grounds. Performs the entire range of tasks that support the planning for and creation of displays of varieties of flowers, grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees.
  • Maintains and cares for displays of interior subtropical, tropical and arid plants and trees. Plants and preserves trees, shrubs, hedges, flowers, gardens and lawns for the exterior historical landscape of our Nation's Supreme Court.
  • Recycles organic end products and conserves water and energy resources by integrating sustainable practices and materials.
  • Chooses flowers and plants for decorative gardens surrounding the Supreme Court buildings. Maintains plant displays which change with the seasons and involve thousands of plantings. Follows the Historic Landscape Master Plan to transplants trees, shrubs and flower gardens, interpreting landscape plan symbols and signs.
  • In readiness for special events, prepares the Supreme Court Grounds for access by the public. Answers questions from the visiting public by providing horticultural information such as origin and general care; nomenclature and growth requirements for healthy plants, lawns, trees and shrubs; and climatic requirements.

Horticulture Practices and Groundskeeping

  • Prunes and trims plants and shrubs to maintain good plant health and treat unusual plant conditions. As needed, makes difficult repairs on extensively damaged plants. Prunes and trims to shape and size as instructed and in accordance with the Historic Landscape Master Plan. Mows and maintains lawn grasses.
  • Performs trash clean-up and removal. Uses sweeper; walk-behind, hand-held and riding leaf blowers; rake; pitchfork; and shovel. Using various chemicals and fertilizers, prepares and treats soils for planting. Adjusts sprinklers and operates and maintains power equipment including tillers, tractors, plows, bobcats, fork lifts, power trimmers, leaf removal equipment, blowers and snow removal vehicles and equipment for use in parking areas, roads and walk-ways.
  • Performs preventive maintenance on tractors, mowers, spreaders, edgers, sweepers, hand tools and blowers.
  • As needed, directs and assists with removing snow and ice from parking lots, ramps, sidewalks, steps, streets and walkways.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.
  • Must possess a current valid and unexpired state driver's license.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.

Requirements:

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • 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 qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  
  
You must meet the screen-outs listed below.

1.  Applicants must possess and maintain a valid and unexpired state driver's license at the time of application.

2.  Applicants must possess a valid and unexpired District of Columbia (DC) pesticide applicator's license in categories 3A, 3B, and 3C to apply pesticides in DC or be registered with the DC Department of the Environment to apply pesticides under the direction of a licensed pesticide applicator within 60 days after the effective date of appointment.

Up-to-date pesticide applicator's licenses that are held in states that have reciprocity with DC may be transferred within 60 days from the effective date of employment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If the required registration and license are not obtained or transferred within the one year probationary period from the effective date of appointment, the incumbent will be terminated for failure to meet the conditions of continued employment.

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 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 http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, 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 on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period- Selectee(s) 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.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.

The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.  

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the job elements for this position and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following job elements and competencies:

-- Ability to lead or supervise.

-- Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision.

-- Technical practices.

-- Ability to interpret instructions and specifications.

-- Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment.

-- Dexterity and safety.
 
Your responses to the self assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating. You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions. Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter. Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions. Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

The Architect of the Capitol's job application process is designed to ensure that we only ask you for the information that is absolutely needed to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position.

To apply for this position, you only need to submit online the following: a) your resume and 2) answer the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant supplemental information. No additional documentation or attachment is required at the time of application. 

We ask that you prepare and submit a resume that best describes fully your background experience, skills, abilities, education, training and other relevant credentials. The resume should include dates of employment.

Nothing further is required until it is requested by the staff of the Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for a position, you will be asked to provide it during the selection process or upon selection. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.

For example, we may ask you to provide documents such as college transcripts, copy of diploma or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires a license or certification, we will ask candidate(s) to provide proof at the time of selection.

If you are claiming veterans' preference, we may ask you to submit proof of Veterans preference (DD-214, and, if claiming 10-point preference, the SF-15 plus proof required by that form).

If you fail to provide the required documents, we will withdraw a tentative job offer made and/or remove you from further consideration.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page.

NEED HELP?

If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs “Saved Documents” feature.

If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.

Agency contact information

Paulette Dixon-Ellis
Phone
000.000.0000
Fax
000.000.0000
Email
Paulette.Dixon-Ellis@aoc.gov
Address
Architect of the Capitol
2nd and D Street, S.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application. After all application packages have been received, we will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJobs Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


© 2006-2024, exclusive of U. S. government job opportunity announcements