Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) Job in Fayetteville, NC

Vacancy No. CARZ-12752296-25-TJE Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $19.46 to $22.70 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 6/20/2025 Close Date 6/26/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fayetteville, NC


Summary

These positions are located within the Environmental Management Services and Grounds Section at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. The Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) performs a variety of tasks related to exterior and interior gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance in support of the mission and goals of the Medical Center.

Duties

The major duties include but are not limited to:

  • Performs seasonal gardening tasks and cultivating a wide variety of plants in flower and shrub beds throughout the Medical Center campus;
  • Prepares soil for plants, seeding, thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying and dusting of ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees as instructed;
  • Consults with the grounds supervisor regarding the physical characteristics of plants and their requirements for health growth;
  • Recommends changes for improvement in the overall landscape plan and obtains approval on projects which require unplanned expense or significant periods of time within the framework of good gardening practices;
  • Inspects plants, trees, and shrubs for disease, insects, and/or unusual or poor plant growth;
  • Plans and carries out the scheduled seasonal preparation of flower beds and ornamental planting areas;
  • Transplants trees, shrubbery, and plants when relocation is required due to construction or building maintenance issues;
  • Waters, fertilizes, plants, prunes, and trims plants, shrubs, trees, and other tasks and projects as assigned;
  • Performs grounds maintenance tasks to include lawn mowing, trimming, fertilizing, watering, weed eating, edging sidewalks, blowing leaves, ensuring entranceways are free of debris and obstacles, etc.;
  • Replaces mulch in flower beds and ornamental gardens, removing weeds by hand, tools, application of chemicals, etc.;
  • Operates a street sweeper for roadway and parking lot maintenance;
  • Applyies sand and other materials where ice has accumulated (sidewalks, entranceways, steps, roadways) due to winter storms in order to maintain a safe environment;
  • Operates high reach manual equipment for pruning tall trees and shrubs, removing dead tree limbs, cleaning out gutters, or removing debris from rooftops, etc.;
  • Prunes and trims shrubs and trees and other plants to remove obvious defects and excess branches to obtain proper balance between roots and top growth to modify or retain the natural form;
  • Performs gardening duties for interior gardens such as the Plant Atrium and Serenity Garden;
  • Moves indoor potted plants from the greenhouse to interior locations for events and presentations;
  • Operates motor vehicles, pick-up trucks, vans, and heavy equipment like back hoes, etc. to haul equipment to and from work sites, pickup supplies, and transport lawn maintenance equipment throughout the facility;
  • Collects trash, garbage, and contaminated waste as needed;
  • Assists in the pick-up and delivery of vehicles for routine maintenance; and,
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Requirements

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
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Pre-employment physical required
  • Subject to background/security investigation
  • 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.

Qualifications

Physical Effort and Work Conditions: The position requires walking, standing, bending, pushing, pulling, stretching, and stooping for long periods of time. Carries materials, equipment, and objects of varying weights, sizes, and shapes up to 100 lbs. Frequently ladders are used for pruning and trimming large shrubbery and trees and cleaning out building gutters, etc. Requires muscular effort to operate motor vehicles, as well as loading and unloading materials and supplies. Muscular effort and coordination are also required to operate the various controls on power lawn equipment.
The work is performed primarily outside. Working conditions are often dirty and noisy, subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun and to cold and rainy weather in the winter. The person in the position will be exposed to grass clippings, brush, environmental smell/odors, chemical sprays, fertilizer dust, pollen, etc. On occasion, work is required in areas that may pose health hazards if proper precautions are not taken. Working conditions are such that the worker must constantly be mindful of safety precautions to limit the possibility of accidents, contamination, and personal injury or injury to others within the work area.

Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for. Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success. Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.

Driver's License Requirement (Screen Out): A current and valid state-issued driver's license is required (and must be possess at application) for this position to operate the government vehicles. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license.

You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
  • ABILITY TO DO THE WORK OF A GARDENER (MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR) WITHOUT MORE THAN NORMAL SUPERVISION (SCREEN OUT)
  • TECHNICAL PRACTICES
  • MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
  • INTERPRET INSTRUCTIONS, SPECIFICATIONS (OTHER THAN BLUEPRINT READING)
  • USE AND MAINTAIN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
  • MATERIALS
  • DEXTERITY AND SAFETY
IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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.

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, 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.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.

Review our benefits

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

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.

Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

  • Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
  • Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category.

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.

Required Documents

IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.)

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 ensure you have included all 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 or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).
  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Other (1)
  • Other (2)
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript


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, i.e., Letter of Intent, 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 refer to the SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" and submit required documents as applicable and stated on the form. Documentation is mandatory to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/26/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12752296.

  1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
  2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (910) 488-2120.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Agency contact information

VHA National Recruitment Center
Address
Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center
2300 Ramsey Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications per Category Rating procedures to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.


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


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