Duties
Major duties include, but not limited to:
This position is responsible for the grounds and landscaping operations for the Veteran Affairs Medical Facility in Temple, Texas. Schedules tasks and directs workflow for subordinate team members to meet all goals. Schedule's maintenance, repair and cleanliness for all tools and equipment needed to perform job duties. Responsible for being engaged with and oversees the grounds contract at the facility and ensures that the grounds team maintains adequate stock of parts and supplies, maintains records, and furnishes reports as assigned. Supervise assigned workers from external programs such as CWT/Homeless Program. Reads and administers contracts and makes recommendations and decisions for grounds related issues based on expertise. Develops and presents, for final approval, recurring maintenance and small project budget for grounds and landscaping operations. Responsible for annual inventory of all related property/equipment in the grounds and landscaping operations. The incumbent must obtain/maintain if applicable, a State of Texas applicator's license for the application of fertilizers and herbicides at the Medical Facility. Ensures all staff wear appropriate protective gear. Ensures all staff operate equipment in accordance with operating manuals. Ensure all work is completed using correct equipment, work methods and practices including safety measures.
The incumbent will be responsible for care, maintenance, refurbishing and upkeep of ail exterior areas of the facility, to include the building entrances, grounds, patios, roads, parking lots and other paved surfaces, and walkways.
The incumbent ensures the irrigation system is always operating. Ensure all repairs to the system are done timely. Ensures that water conservation is followed during drought season in accordance with water restriction stages set by city ordinance.
Incumbent is responsible for procurement and contracting for the grounds and landscaping operations. This includes generating purchase requests in IFCAP containing enough information for the contracting office to identify the salient characteristics of the item or services to be purchased. Responsible for developing the procurement package which includes the Statement of Work/Objectives (SOW/SOO), Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) evaluation factors used in the evaluation process, Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), and any other required approvals mandated by regulation or policy.
Incumbent serves as the primary COR for the grounds and landscaping operations. The COR is required to take formal COR training every two years. As COR, the incumbent evaluates the contracts for compliance with VA policies and ensures contract specifications are accurate, initiates cost proposals for change orders, develops a government cost estimate for the change and negotiates such changes with the Contractor's Representative, reviews and examines submittals for compliance, verifies daily logs, evaluates and makes recommendations concerning the release and payment of funds to the contractor based upon exams and for procedures satisfactorily completed. The incumbent prepares correspondence to a wide variety of internal and external customers. Initiates and prepares monthly cost and status reports.
Incumbent has skill and knowledge to determine when plantings need to be thinned, transplanted, or replaced due to overgrowth for their location.
Incumbent knows when and how seeds should be harvested and when bulbs should be planted or removed from the ground for growth and storage.
Incumbent has the knowledge and ability to start new plants in seed beds or cold frames, knowing how to build a good soil base and correct planting and growth requirements and techniques to obtain good germination and growth.
Incumbent has ability to read and interpret a wide variety of written or verbal work requests, blueprints and sketches, instructions, installation guidelines or orders to accomplish assigned work.
Incumbent must be able to read, interpret, understand and apply appropriate safety labels, warnings and instructions on products and equipment being used. Additionally, must be knowledgeable of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),appropriate chemical storage, and proper chemical disposal.
Incumbent must be certified at a minimum in General Pest Control, Termite Control, Weed and Lawn and Ornamental Categories by the State of Texas. The Texas Structural Pest Control Laws and Regulations require continuing education units for certified applicators. Additional training shall be accomplished through seminars and workshops given by universities, government agencies and companies.
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:30 pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener Supervisor (Tractor Operator)/PD003190
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
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
- License
- Other (1)
- Performance Appraisal
- Professional Certification
- 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.
Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees
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.
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 09/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12796293.
- 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.
- 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.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
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. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.
The
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) 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/.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications 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: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.