Duties
The incumbent serves as the Horticulturist (Supervisory Gardener) leading the Exhibits and Displays Section. The incumbent supports the USBG mission by overseeing planning, development and maintenance of the temporary exhibits and greenhouse crops and supervises a team of employees assigned to the Section.
Major duties include:
Supervision
Exercises the full range of supervisory responsibilities for a team of gardeners assigned to the Exhibits and Displays Section. Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for employees, which are clearly communicated through the formal employee performance management system. Provides advice and counsel to employees related to work and administrative matters. Develops performance improvement plans (PIPs), recommending personnel actions as necessary. Initiates disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Provides for employee skills enrichment and development through identification of opportunities for coaching, mentoring and training.
Responsible for furthering the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to ensure the accomplishment of EEO.
Responsible for utilizing a thorough knowledge of and compliance with applicable AOC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner.
Exhibit Evaluation, Planning and Design
Performs evaluation, planning and design of specialized areas of horticulture. These areas include, but are not limited to, seasonal shows, exhibits and rotating displays. Critically evaluates shows, exhibits and displays for aesthetic, educational, health, safety, efficiency and sustainability features and considerations.
Prepares and plans projects for both the short and long-term as they relate to USBG priorities and master plans. Project planning includes all aspects of overseeing exhibit and display installation including plants, hardscape, labels, irrigation, aesthetic elements, equipment and labor. Develops crop growing schedules and supervises their progress.
Designs exhibits and displays for maximum effect for aesthetics, education, safety and sustainability. Investigates new varieties of plants to be grown for display at the USBG and participates in the selection of plant sources.
Works with Botanist, Plant Records Specialist and Gardeners to properly accession and label plants and maintain detailed accession records in accordance with the Collections Management Plan and Curatorial Policy.
Greenhouse and Exhibit Maintenance
Manages and participates in all aspects of greenhouse and exhibit preparation and maintenance for optimal plant health and aesthetics. Uses expert knowledge of greenhouse control systems to determine, manage and create ideal cultural conditions for a wide diversity of plant material. Manages and supervises the USBG Foliage Program that supplies plants for congressional spaces.
Works with Plant Health Care Specialist to oversee plant health and an integrated pest management program for all Exhibits and Displays areas. Monitors pest populations and life cycles; determines threshold levels and applies the appropriate physical, cultural, biological or chemical controls. Applies amendments to growing media as needed for optimal plant health.
Collaborates with other divisions and sections of the USBG to develop, execute and maintain educational horticultural exhibits.
Operates a wide variety of motor vehicles and equipment in accomplishing exhibit installation, greenhouse operations and plant delivery.
Plant Cultivation
Oversees and coordinates the propagation and maintenance of a wide variety of plants for seasonal displays, exhibits and shows as well as indoor foliage plants for the Foliage Program. These include, but are not limited to greenhouse crops including tropical, annual and vegetable plants, as well as herbaceous perennial, woody, aquatic and bog plants.
Explores methods to improve planting, cultivating, nutrient management, and insect and disease control to achieve optimal plant quality in greenhouse, nursery, and display situations. Recommends priorities and strategies for optimal growth of outdoor garden plants.
Administration
Coordinates employee schedules to ensure daily coverage. Approves schedules, leave and premium pay through an electronic system.
Contacts vendors, obtains quotes and prepares orders of plants and hard goods for supervisor’s review and authorization.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen.
- You must be able to pass a drug test.
- You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
- You must meet education requirements at the time of application.
- You must possess a valid, unexpired state motor vehicle driver's license.
“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.”
To apply pesticides in the District of Columbia Applicants must possess a valid and unexpired D.C. Pesticide Applicator’s License or a valid, unexpired State pesticide license with D.C. reciprocity in categories 3A, 3B, 3C. If not, you must be able to obtain the license within 6 months of the effective date of appointment.
Experience supervising a workforce covered by a collective bargaining agreement is desirable.
Qualifications
You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards
Specialized Experience:
One (1) year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
To be creditable, candidates must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in Federal service.
Examples of specialized experience include the following: (1) Evaluating and diagnosing structural and horticultural issues in plant materials and trees to determine the proper corrective action; (2) Installing new plant materials following plans and approved horticultural practices and procedures; (3) Preparing and maintaining special beds including pruning, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, spraying plant materials, and applying pesticides; (4) Supplying and arranging special foliage for events, and promoting knowledge and understanding of plants. (5) Coordinating the production of standard and non-standard plant specimens, such as temperate plants, tropical and subtropical plants, and display crops; and (6) Leading or supervising employees in the performance of horticultural work.
OR
You may substitute education for specialized experience. In order to substitute education for specialized experience, you must have three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or equivalent doctoral degree in a field of study related to the duties of the position.
Education
Degree: Horticulture; or a related discipline of basic plant science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, of which at least 16 semester hours were in horticultural subjects such as those dealing with the breeding, care, management, production, and post-harvest handling of horticultural crops.
--OR--
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in horticulture or a related discipline of basic plant science that included course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
Courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, and similar courses may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in basic plant sciences.
The 16-semester-hour requirement in horticulture includes course work in basic horticulture and course work related to any of the recognized subject-matter fields of horticulture, i.e., fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, nursery work, seed production, or course work in related areas of science, such as micro-biology, entomology, plant pathology, plant physiology, or genetics that is directly related to horticultural work.
Special Instructions for Foreign Education:
Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment.
Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree.
You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected.
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.
Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).
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 to Apply
You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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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.
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