Gardener Helper (Part-Time)

About the role

This position is at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG). The USBG is a public garden in the legislative branch and was established by Congress in 1820. The Garden inspires people to appreciate, study, and conserve plants to enrich society locally and globally.

We provide educational experiences to 1 million visitors annually, present horticultural displays and exhibits, strive to break down barriers to inclusion, and advance the exchange of ideas and information. Learn more: U.S. Botanic Garden.

What you will do

• *** This position is essential--Employee is required to report to work during emergencies and inclement weather situations*** The tour of duty for this position includes regular and recurring weekend work.
• Employees may also be required to work evenings and holidays based on operational needs.
• This position is located in the United States Botanic Garden (USBG), Horticulture Division, Gardens and Grounds Section.
• The Selectee will be responsible for propagating and growing seasonal plants that are of the highest horticultural quality.
• May be assigned to more than one section for training.
• The position may be filled at the Gardener Helper WG-05 level or Gardener Helper WG-06 (Advanced) level.
• Developmental assignments will be given with the goal of attaining the full performance level.
• Duties quoted below are at the WG-6 level.
• Major Duties: Grows a wide variety of accessioned collection plants for display throughout the US Botanic Garden.
• Assists in managing, maintaining, developing and cultivating specialized plant group collections.
• Propagates and cultivates unusual plants, seeds and plant materials.
• Re-plants, divides, roots and prunes plant specimens to achieve and maintain optimum plant health.
• Performs propagation of the collection by division, cuttings, seeds and air layering at the appropriate time.
• Develops and maintains updated and accurate records including seasonal growing schedules.
• Assists in properly labeling and accessioning permanent plants.
• Works with the Botanist to maintain accurate and detailed accession records.
• Operates a motor vehicle when transporting plants and equipment to designated facilities.
• Records the date, plant name, accession number, quantity and plant destination.
• Assists in the installation of aesthetic and educational plant displays, which includes the layout and design of the display, selecting and labeling the plants and maintaining and rotating plants in the exhibit.
• Complies with and actively participates in USBG sustainability efforts including composting, recycling and energy reduction programs.
• Must be registered with the D.C. Department of the Environment to apply pesticides under the direction of a licensed pesticide applicator within 90 days after the effective date of appointment.
• Follows all relevant safety rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures; Utilizes knowledge of and must comply with all OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner; Provides or receives training, either on-the-job or through classroom training, to ensure that all safety practices and equipment are fully utilized; Uses required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Requirements

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

How you will be evaluated

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, possession of any specialized experience, 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 perform duties of Gardener Helper without more than normal supervision (Screen-out) Working knowledge to grow and maintain a diverse group of plants Ability to interpret instructions and specifications Ability to use and maintain gardening tools and equipment 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 non-selection or disqualification from further consideration. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• 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.

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.

What to expect next

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. 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 ***

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 vacancy announcement.

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 who is not currently an AOC employee 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 *** The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information 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 made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized. Relocation expenses are not authorized. Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee 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.