Gardener

About the role

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today.

Admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.

What you will do

• The Division of Horticultural Services (HS) is responsible for the maintenance of ten acres of exterior landscape; which includes the West and East Buildings of the National Gallery of Art and the six-acre Sculpture Garden.
• In addition, HS is responsible for four interior gardens, twelve greenhouses, four cold frames and specialty gardens.
• The division also assumes the responsibility for meeting floral and foliage requirements for over 250 special events per year.
• Furthermore, the division is responsible for the contract for exterior step washing, sidewalk cleaning, daily exterior trash removal and snow removal.
• HS is responsible for performing interior maintenance, operation of landscape equipment, exterior landscape maintenance and greenhouse maintenance.
• In addition, HS preforms special event setup.
• Duties for this position include: Performing proper pruning, watering, weeding, planting, fertilizing, cleaning, mulching, pest control, and equipment operation carried out in assigned area, following industry standards.
• Preparing/Conducting new installations, fertilization, chemical weed control and pest control for annual bedding plants, tropical foliage plants, woody plants and herbaceous perennials.
• Monitoring and maintaining turf, proper mowing, fertilization, weeding, insect/disease control, aerating, overseeding, sodding, and edging.
• Monitoring and maintaining irrigation system components and notifying the lead horticulturist of deficiencies in order to ensure proper watering of plant material.
• Removing snow/ice with appropriate equipment, spreading ice melting material as needed in hardscape areas to assure safe access to museums, gardens, support facilities and parking lots.

Education

This position does not have an education requirement.

How you will be evaluated

Your resume will be used to evaluate your experience, education, and/or training that address the competencies below: Skill in following industry standards when caring for gardens. Skill in preparing maintenance schedules for planting. Skill in caring for turf surfaces.

Skill in maintaining irrigation systems. Skill in removing snow and ice from exterior surfaces. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Note: Applicants who are referred to the hiring office for selection consideration may be required to submit writing and/or work samples as part of the interview/selection process.

If the hiring office decides to request a writing and/or work sample as part of its selection process, the vacancy contact will reach out to you by email to: (1) inform you of this requirement; and (2) provide further instructions. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• Your Resume (no more than 2 pages) showing the applicant's name, email address, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed to include pay plan, series, and grade level for relevant federal experience.
• Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications.
• Do not include the following types of information in your resume: Classified or government sensitive information Social Security Number (SSN) Photos of yourself Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Encrypted and digitally signed documents Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, optional Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g. DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; Current Active Duty members must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter.) If you are a veteran and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility.
• If you are a veteran and you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
• For more information on veterans' preference click here.
• Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package.

Benefits

Please see Benefits at *** for a complete description. Flexible Spending Accounts - *** Health Insurance - *** Leave - *** Life Insurance - *** Retirement Program - ***

What to expect next

After each step in the recruitment process, your status will be updated in our application tracking system. Once this happens, if you have elected to receive e-mail updates, you will be notified through your USAJOBS registered e-mail address. If you have not elected e-mail updates, you can review your current application status in USAJOBS at any time.

Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.

In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include; application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.

For Fair Chance Act Covered Positions: An agency may not request, orally, in writing, or electronically through the USA Jobs website or other electronic means, that an applicant for appointment for a position in the civil service disclose criminal history record information before the appointing agency extends a conditional offer of employment.

If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency or visit ***

Additional information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a fair workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The EEO policy is found at: *** More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. This position is in the bargaining unit.

Relocation expenses will not be paid. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: *** Veterans Information: *** Selective Service Registration: *** Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements visit the following websites: Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities Reasonable Accommodation Requests: The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities.

If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement.