Gardener Leader

This position is located in the Grounds Maintenance section Facilities Management Service at the VASORCC White City Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center. The Gardener Leader works directly for the Operations Foreman and is qualified and capable to perform the full range of gardener duties assigned to the Grounds section. The duties encompass a full variety of Grounds maintenance functions.

Lead duties and responsibilities include: Leads a WG-9 Pest Controller, five WG-8 Gardeners and 2 CWT Patient Therapy Workers by passing on instructions from the Operations Foreman. Starts work each day by instructing individual employees in what tasks are to be accomplished that day. Sets the pace for the work group. Demonstrates proper work methods. Incumbent works independently in determining material needs for facility landscaping projects and submits request to supervisor for approval. Part time works with Operation Foreman for equipment needs. Checks work while in progress and when completed to ensure the foreman's and supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedure, methods, and deadlines have been met. Assures that all facility, VA, OSHA and all applicable safety procedures are followed. Keeps the foreman posted on. all evolutions/tasks in progress and answers questions concerning overall work operations and problems. Incumbent may be required to maintain daily logs and to assist in gathering information for the AMIS report. Gives performance recommendations to Operations Foreman and gives on the job training. Conducts inspections of facility grounds, including but not limited to the baseball stadium, and warehouse areas. Prepares greenhouse and nursery bedding plants, soil beds, fertilizes, weeds, aerates and prunes trees and shrubs. In addition, plants and transplants trees, shrubs, ground covers and flowers. Operates such hand and power equipment as tampers, materials handling trucks, forklifts, brooms, rakes, shovel, picks, mattocks, saws, sprayers, chainsaws, jackhammers, push type and power mowers, tractor driven mowers, tillers, aerators and thatchers, trailer pulled and PTO driven sprayers. Operates tractors weighing up to approximately 10,000 gross vehicle weight (GVW), with 3-point hitch, front-end loader and backhoe attachments and genie boom. Operates such motorized vehicles as pickup trucks, utility trucks, dump trucks, and stake bed trucks with a GVW of up to 22,000 pounds. Incumbent receives general supervision from the Grounds Foreman who outlines areas of responsibility. Incumbent is expected to research problems thoroughly and implement solutions. Incumbent is a fully approved and trained backup patient transportation motor vehicle operator as needed. Responsible for the completion of all work in areas assigned. Responsible for determining what materials, tools and equipment will be needed, including rough drafts of orders for required materials and equipment. Responsible for ensuring the required supplies, tools and equipment are made available at the job site at the required time, etc. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 08:00am to 4:30pm (PST) Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener Leader/PD021500 Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation You must maintain a valid, state issued Driver's License. Driving physical may be required 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.