Summary The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period is APRIL-OCTOBER but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: APRIL 2025. Open to the first 101 applicants or until 01/23/2025 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration. Responsibilities Major Duties: Performs cultivation of fruit trees, horticultural treatments, maintenance of historic furrow irrigation system. Maintains plants in natural (revegetation), cultural sites, and native plant nursery by determining when plants need additional watering and how long they should be watered. Identifies weeds and as directed sprays with herbicides, and foliar nutrients for the control of plant diseases, and weeds. Works with various hand & mechanical tools/equipment including trucks, lawn mowers, backhoes, dump trucks, weed eaters, saws, propane torches, sprayers, ladders, shovels, spades, chain saws, hand saws, pole saws, loppers, etc. Operates farm-type tractors with attached equipment such as rotary or flail mowers, augers, tillers, etc. in the performance of the gardener duties. Physical Demands: The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending and stooping. The incumbent frequently climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc. Working Conditions: The work is done outside and is subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and sometimes in chilly or rainy weather. On a regular basis the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being applied to trees and shrubs. The incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as normal safety items such as gloves, boots, glasses, etc. Because of the duties performed there is the chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls. Requirements Conditions of Employment U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You may be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority. Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or(c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program. Qualifications To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors: Have the ability to do the work of a Gardener WG- 5003-06 without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN OUT) Work history that demonstrates experience at Gardener duties such as knowledge of plants and gardening procedures to decide when and which standard method to use. Ability to install and maintain irrigation systems and electric fences. Ability to perform physically demanding activities including stooping bending twisting reaching overhead and working on knees and working on ladders and lifting up to 50 lbs and working outdoors throughout the year. Skill in the use and operation of a variety of hand and power tools and equipment normally associated with garden work, such as seeders, edgers, hedge trimmers, pruning shears and sprayers. Ability to care for motorized equipment used in gardening operations, such as lubricating, changing oil, blades and sharpening blades. If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors. Additional information on specific qualification requirements can be found in the Job Qualification System for Trades and Laborer Occupations. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. ICTAP/CTAP Statement: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special prior­ity selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information For more information about this position please contact: Kim Dicenzo, kim_dicenzo@nps.gov Phone: (360) 854-7341 This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate. A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. Government housing may be available A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE less than 1040 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment less than 1040 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1040 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1040 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1040 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.