Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator)
About This Position
This position is located within the Environmental Management Services and Grounds Section at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. The Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) performs a variety of tasks related to exterior and interior gardening, landscaping, and ground maintenance in support of the mission and goals of the Medical Center.
Qualifications
Driver's License Requirement (Screen Out): A current and valid state-issued driver's license is required for this position to operate the government vehicles.
NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore, please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. PLUS (Screen Out): The ability to perform the duties of the Gardener (Motor Vehicle Operator) without more than normal supervision.
The work includes: performing a wide variety of grounds keeping work; proper growing and care of flowers, lawns, shrubs and trees; applying herbicides and insecticides; using various types of landscaping hand/power tools and equipment; operating a variety of heavy grounds equipment including motor vehicles, tractors, street sweepers, etc.; and determining equipment/supply needs and ensuring materials are delivered to work sites.
Your resume must support your answers with detailed description of work performed to receive credit. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK CONDITIONS: These positions require walking, standing, bending, pushing, pulling, stretching, and stooping for long periods of time. Carries materials, equipment, and objects of varying weights, sizes, and shapes up to 100 lbs.
Frequently ladders are used for pruning and trimming large shrubbery and trees and cleaning out building gutters, etc. Requires muscular effort to operate motor vehicles, as well as loading and unloading materials and supplies. Muscular effort and coordination are also required to operate the various controls on power lawn equipment.
The work is performed primarily outside. Working conditions are often dirty and noisy, subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun and to cold and rainy weather in the winter. The person in the position will be exposed to grass clippings, brush, environmental smell/odors, chemical sprays, fertilizer dust, pollen, etc.
On occasion, work is required in areas that may pose health hazards if proper precautions are not taken. Working conditions are such that the worker must constantly be mindful of safety precautions to limit the possibility of accidents, contamination, and personal injury or injury to others within the work area.
Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualifications. For this position, the job element method is used to match what you, the applicant, can do against what the work calls for.
Your knowledge, skills and abilities will be compared to the knowledge, skills and abilities (called job elements) needed for success.
Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element (WG-2 and higher only; screen-outs are not applicable to WG-1). Applicants who appear to meet the screen out element are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated from consideration. The potential eligibles are rated against the remainder of the job elements. While a specific length of training and experience is not required, your responses to the questionnaire must be supported by detailed descriptions of your experience on your resume.
You will be rated on the following Job Elements as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions, Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Without more than normal supervision
IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.
Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. 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.
Major Duties
Duties include, but are not limited to: Performing seasonal gardening tasks and cultivating a wide variety of plants in flower and shrub beds throughout the Medical Center campus; Preparing soil for plants, seeding, thinning, transplanting, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, aerating, mulching, spraying and dusting of ground cover, flowers, shrubs and trees as instructed; Consulting with the grounds supervisor regarding the physical characteristics of plants and their requirements for health growth; Recommending changes for improvement in the overall landscape plan and obtaining approval on projects which require unplanned expense or significant periods of time within the framework of good gardening practices; Inspecting plants, trees, and shrubs for disease, insects, and/or unusual or poor plant growth; Planning and carrying out the scheduled seasonal preparation of flower beds and ornamental planting areas; Transplanting trees, shrubbery, and plants when relocation is required due to construction or building maintenance issues; Watering, fertilizing, planting, pruning, and trimming plants, shrubs, trees, and other tasks and projects as assigned; Performing grounds maintenance tasks to include lawn mowing, trimming, fertilizing, watering, weed eating, edging sidewalks, blowing leaves, ensuring entranceways are free of debris and obstacles, etc.; Replacing mulch in flower beds and ornamental gardens, removing weeds by hand, tools, application of chemicals, etc.; Operating a street sweeper for roadway and parking lot maintenance; Applying sand and other materials where ice has accumulated (sidewalks, entranceways, steps, roadways) due to winter storms in order to maintain a safe environment; Operating high reach manual equipment for pruning tall trees and shrubs, removing dead tree limbs, cleaning out gutters, or removing debris from rooftops, etc.; Pruning and trimming shrubs and trees and other plants to remove obvious defects and excess branches to obtain proper balance between roots and top growth to modify or retain the natural form; Performing gardening duties for interior gardens such as the Plant Atrium and Serenity Garden; Moving indoor potted plants from the greenhouse to interior locations for events and presentations; Operating motor vehicles, pick-up trucks, vans, and heavy equipment like back hoes, etc. to haul equipment to and from work sites, pickup supplies, and transport lawn maintenance equipment throughout the facility; Collecting trash, garbage, and contaminated waste as needed; Assisting in the pick-up and delivery of vehicles for routine maintenance; Performing related duties as required. Work Schedule: Hours may vary depending on the needs of the service, which may include nights and/or weekends. Schedule to be discussed at interview.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Pre-employment physical required Subject to background/security investigation 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 dentification 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 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
How You Will Be Evaluated
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully.
Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. Candidates who apply under All U.S.
Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows: Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position; Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.
Application of Veterans' Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Additional Information
Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.
The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/01/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12918585. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account.
Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job.
Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.
Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.
Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX).
We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans.
Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.
Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/applicant-guidance-on-the-two-page-resume-limit/ Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (910) 488-2120. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.
To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
Required Documents
IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.) To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Other (1) Other (2) Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation, i.e., Letter of Intent, related to your active-duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must refer to the SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" and submit required documents as applicable and stated on the form.
Documentation is mandatory to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.