Federal
Tractor Operator (Gardener/Motor Vehicle Operator)
United States Army Installation Management Command ยท Department of the Army
About This Position
This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Positions in the Competitive Service to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. About the Position: The Tractor Operator (Gardener/Motor Vehicle Operator) position is located with the Directorate of Public Works at Fort Riley, KS.
Qualifications
Who May Apply: US Citizens 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, you must be able to demonstrate, through experience shown in your written application materials that you possess the sufficient knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the work of this position without more than normal supervision. Minimum Qualifications (Screen Out Element): Ability to do the work of a(n) Tractor Operator (Gardener/Motor Vehicle Operator) ~ without more than normal supervision. Use pull saws, pruning shears, and mowers to maintain shrubs, plants and grassed areas - Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating. Physical Effort: Work requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, climbing, and stretching to reach tree limbs. Requires arm and leg dexterity to operate tractor controls, equipment control and the motor vehicle. May also be required to lift and handle items weighing 50 to 100 pounds such as bags of fertilizer, seed, bags of cement, large tree limbs. Lifts and aligns marker stones weighing 200 pounds or more. Working Conditions: Work is usually performed outside with exposure to various weather conditions such as sun, wind, showers, sudden storms, snow, ice, extreme cold etc. Is exposed to dirt, dust, chemical sprays, mud, concrete and water. Subject to cuts, scrapes, bruises and possible serious injury from power equipment such as mowers, chain saws and falls from trees. Safety shoes, glasses, helmet, belts, ropes, ear muffs and ear plugs will be worn.
Major Duties
Serve as a tree maintenance worker in the Grounds Maintenance Section using chain saws, pole saws, pruning shears, etc. to perform tree and shrub maintenance duties.
Operate both a mini tractor (Hustler) and/or field type tractor with attachments to accomplish grounds maintenance.
Perform duties at the Fort Riley Cemetery such as hand digging graves, setting headstones, mowing, etc.
Performs tree pruning work such as; trimming, tree removal, planting and transplanting, damage repair, and treating diseased and decaying trees. Drives vehicles up to 5-10 tons.
Operate both a mini tractor (Hustler) and/or field type tractor with attachments to accomplish grounds maintenance.
Perform duties at the Fort Riley Cemetery such as hand digging graves, setting headstones, mowing, etc.
Performs tree pruning work such as; trimming, tree removal, planting and transplanting, damage repair, and treating diseased and decaying trees. Drives vehicles up to 5-10 tons.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Veterans and Military Spouses will be considered along with all other candidates.
Additional Information
Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. One year trial/probationary period may be required. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a(n) Construction, Engineering, Infrastructure Career Field position. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest. Student loan repayment may be authorized. Salary negotiations for those candidates who are new to Federal service may be authorized. Credit for Prior Non-Federal Work Experience and Certain Military Service for Determining Annual Leave Accrual Rate may be authorized.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 02/26/2026 to receive consideration To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application (https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12885920). Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. As a reminder, your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For additional information, refer to the 'Required Documents' section. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. Your resume selected in USAJOBS will be included, but you must re-select other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application may be incomplete. It is your responsibility to verify that your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the USA Staffing Applicant Resource Center. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/applicant/profile/dashboard/), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment. A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements. As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 1. Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement. If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position. Use plain language. Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood. The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume. If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy. For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume. 2. Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office. Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you. You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application. You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Tractor Operator (Gardener/Motor Vehicle Operator) position at United States Army Installation Management Command?
The salary range for this position is $24 - $28/hr. This is a WG-6 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Tractor Operator (Gardener/Motor Vehicle Operator) job located?
This position is located in Fort Riley, Kansas. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Who May Apply: US Citizens 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 26, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does WG-6 mean?
WG-6 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.