Career Seasonal Gardener

National Park Service; Brookline (MA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Park Service at the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, MA is seeking a Career Seasonal Gardener to assist with grounds maintenance, planting, pruning, and landscape tasks to preserve the historic site and enhance the visitor experience. As a seasonal employee, you will have a work schedule tied to funding and site needs, with a guaranteed minimum period each year.

Compliance with safety and operational policies is required to support National Historic Site

Qualifications

• Experience interpreting work instructions and following standard operating procedures.
• Ability to operate basic garden tools safely and maintain equipment.
• Knowledge of common landscaping materials and seasonal maintenance practices.

Skills

Ability To Do The Work Of The Position

Ability To Interpret Instructions

Ability To Use And Maintain Tools

Dexterity And Safety

Knowledge Of Materials

Technical Practices

Use Of Measuring Instruments

Job description

You will serve as a Career Seasonal Gardener with Fredrick Law Olmsted, National Historic Site.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/24/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

For current Federal employees, if hours worked per week are not included on your resume, you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted.

An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience.

For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

For all other applicants who are not current federal employees, your resume must state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
• Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (other than blueprints)
• Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Dexterity and Safety
• Knowledge of Materials
• Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
• Use of Measuring Instruments

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.

Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible.

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.

You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements to be considered qualified for this position.

This is a Career-Seasonal position.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, but do not provide work on a year-round basis.

Selectee is guaranteed to work at least 6 months per year but not more than 50 weeks per year, with the work schedule determined upon appointment.

Work schedule and periods of non-pay status are contingent upon funding and operational needs.

On an annual basis, employee signs a "career-seasonal" agreement with the supervisor which defines the work schedule for that year.

Career-Seasonal appointments are permanent positions and include the same benefits as Career appointments, you will be placed in a pay status and can expect to work a minimum of 13 pay periods not to exceed a maximum of 25 pay periods.

Though your non-pay time may be reduced, you will still be placed in non-pay status for a minimum of 1 pay period in accordance with NPS policy.

Additional work must be in concurrence with applicable regulations and policies.

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.