Gardener (Tractor Operator)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Fayetteville (AR); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The Gardener (Tractor Operator) position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Fayetteville, AR involves operating heavy equipment to grade, load, and move earth and materials, maintain lawns and landscaped areas, prune vegetation, and carry out grounds maintenance per project plans.

Expect outdoor work, exposure to weather, and adherence to safety and quality standards. You will handle tools and equipment, stage supplies, and perform day-to-day tasks under supervision according to

Qualifications

• Experience with landscape maintenance and use of gardening tools.
• Ability to follow project plans and maintain safety standards.
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Grade and slope landscape areas to support drainage and planting.
• Plant, transplant, and maintain grasses, shrubs, trees and flower beds.
• Prune trees and shrubs to promote healthy growth.
• Operate and maintain garden tools and equipment, including chainsaws and power tools.
• Load and unload supplies and transport materials to work sites.
• Follow project plans and complete tasks safely and efficiently.

Skills

Dexterity

Safety

Interpret Instructions

Tools handling

Tools

Chainsaws

Power tools

Grounds equipment

Job description

Summary

The Gardener (Tractor Operator) is responsible for the operation of heavy equipment to push - load - make piles and items - move earth - rock - gravel - mulch - supplies - and equipment. Loads dirt - trees & other items into dump trucks & onto flatbeds; and dump trailers - dumpsters and into back of trucks taking touch and higher levels of skill. Operators are required to know the uses of sets of controls or operation of the equipment & attachments and be skilled in handling these controls.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/30/2026. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required - but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge - skills - and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element - which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Dexterity and Safety Interpret Instructions - Specifications (other than blueprint reading) Materials Measuring Instruments Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: Work requires frequent walking - standing - pushing of carts and wheelbarrows - bending - and stooping - and climbs ladders to trim and/or prune trees. At this grade level - the gardener more frequently climbs ladders and stretches to prune or trim vegetation than at lower grade levels. The also frequently lift heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer - grass seed - etc. Working Conditions: In working outside - the gardener is subject to discomfort from long periods in the hot sun - and sometimes to chilly or rainy weather. In some instances the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being used on trees and shrubs. Grade 08 gardeners are usually exposed to chemical sprays and dusts more frequently than at the lower grade levels.

Duties

• Major Duties include - but not limited to: Grade and slope landscape areas - including terraces - to support drainage and planting plans
• Plant - transplant - and maintain a wide variety of grasses - ground cover - flowers - shrubs - and trees
• Prune trees and shrubs to promote healthy growth and maintain an appropriate balance between root systems and top growth
• Perform work from project plans - master landscape plans - and long-range grounds-maintenance plans
• Make independent day-to-day decisions consistent with established gardening practices and project requirements
• Maintain lawns - flower beds - shrubs - trees - and other landscaped areas to meet appearance - health - and safety standards
• Identify common plant diseases - insect infestations - and other landscape problems
• apply appropriate treatments as directed
• Apply fertilizers - pesticides - herbicides - and other chemicals to plants and landscaped areas in accordance with instructions and safety requirements
• Operate and maintain hand tools - power tools - and grounds-maintenance equipment - including chainsaws - weed eaters - blowers - saws - drills - hammer drills - jackhammers - concrete saws - and related equipment
• Use hand tools and equipment such as shovels - picks - rakes - sledgehammers - and pruning tools to complete gardening and maintenance assignments
• Load - unload - transport - and stage supplies - materials - tools - and equipment needed for daily and monthly work assignments
• Operate vehicles and other equipment required to transport personnel - tools - supplies - and materials to work locations
• Complete assigned gardening - landscaping - grounds-maintenance - and minor construction tasks safely - efficiently - and with work evaluated based on the quality of results achieved
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am-3:30pm (Subject to change based on the needs of the agency.) Position Description Title/PD#: Gardener (Tractor Operator)/PD03314A Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized