WDVA Grounds

Description

Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 4

Full-Time, Permanent

Washington Soldiers Home

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for a Full-Time Permanent, Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 4 at the historic Washington Soldiers Home in Orting, Washington

The expected schedule for this position is: Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.

• This position has been posted within the assigned pay range through Step L. Step M has not been published as this is considered the longevity step, in alignment with state HR compensation rules.

Updated as of July 1, 2025: This position is eligible for "Supplement Basic Shift Premium" for 24/7 Facilities. Employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location will receive an additional one dollar ($1.00) per hour of supplemental basic shift premium for each hour of basic shift premium. This shift premium does not apply to overtime hours. The supplemental basic shift premium shall expire on June 29, 2027.

At the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of "Serving Those Who Served." As a national leader in our advocacy for nearly 500,000 Veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to Veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star Parents.

As a Grounds & Nursery Services Specialist 4 for the Washington Soldiers Home, you will supervise the overall maintenance of grounds, landscapes, nurseries, and/or greenhouses under the supervision of the Facility Manager.

Your experience will be critical in enhancing the appearance of our facility, while providing comfort to our residents. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, then we encourage you to join our team by applying now

Duties

Some of what you'll do:

• Performs and leads others in Preparing and maintaining outdoor floral beds, display areas for planting, soil improvements, and additional amendments, implementing/planting floral displays as designed, maintaining and monitoring floral displays for disease and pest control utilizing chemical, biological and other control measures as appropriate.
• Cultivate, water, fertilize floral displays; prune and mulch as needed.
• Remove annual floral displays after frost and clean up beds, trim back and mulch perennials.
• Prepares beds for all planting of spring bulbs.
• Maintain turf grass areas; fertilize, pest management, irrigation and mowing.
• Maintain extensive hedge material; shearing, shaping, and cultural requirement.
• Mow lawns; trim grass near fences, sign posts, building perimeters, road culverts, bridges.
• Leaf removal using a tractor and a front mounted 72-inch vacuum power blower.
• Rake, pick up debris, and keep campus lawns looking attractive.
• Irrigation of lawns, trees, and shrubs using lawn sprinklers, hoses, and water breakers. Identification of lawn disease and insect damage and control as needed.
• Apply fertilizers to lawns. Calibrate sprayer per pesticide label recommendation, also fertilizer spreaders.
• Remove, relocate, and replace soil in area to be seeded.
• Knowledge of different types of grass seed and where to apply (shade, full sun, partial sun, arid). Restore or renovate bare spots in lawns by reseeding, resodding, and dethatching.
• And more

Qualifications

Required:

• Two (2) years' experience in gardening, plant care, landscape construction and grounds maintenance.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered on a year-for-year basis. Experience must be relevant to the position.
• Must have the ability to read, write and speak in the English language.
• A college degree involving major study in agronomy, botany, horticulture, soils or closely allied field may be substituted for gardening experience.

Preferred/Desired:

• Experience performing grounds and maintenance for a large-scale facility.

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check prior to beginning services and every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy Background Checks. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Must comply with annual Tuberculin Screening in accordance with DVA policy Tuberculosis Testing.
• Requires medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the Washington Industrial Safety and Act standards. Must be able to wear a respirator, medical gloves, gowns, eye protection, and other personal protection as required by a job or task.
• Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs. and be capable of reaching a minimum of 36" using proper technique to stock shelves and access supplies.
• Employee must also be able to push or pull with sufficient strength and walk, sit, and bend in an unrestricted manner during the entire workday.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must maintain regular and reliable attendance and be willing to work as needed.
• Must successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in-service, and other required training.
• Must become familiar and comply with all DVA policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
• Must sign the confidentiality statement for all employees.
• Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

Supplemental Information

Check out this awesome videohereto see what it is like to work for the WDVA

Application Process:

The top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described below.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.

2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.

Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Other Information:

• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For further information please contact us at:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency's greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency please contact us at .