Horticulturist

Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Horticulturist under the direct supervision of the Head of Horticulture. The incumbent’s primary responsibility is ensuring the health and aesthetics of both permanent and temporary interior plantings throughout the public and non-public areas in all Gallery spaces. As a Horticulturist, the incumbent oversees/ assists with the installation and maintenance of seasonal and permanent plantings, special exhibits, floral arrangements and actively participates in horticultural programs. Incumbent’s completed work is seen by visitors, staff, artists, donors, high ranking government employees and foreign dignitaries.

About Us

The National Gallery of Art welcomes all people to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Millions of people come through our doors each year—with even more online—making us one of the most visited art museums in the world. Our renowned collection includes over 160,000 works of art, from the ancient world to today. Every day, hundreds of employees—from electricians to data analysts, educators to carpenters—bring the nation’s art museum to life for all to enjoy.

Horticulture Services enriches every visitor’s experience by shaping the Gallery’s living environments—cultivated landscapes outdoors and expressive plant‑scapes indoors—that support exhibitions, education programs, and daily public life. The division stewards the exterior gardens of the West Building, East Building, and Sculpture Garden, ensuring each space reflects the Gallery’s commitment to beauty, accessibility, and ecological care.

Behind the scenes, the team operates thirteen production greenhouses on the Gallery campus—more than 17,000 square feet of growing space that sustain seasonal displays, collection support, and plant material for public areas.

Duties & Responsibilities

Prepare and disperse horticultural chemicals as required, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Maintain proper records associated with all applications of horticultural chemicals in areas of responsibility. Maintains DC pesticide license and relevant categories related to ornamentals and turfgrass.
Prepare and implement maintenance and planting schedules. Schedules include pruning, mowing, edging, fertilizing, pesticide and herbicide application, water requirements and proper timing for each function. They also formulate renovation schedules for different landscape areas as needed. Possess’ knowledge and ability to select and use proper equipment to complete project tasks; has ability to perform basic maintenance and repair of equipment if necessary. The incumbent creates schedules for special projects in association with sculpture installation or building renovation.

Serve as assistant snow removal coordinator sufficient to devise and implement snow removal plan. Ability to monitor local weather to schedule staff when needed; determine the have proper equipment and supplies ready for each storm, i.e.: salt, shovel, fuel, equipment, and manpower; monitor the progress of staff during the storms; and ensure that the site is accessible during and after storms.

Disperse horticultural information in response to inquiries from the public, horticultural staff, contractors, and other National Gallery of Art staff. Provides direction to staff and volunteers on daily basis to ensure tasks are completed correctly.

Education and Experience

Candidates must possess at least one year of specialized experience, equivalent in responsibility to the GS-07 level in the Federal service or private sector, experience performing horticultural work such as maintaining ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, turf or landscaped grounds.

Applicants can substitute education for specialized experience as follows:

Two full academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education or master’s or equivalent graduate degree related to the position.

Submission of transcripts is required if substituting education.

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.

This position does have an education requirement. SUBMISSION OF TRANSCRIPTS IS REQUIRED.

Degree: horticulture; or a related discipline of basic plant science that included at least 30 semester hours in the basic plant sciences, of which at least 16 semester hours were in horticultural subjects such as those dealing with the breeding, care, management, production, and post harvest handling of horticultural crops.

OR

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in horticulture or a related discipline of basic plant science that included course work as shown in 1 above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Evaluation of Education: Courses in botany, plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, genetics, agronomy, horticulture, and similar courses may be used to meet the 30-semester-hour requirement in basic plant sciences.

The 16-semester-hour requirement in horticulture includes course work in basic horticulture and course work related to any of the recognized subject-matter fields of horticulture, i.e., fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, nursery work, seed production, or course work in related areas of science, such as micro-biology, entomology, plant pathology, plant physiology, or genetics that is directly related to horticultural work.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

Additional Information

The National Gallery of Art fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/equal-employment-opportunity

More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement.

This position is included in the bargaining unit.

Relocation expenses will not be paid.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://help.usajobs.gov/reasonable-accommodation
Veterans Information: https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility
requirements visit the following websites:

Persons with Disabilities-Schedule A
Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities

Reasonable Accommodation Requests: The National Gallery of Art provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Application Instructions

https://www.usajobs.gov/job/870833500#joa-summary

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The application process is as follows:

Click on the “Apply Online” button on the upper right side of the page.

You must have a USAJOBS account and be logged in.
You must have a completed resume no more than 2 pages. (You may use the Resume Builder in USAJOBS)
You must respond to all applicant assessment questions, carefully following all instructions provided.
You will be able to upload additional supporting documentation, which may include, but not limited to transcripts, notification of personnel actions (SF-50), certifications and verification of veterans status (SF-15, DD-214)