Tractor Operator (Gardener)
Department of the Air Force
Summary
About the position: This is a Flexible (part-time) NAF position, and will be assigned to the Eaglewood Golf Course at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. This position does not have guaranteed work hours. You may be scheduled from 0 to 40 hours per week. The purpose of this position is to plan and perform gardening and grounds maintenance duties associated with the golf course.
The position requires the use of motor vehicles and tractors.
Duties
- Maintain the grasses of the golf course by operating both field and farm-type tractor on level or rolling terrain.
- Frequently operates towed or attached equipment (e.g., mowers, aerators, plow spreaders, harrows, sprayers) manipulating both tractor and equipment controls at the same time through hydraulic or mechanical controls.
- Operates boom slope mowers to cut grass on slopes while operating the tractor on level ground along roads.
- Operates tractors and equipment between shrubs and trees; along fences and curbs; in snowy or marshy areas; and in areas where tree limbs, bushes and rocks are more likely to cause clogging or jamming of the equipment.
- Determines equipment operations for maneuvering over level or rolling terrain that are appropriate to the operating characteristics of the tractor and towed or attached equipment.
- Operates a variety of gasoline, diesel or electric powered-wheeled vehicles, such as platform trucks, van trucks, stake trucks or dump trucks that typically have a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of more than I 0,000 and up to 26,000 pounds.
- Uses and maintains a variety of hand and power operated garden tools and equipment such as seeders, spreaders, edgers, hedge trimmers, pruning shears, sprayers, spades, hoes, weed eaters, rakes and mowers.
- Washes, cleans, oils, sharpens, lubricates and performs minor maintenance on equipment.
- Determines when and how to plant/transplant flowers, shrubs, grass and trees based on seasonal schedules or project plans for the golf course, suitability of the weather, degree of moisture in the soil and stage of plant growth.
- Determines quantities of plants, seeds, fertilizer and other materials needed for specific areas.
- Landscapes assigned areas and determines need for spreading topsoil, fertilizing, liming, seeding, planting and watering.
- Mows and trims grass; weeds flowerbeds; waters lawn and nursery; and prunes/trims shrubs and trees to obtain the shape, size and growth required.
- Grounds maintenance work such as mowing, weeding, watering, pruning and trimming, sod, selecting and applying established gardening methods.
- Makes proper cuts using pruning shears, saws, and other tools; seals tree wounds with coating mixtures in order to protect and minimize damage.
- Observes all safety rules and regulations pertaining to vehicle operation.
- Performs pre-check and post-check on all equipment used to include tractors and vehicles.
- Monitors equipment and vehicles during use and reports any issues immediately.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Education
This position does not have an education requirement.
Required Documents
This position requires a complete application package. This usually includes your resume and any documents named in the official announcement, such as transcripts, an Sf-50, or a Dd-214 where applicable. Review the announcement for the exact list before applying.
About this role
The Tractor Operator (Gardener) position with the Department of the Air Force is based in Langley AFB, Virginia. About the position: This is a Flexible (part-time) NAF position, and will be assigned to the Eaglewood Golf Course at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. The role pays $21.69 per hour.
Day to day, the work involves maintaining the grasses of the golf course by operating both field and farm-type tractor on level or rolling terrain. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
Review the announcement's Qualifications section closely, since it defines exactly what the federal skilled trades experience this Tractor Operator (Gardener) position requires. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Tractor Operator (Gardener) position with the Department of the Air Force in Langley AFB, Virginia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
The posted pay of $21.69 per hour places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. Based in Langley AFB, Virginia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on June 29, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.
