Preservation Helper

Summary

You will serve as a Preservation Helper. This position is also open to local candidates under announcement CAHR-26-13048343-DE-AKS. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Duties

• Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Assists journey-level Preservationists in performing a variety of simple and routine trade tasks related to the building, maintenance, restoration, and preservation of historic structures and landscapes. Supports preservation activities involving historic buildings, monuments, memorials, statues, markers, signs, tablets, artillery pieces, and similar resources. Performs assigned work under the direct supervision and oversight of a journey-level employee. Applies basic knowledge of historic preservation trades to complete tasks in accordance with established procedures and guidance. Adheres to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties in all preservation-related work. Performs supplemental duties across multiple trades, as assigned, to support preservation projects. Assists with limited administrative tasks associated with preservation activities, as needed. Contributes to the overall mission of the park's historic preservation program, with primary emphasis on the preservation of historic structures and landscapes. Assist a journey-level position in masonry and wood crafting features, including special finishes and stains, repairing, replacing, and reproducing welds to historic standards. Assist a journey-level position in the preservation and restoration of historic plastering, roofing, and painted surfaces including those with special finishes and colors, historic carpentry, including those with special finishes and stains. This is a term position (more than 1 year) with an initial appointment expecting to last at least 13 months but may be extended up to a total of four years, or more based on any changes to regulations governing the number of years term appointments may last, without further competition at management's discretion.

Qualifications

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/11/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. 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, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading) Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc. Knowledge of materials Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instructions 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. Examples of experience such as: Assisting in maintaining and/or preserving historic properties. Working under the direction of others to help with the preservation, stabilization, restoration, and maintenance of historic structures. Ability to assist journey level preservationists to perform tasks on at least 2 of the following skills: plastering, roofing, painting, masonry, and carpentry. Related skills may include surface preparation, rough and finish carpentry, cleaning, mortar mixing, minor repairs to stone masonry, and /or painting work. Experience assisting others with at least some or all of the following: repainting masonry walls, chimneys, fireplaces, or other masonry features, stabilizing and/or repairing wood frame and timber structures, restoring building elements such as windows, doors, siding, and trim, using a combination of modern and historic techniques and materials which may no longer be commercially available. Have utilized hand and power tools which include: hammers, saws, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, drills, tape measures, squares, chisels, drawknives, calipers, and traditional carpentry tools. 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. 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.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for 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 complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 09/11/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13048346 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration.