Preservation Worker (Seasonal)

U.S. Department of the Interior; Germany; On-site; EUR 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking a Preservation Worker to perform a range of preservation trade tasks essential to building, maintaining, restoring, and preserving historic structures and landscapes. Work involves plastering, roofing, painting, carpentry, sandblasting and related duties across various historic sites.

Typical duties include operating vehicles, handling equipment, and performing laborer tasks. Applicants must be U.S.

Qualifications

• Experience in preservation trades and building techniques.
• Ability to plaster, roof, paint and perform carpentry tasks on historic structures.
• Willingness to perform laborer duties and operate motor vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Performs preservation trade work to build, maintain, restore, and preserve historic structures and landscapes.
• Plasters surfaces in historic buildings and completes basic finishing work.
• Performs plastering, roofing, painting, carpentry, sandblasting and related preservation tasks.
• Operates a variety of tools and vehicles as part of field duties.
• Purchases equipment and supplies for preservation work and maintains workshop areas.

Skills

Preservation trade work

Plastering

Roofing

Painting

Carpentry

Sandblasting

Preservation services

Motor vehicle operations

Tools

Asphalt kettle

Spray guns

Woodworking tools

Paint brushes

Scaffolding

Job description

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to perform a variety of preservation trade work needed to build, maintain, restore, and/or preserve historic structures and landscapes. Such structures and landscapes include but are not limited to historic buildings, monuments, memorials, statues, markers, signs, tablets, artillery pieces, etc. Some positions filled with this announcement may be covered by a union Open to the first 100 applicants.

Major Duties

The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for Seasonal Staffing Office-Southeast Region is March-November, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: March - April 2027.

As a Preservation Worker, you will perform the following duties:

• Performs a variety of preservation trade work needed to build, maintain, restore, and/or preserve historic structures and landscapes.
• Plasters surfaces in historic buildings, and/or homes and completes basic finishing work.
• Performs plastering, roofing, painting, carpentry, sandblasting, preservation services, and motor vehicle operations.
• Removes old roofing in preparation for repair, assist in repairing and installing roofs, and operate an asphalt kettle.
• Applies various coating materials (e.g., paints, varnishes, and shellacs) with brushes, rollers, spray guns.
• Measures, cuts, constructs, installs, repairs, and modifies wood, composite, and wood substitute items.
• Performs laborer and custodial working duties such as digging ditches, sweeping, cleaning work areas and maintaining tools and workshop area.
• Operates motor vehicles to transport passengers, supplies, materials, equipment, and/or tools, or to tow equipment throughout rural or urban areas.
• Purchases equipment, materials, and supplies for historic preservation related work.

Education

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

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males must meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Occupancy of government quarters may be required. Use find a park to contact specific parks for more information on government housing. You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and/or shift work. You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle. You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver’s license will be required in such cases. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. You may be required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.

• Government housing may be available but is not guaranteed.
• A uniform allowance will be provided.

Evaluations

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into the following categories: Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position. Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified. To meet the definition of well-qualified, you must (1) score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire; (2) meet the minimum qualification requirements (education, experience or a combination therein), including any selective placement factors; and (3) be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry with reasonable accommodation, when applicable. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Providing false or misleading information on your resume or supporting documentation may result in removal from consideration or other action consistent with applicable federal hiring regulations. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

What to Expect Next

Please refer to your USAJOBS account for application status; the Human Resources Office cannot respond to individual status inquiries. Many similar positions are advertised by various offices within the DOI. You MUST apply to each announcement for consideration. Officials may hire at any grade level, location or work schedule. All positions may or may not be filled. Dates and length of employment will vary between DOI sites depending on funding, weather conditions, and visitation. Positions are TEMPORARY positions and have no promotion potential. Once the Occupational Questionnaire is received, you will receive an email acknowledgement that your submission was successful. If you are among the most qualified candidates and your name is referred to the hiring official, you may be contacted directly for a possible interview. You will be notified of the status of your Application Package at the time candidates are referred for consideration, and when the selection process is complete. Applicants will get a response from this announcement by approximately January 2027. You can find your path with the Department of Interior at https://careers.doi.gov/.

Required Documents

ALL required documentation must be submitted to receive full consideration for eligibilities and veterans' preference selected. The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 10/26/2026: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2 resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete All Required Assessments. Other Supporting Documents, if applicable, such as: Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a Discharged, Non-Disabled Veteran, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 showing character of discharge (Member 4 copy), or other Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions, as listed on the SF-15. If you don't have your DD-214, you may request it after discharge from the National Archives. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. If you are a Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, or Mother or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all additional proof required by the SF15, and if applicable, a completed SF15. You may request a copy of your Department of Veterans Affairs letter from www.ebenefits.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to establish proof of disability. Documentation for Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan consideration if you are a displaced Federal employee within the local commuting area. You must include: 1) Proof you are a displaced Federal employee, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be rated well-qualified or above 85 on the rating criteria for this position. Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - you must remove your image from any badges, licenses, etc. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents. Adobe portfolio documents are not viewable by our agency's staffing offices.

Other Information

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The salary range on this vacancy does not grant an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Visit DCPAS Wage and Salary to calculate locality pay. Non-Competitive Rehire Eligibility: Temporary seasonal employees can only maintain their non-competitive rehire eligibility if they work no more than a combined total of Temporary NTE 1039 hours anywhere in the National Park Service (NPS) within their established service year. Accordingly, non-competitive rehire eligibility allows for re-appointment to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment with the same qualification requirements (5 CFR 316.402[b][7]), based on series and grade, anywhere in the major subdivision (NPS). If you have held a temporary seasonal appointment in the past 12 months and have already worked the maximum temporary appointment combined total of 1039 hours during that period, you are still welcome to apply. However, please be aware that exceeding the limit of 1039 hours in your established service year will result in the loss of your non-competitive rehire eligibility. The limit can be exceeded by working multiple temporary seasonal positions that result in a combined total greater than 1039 hours. The limit also can be exceeded by working a single temporary seasonal appointment that exceeds 1039 hours, unless granted an exception by OPM. *This position may be filled under a temporary seasonal appointment not-to-exceed 1560 hours rather than 1039 hours depending on the park and program* Employment may be terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. Physical Demands: Duties require the incumbent to sit, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, work in uncomfortable positions, and walk over rough, uneven terrain. The incumbent wears protective clothing, gloves, face shields, and/or respirator that may be uncomfortable; and the incumbent works from ladders, scaffolds, and elevated platforms. The incumbent may occasionally expected to lift and/or carry items up to and exceeding 50 pounds in weight. Working Conditions: Work is both indoors and outdoors. Work outside may be subject to extreme weather conditions, with wind, rain, snow, and ice, in temperatures ranging from below 0 to over 100 degrees. Depending on the geography of the park unit assigned, work may take place at elevations ranging from sea level up to 10,000 feet. The incumbent is exposed to dust, noise, vibration, cuts, and abrasions from the use of tools and equipment, and may occasionally be exposed to hazardous materials that can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and burns, as well as microbiological organisms and potentially hazardous wildlife. The incumbent is expected to wear personnel protective equipment as required and comply with all safety and occupational health requirements. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, and/or right-grant. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.