Mason Helper (Term - Field Unit Local Hiring Authority)

Summary

Build your skills while preserving America's national treasures! Join the National Park Service as a Mason Helper and work alongside skilled masons to repair, restore, and maintain historic and modern masonry structures. Gain hands-on experience using masonry tools, equipment, and materials while developing valuable trade skills in unique outdoor settings. This vacancy uses the Field Unit Local Hiring (FUL) Authority. Applicants must reside within 75 miles of the duty location.

Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Southeast Region, San Juan National Historic Site, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The major duties consist of but are not limited to: Assist journey-level masons with repairing, restoring, and constructing brick, block, stone, concrete, stucco, and other masonry features throughout the park. Help prepare work sites by gathering materials, mixing mortar and other masonry products, setting up tools and equipment, and cleaning work areas before and after projects. Operate, clean, and perform basic maintenance on hand tools, power tools, and masonry equipment used to complete assigned work. Measure materials, assist with laying out work, and follow sketches, written instructions, and guidance from higher-graded employees to complete assigned tasks. Safely lift, carry, and move tools, equipment, and construction materials while following established safety practices and using required personal protective equipment (PPE). Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas and assist with other maintenance and preservation projects as needed to support park operations

Requirements

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. 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 possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 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.

Qualifications

Selective Placement Factor: This position requires a current, valid state-issued driver's license. This requirement is a selective placement factor and will be used as a screen-out. Applicants must possess this requirement by the closing date of the announcement. The selectee will be required to provide proof prior to appointment. Applicants who do not possess this requirement will be found ineligible for further consideration. OPM's Job Qualifications System for Trades and Labor Occupations will be used to determine qualifications. There is no specific length of training or experience required. However, applicants must demonstrate through experience shown in their resume that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position without more than normal supervision. To qualify for this position, your resume must demonstrate you possess sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job elements: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision 73 [screen out element] Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) 25-E Ability to interpret instructions, specifications, etc (includes blueprint reading) 75-A Measurement and Layout 80-A Ability to use and maintain tools and equipment 81 Knowledge of materials 82-A Dexterity and safety 86 If your knowledge and ability in the screen-out element are not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration for this position. Your resume must clearly describe the experience and training that demonstrate your ability to perform the duties of the position. Qualification determinations will be based solely on the information provided in your application materials. Human Resources will not make assumptions regarding your experience based on job titles alone. All qualifications must be met by the announcement close date. 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. Physical Demands: The work requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, climbing, crawling, and working in awkward or uncomfortable positions. May work from ladders, scaffolds, platforms, or in cramped and hard-to-reach areas. The position requires lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds unassisted and occasionally lifting heavier items with assistance. Work may also require walking, hiking, climbing, or driving over rough and uneven terrain. Work Environment: Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow. Exposure to dust, dirt, noise, vibration, and hazards associated with construction and maintenance work, including working on ladders, scaffolds, uneven terrain, and around power tools and heavy equipment. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required to minimize exposure to workplace hazards.

Evaluations

This position is being filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. The Servicing Human Resources Office will determine whether applicants meet the qualification and eligibility requirements described in this announcement. Applicants who meet these requirements may be referred to the selecting official on a certificate of eligibles for consideration. You must certify that you will maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within the defined vicinity of the field unit(s) listed in this announcement. Upon receipt of a completed application package, the Servicing Human Resources Office will review your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements described in this announcement. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages. Resumes longer than two pages will not be reviewed. Applicants may submit only one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine qualifications and eligibility. If more than one resume is submitted, only the most recent submission will be reviewed. If your resume is incomplete or does not demonstrate that you meet the qualification requirements or specialized experience described in this announcement, you may be determined ineligible or not qualified for further 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.

How to apply To apply for this position, you must submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. To receive consideration, your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 08/05/2026. You must provide documentation to support your eligibility and qualification claims. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibility sections to ensure you submit the appropriate information. You will only be considered for eligibilities for which you have provided the required supporting documentation. Applications may be submitted through USAJOBS or through other authorized methods identified by the agency (e.g., third-party platforms or local outreach efforts) to support targeted recruitment under this authority. Applicants submitting materials outside of USAJOBS must: Submit a complete application package by the 08/05/2026 of this announcement, and Ensure all materials are formatted and consistent with the application instructions outlined in this announcement, including resume requirements and supporting documentation. All applications, regardless of submission method, will be evaluated using the same criteria and requirements to ensure a fair and equitable hiring process. Applications received after the closing date, or that do not meet the requirements outlined in this announcement, will not be considered. USAJOBS Application Instructions Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015041 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Other information This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions. The defined vicinity for this position is within 75 miles from the duty location. You must provide proof of residency within the defined vicinity (e.g. mortgage or property deed, lease/rental agreement, utility bill, insurance policy, etc.). See the Required Documents section for information on how to verify current residence. Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. A Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR §575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive. Term positions do not convey permanent status in the Federal service. The agency retains sole discretion and without further competition, the right to extend the duration of this appointment after selection and/or appointment, based on changes to the term appointment regulation(s). No extension to a term appointment shall be granted to a selectee/employee to an amount of time that exceeds the maximum number of years authorized under any present or current regulation, unless such regulation expressly allows such action. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions. The duties of this position are not suitable for telework but may be authorized only during an emergency or natural disaster.