These WG-3603-10 Mason positions are essential for preservation. The main-level guardhouse at Fort San Cristóbal is an important historic structure of the Spanish colonial defense system. The project will preserve about 1,600 square feet of historic masonry, plaster, and roof surfaces, replacing incompatible Portland cement with lime-based mortar and stabilizing deteriorated sandstone and brick.
El Morro, the most visited area of San Juan National Historic Site, faces safety risks due to vegetation growing on exterior walls. Removing this vegetation will protect visitors and maintain the appearance of this internationally recognized landmark.
- Carries out skilled masonry work on a wide range of structures such as walls, foundations, floors, parapets, walkways, chimneys, vaults, manholes, and fireplaces using brick, block, stone, concrete, plaster, and related materials.
- Assesses and repairs historic masonry features, performing tasks such as repointing, tuckpointing, stone repair, mortar matching, and reconstruction of deteriorated or damaged components on historic buildings, features, and landscapes.
- Interprets drawings, sketches, scope documents, or work orders; determines required materials; selects appropriate tools; and sequences work to ensure structural integrity and compliance with preservation standards.
- Uses hand and power tools to cut, shape, fit, and set brick, block, and stone; mixes and applies mortar, grout, concrete, and other bonding materials; and ensures proper alignment, finish, and appearance of masonry features.
- Conducts periodic operational and visual inspections of buildings and structures to identify masonry deterioration, structural issues, moisture problems, and required maintenance or repair tasks.
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.
Salary Range Information: First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.
WG-10: $24.89 (step 1) to $29.04 (step 5) per hour - Puerto Rico (RUS) Wage Area
- 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/.
- You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime, and shift work.
- You may be required to travel overnight occasionally.
- Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
- Respirator fit test
- 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 (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.
- Additional Requirements located under Qualifications
Requirements Continued...
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
This trial 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 trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications:
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/06/2026-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)
- Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
- Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
- Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
To be minimally qualified, your resume must demonstrate that you are able to perform the duties of the Mason, WG-3603-10 position without more than normal supervision, and your experience must be at the journeyman level. Examples of relevant experience include, but are not limited to:
- Repairing and maintaining historic masonry on historic trails, parapets, historic dry-stone walls, historic wet stone walls, buildings, and boundary fences, chimneys, fireplaces, and manholes;
- Cutting and shaping stone, terra cotta, brick and block;
- Removing portions of walls, partitions or other similar structures and repair in kind, and for the installation of doors and windows;
- Reading and interpreting drawings, blueprints, and specifications independently;
- Mixing and matching mortars, mixing, pouring, and finishing concrete, patching and/or replacing stucco, including paper, wire, scratch and brown coats, to match existing historic surfaces.
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. 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.
Related non-federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630).
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.
There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
Physical Demands: This position is required to perform masonry work from ladders, scaffolds, platforms, and other cramped and hard-to-reach places. Duties require the incumbent to sit, stand, stoop, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, and work in uncomfortable positions. If the incumbent is assigned to perform masonry work in remote locations, the incumbent may be required to walk, hike, climb, or drive over rough and uneven terrain. The incumbent is expected to lift and/or carry items up to 50 pounds unassisted, and occasionally up to 100 pounds in weight with assistance.
Working Conditions: Most work is performed outside with exposure to all types of harsh weather conditions. Work outside may be subject to extreme weather conditions, with wind, rain, snow, and ice, in temperatures ranging from below zero to over 100F 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 or in or near bodies of water. The incumbent may be regularly exposed to dust, dirt, fogs, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, and vapors, as well as noise, vibration, cuts, bruises, and abrasions from the use of masonry tools, vehicles, hoists, conveyer belts, cranes, and other equipment. The incumbent 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 subject to the danger of falling when on ladder or scaffolding, and broken bones as a result of accidents while driving or when loading and unloading equipment and materials.
Some contact may be necessary with chemical agents in the nature of cleaning fluids and preservation compounds, some of which are considered hazardous. Work with chemical agents will be conducted within approved manufacturer's specifications and in accordance with all applicable masonry requirements and standards. The incumbent is expected to comply with all safety and occupational health requirements and wear protective clothing, gloves, face shields, and in some cases a respirator that may be uncomfortable.
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.
Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level.
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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:
You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:
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Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
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Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
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Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
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Dexterity and Safety
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Knowledge of Metals
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Measurement and Layout
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Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
If fewer than three eligible and available candidates per vacancy result, the agency will expand the group of candidates in accordance with the pre-announced supplement strategy and 5 CFR 332.402(f).
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.
