Historic Building Trades Specialist

The Vanishing Treasures Program of the National Park Service is currently accepting applications and resumes for a possible future opening for a Historic Building Trades Specialist. Projects under this agreement are expected to be intermittent in nature and are projected to begin in calendar year 2022. ? The NPS Experienced Services Program is a unique partnership created to help solve the workforce issues facing government agencies. The program connects experienced workers (age 55+) to the NPS to provide scientific, technical, and administrative support. ? NPS ESP positions are meant to provide temporary, project-based support. This position will be funded for an estimate of ~65-70 hours, with additional funding possible in the future. ? A background security investigation may be required prior to the start date. Only those positions with 30+ hours per week are eligible for health insurance benefits; all positions will accrue sick leave. ? The experienced workers participating in the Program are referred to as ?Enrollees? and are not employees of the NPS or NEW Solutions. NEW Solutions is the ESP non-governmental organization responsible for administrative aspects of the program, and the Enrollees work under NPS direction to assist the Agency staff in carrying out their mission. NPS ESP Enrollees benefit from the opportunity to keep technical skills current; to access new training opportunities; to engage in gainful project-based positions; and to undertake meaningful tasks using their experience and talent to contribute to the environment, the national economy, and their own financial security.

Qualifications:

Minimum of 20 year(s) of experience in traditional building trades OR BA/BS Degree in Historic Preservation, Architecture, or related trades

• In coordination with VT technical staff, a thorough knowledge of historic building craft is required to provide technical guidance related to complex historic preservation issues and treatments that is in accordance with relevant laws, policies and standards. Work typical to this position includes, but is not limited to, the following primary traditional trades: carpentry, stone masonry, log construction, adobe construction, and plastering (lime/earth). Additional experience is required to assist VT technical staff in performing assessments and treatments of historic structures to determine scope of work and appropriate means, methods, and resources needed to execute safely and appropriately. A comprehensive knowledge of tools and resources necessary to perform treatments of historic structures is also needed to specify requests for such resources or provide them.
• Experience required with Windows, MS Word, MS Excel
• Adobe CS (preferred, not required), AutoCAD (preferred, not required)

Duties:

Projects will be conducted on an ?as-needed? basis in response to technical assistance requests from individual parks and needs identified by program leadership.

• Help develop recommendations, and where applicable, perform treatments that will address deficiencies and help to assure the long-term preservation of resources that are professionally sound, in keeping with or matching existing techniques of construction, material application and finish, and meet the Secretary of the Interior?s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.   40%
• Provide expertise of traditional building construction means, methods, and materials during inspections of historic structures in parks to assess their physical condition, determine likely causes of deterioration, and develop scopes of work and resources (tools, materials, etc.) possibly required to stabilize.   30%
• Participate and provide mentorship and training field schools in historic building means and methods, including use of historic tools to achieve appropriate finish, to professionals in the NPS and VT Program, including park staff, maintenance crews, as well as partner crews.   25%
• Leveraging intimate knowledge of historic building trades, help VT program develop task agreements through the CESU program to enlist NPS Cooperator(s) who can facilitate documentation, assessment, the execution of recommended treatments, and/or develop and execute field schools held under the terms of the task agreement.   5%

• Travel Requirements: As needed to determine project scope and requirements
• Overnight travel: 3-5 nights per month
• Air travel anticipated: Rarely. 2-3 trips per performance period
• Rental cars: 5-6 days per month
• Health and Safety Considerations: Guidance and training will be provided on-site to ensure that enrollee is fully aware of health and safety considerations (every site is different and will involve different safety precautions and equipment). PPE will be provided, where necessary.
• Required Safety Gear: PPE may include, but is not limited to hard hats, face masks, gloves, safety glasses, and other gear necessary to ensure that the enrollee is prepared to work in varied environments.
• Physical requirements: Ability to work in varied and extreme environments, hike or walk in rugged terrain, and work in confined spaces.