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Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief of Operations, Superintendent, Senate Office Buildings, Tenant Services Division, Masonry Branch.  As a Decorative Plasterer (Painter) you will perform intricate painting and decorative work requiring skill to restore decorative surfaces.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$36.49 - $42.63 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 11
Promotion potential
11
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent, Full Time
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
SOB-2026-311
Control number
879434500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be Accepted from Current Architect of The Capitol Employees Only. The resume(s) submitted with the application can be no more than two pages in length. Applications will be accepted from all U.S. Citizens. Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

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Duties

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TOUR OF DUTY: DAY SHIFT (6:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.) with the possibility of a flex work schedule.

Major Duties:

Surface Preparation and Plastering Work: 

Works on additions, renovations, patching, and new construction. Performs maintenance and repair on unique and historically significant plaster walls, ceilings, cornices, and moldings. Prepares surfaces for coating. Prepares woodwork by applying solvents to remove old finishes. Takes care to avoid damaging significant architectural features.

Removes old paint from interior and exterior walls, doors, baseboards, floors, and interior trim. Scrapes, sandpapers, or applies paint remover as needed to prepare surfaces for refinishing.

Tapes, mortars or applies topping cement to joints between dry-wall board sheets to fill joints and nail heads and bring joints into smooth, even planes. Smooths surfaces by wet brushing and sanding.

Applies plaster to walls and ceilings by spreading and smoothing plaster over laths with trowel. Applies decorative plaster in ornate and patterned finishes to exactly match the previous finish. Uses trowels, float, screed, plasterers hawk, straight edge, and personally-devised tools as appropriate.

Repairs ceiling centers, ceiling panels, columns, corbel arches, corbel blocks, cornices, edge moldings, gable trims, molded carvings, pedestals, pediments, pilasters, plaster domes, and plaster fire surrounds. Fabricates and installs replacements for these items as needed. Repairs and patches plaster and stucco surfaces. Applies plaster on metal, wood or gypsum lathe, wallboard, and masonry surfaces. Patches damaged sections of walls and ceilings. Chips out old plaster, trims edges until a solid joint is found, and fills with new plaster. Straightens edges and trowels to an even surface.

Applies interior and exterior skim-coat and two-coat plaster. Installs metal lath and applies exterior plaster. Applies striping, stippling, graining, and gold highlights on trim moldings.

Plumbs and straightens angles, ceilings, corners, and wall surfaces. Cleans and prepares surfaces. Staples on wire-mesh frames or roughens surfaces with mechanical hammers. Ensures maintenance of fire-rated wall barriers.

Erects, maintains, and repairs masonry, including brick, concrete block, glazed tile, floor tile, and marble.

Performs intricate decorative painting work requiring skill to apply gold leaf and other coatings to restore decorative surfaces and works of art. Uses artist brushes for intricate painting and decorative work. Applies color glazing, graining, lettering, marbling, stenciling, stippling, and striping. Paints and varnishes interior surfaces to protect, restore, and maintain interior and exterior surfaces. Applies paints, stains, and varnishes by brushing, rolling, or spraying. Applies finishes to equipment, metal, doors, windows, and interior and exterior walls.

Matches color, textures, and shading where exact matches with original finishes are required. Blends and mixes paints to match original colors and textures of original surfaces and architectural features.

Hangs wall coverings matching new wallpaper and fabric patterns and fabrics to the original.  Paints building signs from stenciled outlines.

Uses sprayers, brushes, rollers, and other hand and power tools. Uses ladders and scaffolding to reach ceilings and other areas high above the floor. Cleans and maintains tools and equipment as appropriate.

Coordinates with unit supervisor to prepare scopes of work, cost estimates, and schedules of proposed work to be performed by contract workers. Oversees and directs the work of temporary painters and laborers.

Uses a personal computer to record work orders, prepare requisitions for materials, tools, and equipment, track material inventory, and communicate with supervisors and organizational staff.

The incumbent must follow all relevant safety rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures. Must utilize knowledge of and must comply with all OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner. Receives training, either on the job or through classroom training, to ensure that all safety practices and equipment are fully utilized. Must ensure the use of any required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).


Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate job-related elements.

“To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.”

Qualifications

You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.  
  
SCREEN-OUT FACTOR:  Ability to perform the work of a decorative plasterer without more than normal supervision, which includes working independently, showing job responsibility and exercising initiative.

Education

There is no educational requirement for this position.

Additional information

Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service SystemIf you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information. If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System.  

DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC’s suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
 
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
 
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm

The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.

This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
 
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.

All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Review your resume and responses carefully. Your eligibility for consideration and qualifications for the position will be determined based upon a review of your detailed resume and your responses to job specific self-assessment questions.

Your resume will be evaluated based on evidence of your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) for this position, possession of any specialized experience, and how well your background and experience relates to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement.  The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:

KSA 1 - Ability to perform decorative plasterer duties and responsibilities without more than normal supervision.  

KSA 2 - Knowledge of technical decorative plasterer practices.

KSA 3 - Ability to interpret decorative plasterer work instructions. 

KSA 4 - Ability to perform decorative plasterer layout and measurement work.

KSA 5 - Knowledge of decorative plasterer materials.

KSA 6 - Dexterity and Safety

Your responses to the self-assessment questions serve as the basis for your initial rating.  You will receive a numerical score based on your responses to these questions.  Next, your responses will be evaluated by a Human Resources Specialist and/or a subject matter expert against the information provided in your resume and optional cover letter.    Your resume must support your answers to the self assessment questions.  Falsifying your background, education, and/or experience is cause for not hiring you or disqualification for further consideration. 
Please note that a complete application is required for consideration. (Please review the “Required Documents” section of this job announcement to see what must be included in a complete application).


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Architect of the Capitol

The mission of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is to serve Congress and the Supreme Court, preserve America's Capitol and inspire memorable experiences. The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development and preservation of 18.4 million square feet of buildings and more than 570 acres of land throughout Capitol Hill. The AOC provides a welcoming and educational environment for millions of visitors through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and the US Botanic Garden. Learn more at www.aoc.gov.

The AOC prides itself on its Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Empowerment (RISE).  

Agency contact information

Arnita Edmonds
Phone
202-322-0981
Email
arnita.edmonds@aoc.gov
Address
Architect of the Capitol
United States Capitol
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States

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