Trades Helper

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Announcement Number:Johannesburg-2026-025Hiring Agency:Consulate General JohannesburgPosition Title:Trades Helper – All Interested Applicants / All SourcesOpen Period:05/21/2026 – 06/04/2026Format MM/DD/YYYYVacancy Time Zone:GMT+2Series/Grade:LE – 1205 3Salary:ZAR R187,932 /Per YearWork Schedule:Full-time -Promotion Potential:LE-3Duty Location(s):1 Vacancy in

Johannesburg, SFTelework Eligible:NoFor More Info: HR Section
 0112903000
 hrojohannesburg@state.gov

Overview

Hiring Path:• Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:This position is open to:
•  All Interested Applicants / All Sources

For USEFM – FP grade is BB.  Actual FP salary authorized by Washington D.C.Security Clearance Required:Public Trust – Background InvestigationAppointment TypePermanentMarketing Statement:

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO):  The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.Summary:

The U.S. Mission in South Africa is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the Trades Helper position in the Facilities Section in Consulate Johannesburg.
Supervisory Position:NoRelocation Expenses Reimbursed:NoTravel Required:Occasional Travel

Travel to residential houses

Duties

Employed as a Trades Helper to assist the skilled technicians as they carry out skilled maintenance and repair work on all facilities throughout the NEC to include office buildings, grounds and residential owned/leased properties.  Work assignments will be directed by the Building Engineer Supervisor.  

 1.      Operations & Maintenance Support  95% 

1. Provides assistance to the technicians of the skilled workshops to help them in routine mechanical, carpentry, electrical and plumbing maintenance and preventive maintenance, repairs, and installations.   
2. Assists in various manual tasks such as: demolition work, painting, plumbing, carpentry work, routine and preventive maintenance, and general cleanup of work areas, and common use areas of the NEC/NCC. 
3. Uses hand and power tools under the supervision of the skilled technicians and mechanics as necessary.
4. Prepares worksite and maintains tools and equipment.  Brings tools, supplies and materials to work site as directed by the skilled technicians; cleans the work site at the completion of the task; loads and unloads materials and tools and also loads construction debris into dump truck.
5. Perform unskilled tasks such as common laborer work, material handling, snow removal, grounds maintenance and gardening work.

2.      Logistic Support 5% 

1. Performs escort duties for local contractors as required. 
2. Reports installation deficiencies and maintenance/repair needs to supervisor.
3. Performs other collateral duties as assigned by the Building Engineer Supervisor.    

**Note:  This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a SBU security clearance. 

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.  

Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time 12 weeks upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.Education Requirements:

Completion of secondary school is required. 

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.Evaluations:

You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.Qualifications:

Experience:

A minimum of two (2) years of maintenance or construction semi-skilled work experience in skilled trades such as mechanical (HVAC and Plumbing), electrical, carpentry, with significant focus on building systems. 

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Language: 

Fluent Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.

Fluent Speaking/Reading/Writing of any addtional South African language is required.

Please address this language requirement in your ERA application. 

Job Knowledge:

Must have a basic technical understanding of major building mechanical systems and equipment. Must be familiar with construction techniques and workplace safety, personal protective equipment (PPE) – how and when to use it. 

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Skills And Abilities:

The incumbent must be a visionary, forward thinker, and quick understudy with an aptitude to learn so he/she can anticipate the materials and tools the skilled technician will need ahead of time.  Must be able to use  the typical lot of hand tools, small handheld power tools, vacuum cleaners, gardening tools, and ladders; must be adept at keeping  work sites free of clutter and debris, clean and neat; must have a valid driver’s license for standard vehicles; must use good safety practices and follow all safety requirements in execution of tasks and be able to use all appropriate PPE; additional abilities include responding to emergency situations in an efficient and timely manner to effect immediate repairs; work in various adverse conditions such as tight or enclosed spaces, heights, and temperature extremes, indoors or outdoors to complete work assignments; must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to handle a large workload and multiple tasks; be able to take direction and must be organized; communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, contractors and vendors to obtain and provide pertinent information. 

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:Agency Benefits:

The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees.

For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.Other Information:

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  

A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below.  It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference. 

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER 

1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran* 
2. AEFM / USEFM 
3. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights ** 

* IMPORTANT:  US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.  

** This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau. 

For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.    

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:    

• Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.    
• Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing. 
• Candidates must be scheduled to arrive at post within 90 days of the closing date of this vacancy announcement.
• Candidates currently at post must have at least 6 months remaining on their projected tour of duty.

The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:   

• Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible. 
• Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible. 

How to Apply

How to Apply:

Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application.  For an instructional video on how to apply click here. 

Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.

You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.
Required Documents:

Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

All Applicants:

• Residency Permit (if applicable)
• Work Permit (if applicable)
• Driver’s License (if applicable)
• Certificate (if applicable)
• Professional License (if applicable)
• Resume/CV (if applicable)

In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:

• Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• Passport copy
• DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

The HR Office will contact successful applicants.  For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website.  https://erajobs.state.gov/dos-era/zaf/vacancysearch/searchVacancies.hms

Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.

Click here to apply

We wish you all the best with your applications