Carpenter

Job Appointment: Full-Time, RegularTypical Schedule: 

• PBOT – Monday – Thursday 6 am – 3:30 pm, every other Friday 6am – 2:30 pm
• Water – Tuesday – Friday 6 am – 4:30 pm
• Parks – Tuesday - Friday 6 am – 4:30 pm,

Alternate schedule may be available after probation.
Work Location: 

• PBOT - 2929 N Kerby Ave, Portland OR 97227
• Water - 664 N Tillamook St, Portland, OR 
• Park - Tabor Yard Facility, 6437 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206

Benefit: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of benefits for this position.Union Representation:

• PBOT/Parks/Fire & Rescue - LiUNA Laborers' Local 483. 
• Water - AFSCME Local 189 -- City Wide

To view these labor agreements, please click here.

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions, attach a resume.  Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
**Please note:

• A general knowledge multiple-choice exam is a step in this recruitment. The general knowledge multiple-choice exam is a test on different components of carpentry to determine if you have the minimum skills to be eligible for the position. Please refer to Recruitment Process Step 3 for tentative dates, and locations.
• A Carpentry Portfolio Review is a step in this recruitment for those placed on the eligible list of candidates. Please refer to Recruitment Process Step 4 for details.

Position Summary:
Join our team as a Skilled Carpenter, where you'll apply advanced carpentry skills to build, repair, and restore wooden structures and fixtures. This position involves working independently and collaboratively to perform highly skilled carpentry and related tasks. You will take responsibility for complex projects, interpret blueprints, develop custom designs, and may lead other team members to complete high-quality work. As a journey-level carpenter, you’ll bring expertise in various materials and techniques to maintain and enhance our facilities.
If you’re a skilled carpenter ready to take on a variety of projects, apply today and bring your craftsmanship to our team!

What you'll get to do at Portland Bureau of Transportation:

• Build, repair, and support the structural needs for transportation assets including, but not limited to, bridges, retaining walls, sloped paving, guardrails, attenuators, wood and concrete stairways, handrails, fencing, waterfront harbor wall maintenance and bike racks.
• Work from blueprints or create sketches and designs as needed. 
• Plan and organize jobs by estimating time, materials, and equipment requirements.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools, as well as equipment like forklifts, lifts, small cranes, and rigging to complete your work.
• Coordinate activities with other trades and communicate with engineers and design professionals on project requirements.
• Be ready to handle urgent repairs or structural issues as they arise.

What you’ll get to do at the Water Bureau:

• Build, repair, and support the structure needs for water underground utility work.
• Work making formwork for concrete structures like valve boxes, hydrant bases, and chambers, and vault access lids. Working in confined spaces, assisting building trench supports and thrust restraint designed for buried pipe.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools, as well as equipment like forklifts, lifts, small cranes, and rigging to complete your work.
• Coordinate activities with other trades and communicate with engineers and water operations mechanics on project requirements.
• Be ready to provide essential structural and safety support that allows water infrastructure to be installed correctly and securely.

What you'll get to do at Portland Parks and Recreation:

• Build, repair, and restore wooden structures, furniture, and fixtures. Use your expertise in carpentry to handle everything from rough framing to detailed finish work.
• Work from blueprints or create sketches and designs as needed. Plan and organize jobs by estimating time, materials, and equipment requirements.
• Undertake tasks such as cabinet making, framing, finish carpentry, and installation of windows and doors. Fabricate moldings and apply a range of materials, including drywall, plaster, concrete, flooring, and more.
• Use a variety of hand and power tools, as well as equipment like forklifts, lifts, small cranes, and rigging to complete your work.
• Coordinate activities with other trades and communicate with engineers and design professionals on project requirements.
• Be ready to handle urgent repairs or structural issues as they arise.

There are immediate vacancies in Portland Bureau of Transportation and Portland Water Bureau.   The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future positions in Portland Bureau of Transportation, Portland Water Bureau, Portland Parks & Recreation and Fire & Rescue.

About the Bureaus:

The Portland Bureau of Transportation is a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage, and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides people and businesses with access and mobility. We keep Portland moving. For more information about the Portland Bureau of Transportation, please visit www.portlandoregon.gov/pbot. The Portland Bureau of Transportation embraces diversity, models inclusivity, and promotes equity through its service delivery, internal operations, organizational culture, and in its work with partners and the community. 
 
The Portland Water Bureau (PWB) serves almost a million people in the Portland area, about a quarter of Oregon's population. PWB employs over 600 people providing responsive service to build and maintain a water system that enhances public health and safety and contributes to the economic vitality and livability of the Portland metropolitan region. To learn more about us visit our website https://www.portland.gov/water/about-us

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is committed to the overall Citywide vision that race will have no detrimental effect on people of color, refugee, and immigrant communities in accessing our parks and natural areas, or from the benefit of our services. We recognize, understand, and encourage celebration of the differences that surround us. Diversity and equity are vital to PP&R’s ideals and values. The City of Portland, Oregon is a growing and diverse city of 650,000 residents, nearly 20% of whom speak languages other than English at home. PP&R values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public.
 
We encourage applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Although not required, we encourage candidates that can fluently speak another language to include that information in their application materials. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Have a question?
Contact Information:
Tami Larison
Senior Recruiter
tamara.larison@portlandoregon.govThe following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

1. Experience with carpentry tools, materials, and techniques, including job assessment, planning and basic troubleshooting methods; constructing wooden structures, fixtures, and foundations; applying additional skills such as installing drywall, flooring, concrete, and masonry.
2. Ability to work safely and efficiently; maintain records; design and layout structures for construction or remodeling.
3. Experience in carpentry that includes professional experience in building and modifying structures.
4. Knowledge of, and experience with construction standards and best practices as well as jobsite safety. 
5. Ability to work effectively as part of a diverse team; communicate clearly with co-workers, other employees, and the public.

Applicants must also:

• Have a valid state driver's license and an acceptable driving record, at time of hire
• Ability to pass a Prehire Evaluation that may require a medical exam, screenings and physical capacities test (PCT), after an offer of employment has been made and accepted.
• For positions at PBOT only - Possess or obtain a class "A" CDL within 9 months from date of hire. in-house free training available on Saturdays. For information on the requirements please visit https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/Pages/DriverID/CDLget.aspx

This recruitment will consist of an evaluation of each applicant's answers to the supplemental questions, work history, and education information as demonstrated in their application.

• First Review: Applications including the work history and answers to the supplemental questions will be evaluated for minimum qualification requirements. 
• General Knowledge Multiple Choice Exam: Candidates whose applications clearly reflect the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in the General Knowledge Multiple Choice exam. 
• Eligible List Established: Those that pass the general knowledge multiple-choice examknowledge will be placed on an equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.

STEP 1: Apply online between September 14 - September 28, 2026

•  Required Application Materials: 
  • Resume
    • Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
  • Answer to the Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• If you wish to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your veteran documents (e.g., DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter) by the recruitment's closing date.
• Effective January 1, 2026, the State of Oregon law ORS 408.225 - 408.238 is amended to expand eligibility for Veterans’ Preference to current and former Oregon National Guard service members. If applicants are existing state or former Oregon National Guard servicemembers, they are encouraged to attach appropriate documentation to their future recruitment applications.
• Update: As of March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tip

• Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.

• How We Determine Pay: The City of Portland is covered by the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.  It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all your relevant experience.

• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage AI use to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills. 
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. 
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation Phase 1: Week September 28, 2024

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions.
• Your résumé and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our pass/fail evaluation of your qualifications for participation in the next step. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation phase 1 results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.

Step 3: Minimum Qualification Evaluation Phase 2: General Knowledge Multiple-choice Exam

• Applicants who successfully pass Minimum Qualification Evaluation Phase 1 of the recruitment process will be scheduled to participate in the general knowledge multiple-choice exam, weighted 100%. The general knowledge multiple-choice will cover the following: types of equipment and tools, materials used, reading plans, terminology, and math.
• An invitation will be sent via email. Out-of-town candidates will be required to travel to participate in phase II.
• Phase II is tentatively scheduled for week of October 19, 2026
• A photo ID will be required for admittance to the test.
• All Health and Safety protocols must be followed.

• There will be a one-hour review of the Keyed copy of the test along with supporting documentation following the last administration of the exam.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation phase 2 results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 4: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of November 2, 2026

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 5: Carpentry Portfolio Review

• Those placed on the equally ranked eligible list will be required to submit a carpentry portfolio that highlights your specific skills and explains how you approach learning new techniques. This portfolio is your opportunity to demonstrate your expertise, skill level, and any unique abilities in your trade.
  • Content: Provide examples and details of the specific skills, techniques, and experiences you use in carpentry. Include any information necessary to give a clear picture of your skill level and areas of expertise.
  • Optional Additions: You may include photographs or other relevant documents to support your narrative if they enhance your presentation, though these are not required.
  • Exclusions: Do not include letters of reference, evaluations, or testimonials.
• Portfolio Sections:
  1. Residential Projects: Describe two (2) residential construction or remodeling projects in which you had a primary or significant role. Provide a detailed description of the carpentry work, focusing on interesting or challenging aspects.
  2. Commercial/Institutional Projects: Describe two (2) commercial or institutional construction or remodeling projects where you had a primary or significant role. Detail the carpentry work performed, focusing on interesting or challenging aspects. Share any skills gained, lessons learned, and experience acquired from these projects.
  3. Skills Expansion Project: Describe a project where you took on tasks outside your existing skill set. Explain how you learned new skills and applied them to successfully complete the project.
• Submission:
  • You will receive an email asking you to submit your portfolio
  • You may submit each numbered section as a separate document. Clearly label each document with the corresponding item number (e.g., “Portfolio Item 1 – Residential Projects”).
  • If you do not submit your Portfolio, you will not be considered for filling current or future vacancies.
  • Your portfolio will be reviewed to determine if you will be invited to participate in the interview process.

Step 6: Selection (Interview): November 2026

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for an interview.

Step 7: Offer of Employment - November 2026 to December 2026

Step 8: Pre-Employment Exam – Preplacement Physical Examination: To Be Determined

As part of the conditional job offer, candidates must complete a Prehire Evaluation during the hiring process/probationary period. The Prehire Evaluation may consist of a medical exam, screenings, and a physical capacities test (PCT) required for work clearance and safety compliance. The PCT measures physical ability through job-related tasks such as lifting, carrying, climbing, shoveling, and repetitive movements. Unless already employed in a City position requiring a similar or more demanding PCT, candidates must pass all required tasks to proceed with employment. For more information visit the Prehire Evaluation page. 

Step 9: Start Date: December 2026 to January 2027

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change.Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer