General Engineer/Architect (Planning and Program Manager)

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO), Deputy Operations, Security Infrastructure Projects Division. The Architect/Engineer (Planning and Program Manager) is responsible for project management development, with emphasis on projects involving security infrastructure or facilities.

Duties

The General Engineer/Architect develops a life cycle implementation plan, rough order magnitude budget and timeline for each project with all facilities and infrastructure as assigned by the Deputies and/or the Chief Security Officer. Also assists in meeting the needs of all organizations and stakeholders supported by the OCSO, including the U.S. Capitol Police, Legislative Branch tenants, and the entire Capitol Complex. *Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret Clearance* PROJECT/PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT Develops the planning and documentation for several multi-million-dollar new construction and renovation projects focusing on security infrastructure. Projects may include physical security systems, renovation, rehabilitation, alteration and new construction of buildings and infrastructure systems. Develops or reviews initial project requirements, specifications and rough order of magnitude costs for construction projects. Serves as the manager of the project intake process for SIP projects assigned by the Deputies and/or the Chief Security Officer, manages client confirmation of project requirements and develops initial project requests for all projects. Plans various project development functions with project teams and assists with making decisions affecting multiple areas of responsibility. Serves as a technical specialist and a key source of information for assigned areas of accountability. Performs assessments to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of project development plans and recommends improvements to management. Develops design and construction documentation of alterations and modifications with a focus on smaller scale projects for the OCSO's mission. Provides professional architectural or engineering expertise in evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of plans and recommends improvements to management. This involves life-cycle phases of the project, such as planning and programming through the conceptual design stage, the construction document stage and the construction, equipment installation, commissioning, and post occupancy evaluation phase. Prepares and updates schedules for project delivery efforts, implementing a system for review, control and reporting. Routinely reviews project schedules to ensure reasonable and timely implementation in relation to the annual OCSO's construction program. Prepares and updates all program and project funding documentation for all funding sources. Provides assistance to the Assistant Director, Security Infrastructure Projects Division in coordinating with AOC staff and officials of affected jurisdictions to keep them informed on project planning. Provides information for the Chief Security Officer to disseminate to Congress and other Capitol complex building occupants. Provides assistance to the Assistant Director, Security Infrastructure Projects Division in development of requirements for security infrastructure design and construction projects. CONSULANT/CONTRACTOR OVERSIGHT Provides technical design and management guidance to professional design and construction contractors. Serves as the Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for review of compliance with design and construction contract specifications. Assists in the monitoring of contractors for effectiveness in meeting contractual, functional and technical requirements. Recommends action in cases of construction and design deficiencies. Provides assistance to the Assistant Director, Security Infrastructure Projects Division over use of resources and efforts related to the implementation of projects; and exercises specified contracting officer authority for execution and administration of personal and professional services contracts. TECHNICAL ADVICE AND GUIDANCE Provides guidance, technical advice and consultation on project administration. Conducts studies to develop criteria for situations encountered during field inspections. Provides guidance with AOC and International Code Council, NFPA and NEC building/Life safety codes to ensure that work produced or completed in compliance with associated codes. Also, must have a working knowledge of ADA accessibility standards to ensure compliance with these requirements; shall initiate or take corrective action to ensure compliance with these codes and standards. Responsible for thoroughly understanding and ensuring compliance with applicable AOC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety rules and regulations. Efforts ensure that work progresses in a safe manner and takes corrective actions to mitigate unsafe conditions. Ensures that Job Hazard Analysis' are developed and followed and that required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilized. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

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 and evaluation

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: Broad knowledge of Engineering/Architectural concepts, principles, and practices; Mastery of and skill in applying an extensive range of knowledge of architecture/engineering methods, principles and techniques and the expert ability to apply this knowledge to very difficult and complex projects; knowledge of construction practices, methods, techniques, costs of materials and equipment; and the ability to understand project tracking and scheduling processes; and the ability to read and interpret architectural and engineering documents and specifications. Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance. Contract Management - Professional knowledge of contract administration requirements and application of quality surveillance methods, practices and techniques to monitor technical projects and evaluate contractor's performance. Oral Communication Written Communication 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 non-selection or disqualification from 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). You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Education

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must possess the following: Education Required for Engineers: 1. Bachelor's degree in professional engineering: To be creditable, the program must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: statics, dynamics;(a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR 2. Combination of education and experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished: (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure: Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test: Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses: Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum: Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. For a detailed explanation of the related curriculum or experience, please visit, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf Education Required for Architects: 1. Bachelor's Degree in architecture; or related field that included 60 semester hours of course work in architecture or related disciplines of which at least (1) 30 semester hours were in architectural design, and (2) 6 semester hours were in each of the following: structural technology, properties of materials and methods of construction, and environmental control systems. OR 2. Combination of education and experience: college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished: (1) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the architectural principles, methods, and techniques and their applications to the design and construction or improvement of buildings. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by at least one of the following: Related Curriculum: Degree in architectural engineering may be accepted. Experience: An applicant lacking a degree in architecture must have had l year of experience in an architect's office or in architectural work for each year short of graduation from a program of study in architecture. In the absence of college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that the applicant has acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture. For a detailed explanation, please visit, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/architecture-series-0808/ Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Education completed outside of the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part of foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing if selected.

Benefits

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc. The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

How to apply

You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to USAJOBS Help Page. NEED HELP? If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times. All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.

Required documents

The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy. To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application. Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates, duties and accomplishments. Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC's Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection. If Veterans' preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form). Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.

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 OPM vet guide If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If 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. 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. Note: 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.