Supervisory General Engineer / Supervisory Architect

Full Job Description

The position is located in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate (PDCS), Office of Cost Management (COST).

The OBO/PDCS/COST staff perform cost-estimating and cost management services for embassy projects to identify all costs associated with OBO projects during all stages of project development from concept to construction completion and during operations and maintenance.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement.

Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F.

You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.

BASIC REQUIREMENT General Engineer - Applicants must show that they possess a professional knowledge of general engineering as evidenced by one of the following Basic Requirements: Successful completion of a professional engineering degree at an accredited university or college -OR- Have a combination of college level education or training AND technical experience that has furnished you with (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 as an engineer. Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training written test.

Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.

Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field and at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-800: All Professional Engineering Positions qualifications.

Architect - Applicants must show that they possess a professional knowledge of architecture as evidenced by one of the following: Basic Requirements: A.

Degree: 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 B.

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 as satisfying in full the basic requirements, provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in paragraph A.

The curriculum for a degree in either architecture or architectural engineering covers function, esthetics, site, structure, economics, mechanical-electrical, and other engineering problems related to the design and construction of buildings primarily (but not exclusively) intended to house human activities.

The courses required for a degree in architecture generally place emphasis upon planning, esthetics, and materials and methods of construction, while the courses for an architectural engineering degree place equal or greater weight on the technical engineering aspects such as structural systems, mechanical systems, and the properties of materials.

Because of this difference in emphasis, persons with degrees in architecture may have a preference for work assignments that offer greater opportunities for them to express their artistic and creative abilities.

As a result, they may be more concerned with planning and design aspects of architecture, and persons with degrees in architectural engineering may be more engaged in aspects emphasizing technical engineering considerations.

Experience: An applicant lacking a degree in architecture must have had 1 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.

Non-qualifying Experience: The following kinds of experience are NOT acceptable as professional architectural experience: professional landscape architecture work consisting mainly of the layout, design, construction, or maintenance of land areas and landscape features, including ground and water forms, vegetation, roads, walks, incidental structures, and other landscape features; experience in the application of artistic embellishment to practical design such as the decoration of interiors, including the construction, layout, and selection of furniture and furnishings that do not alter the basic architectural design of the interior; city and community planning work that relates to the broad social and economic growth and development of such community services and facilities as industry, commerce, transportation, streets, utilities, and parks.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IN ADDITION to the Basic Requirements above, you MUST also have 1 year of specialized experience that is related to the work of the position, is equivalent to at least the GS-14 level in the Federal service, and demonstrates the following: Experience in cost management or major overseas construction projects from inception through project completion; Experience providing authoritative estimating/cost engineering guidance to resolve critical budgetary problems in design and maintenance, operations of overseas construction projects; and Experience monitoring and administering contracts, with emphasis on the negotiation and awards of contracts successfully within strict budgetary constraints.

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities: Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others; Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances; Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress; Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and Capacity to "see the job through." Major Duties:

• Develop goals and objectives that integrate Division and OBO objectives and establish policies and procedures for accomplishment of the COST Office's mission.
• Conduct or oversee the formulation of the project budget, execution strategy, execution schedule, economic analyses, value engineering and risk assessment and mitigation, preliminary and final drawings to formulate engineering cost estimates.
• Collect, analyze, and extrapolate localized data on labor rates, material costs, equipment availability, productivity factors, and impacts from host-nation laws, taxes, import duties, currency fluctuations, and infrastructure conditions.
• Perform critical analyses and make definitive recommendations for resolution of major technical problems.
• Provide authoritative technical direction to A/E contract cost engineers, review cost estimates, risk assessments, and other contract deliverable cost management products and services rendered by independent third- party contract A/E cost engineers.