Duties

Summary

NCPC seeks an experienced urban planner to guide major projects in the Nation's capital for buildings, parks, memorials, and master plans; prepare and present reports and projects to various audiences; and creatively resolve complex planning and urban design challenges.
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Responsibilities

As a Community Planner in the NCPC's Urban Design and Plan Review Division, your typical duties and responsibilities leading up to the full performance level of this position will be to:

• - Review and evaluate complex planning studies, development applications and other projects submitted for Commission review.
• - Prepare and present reports as well as amendments, recommendations and/or resolutions to plan and project proposals and issues to the Commission, executive staff, and other audiences through the use of technical planning reports, data, maps, and graphic planning and design technologies.
• - Represent NCPC during project negotiation efforts and coordination with applicants and other federal and local partners.
• - Apply NCPC legislative authorities, procedures, plans and policies, and project guidelines in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) to review plans and projects, prepare reports, and provide presentations.
• - Perform comprehensive research and analysis in the form of technical planning reports, data, maps, and graphic materials to devise proposals and policies to address current problems, opportunities, and provide guidance for future development.
• - Maintain positive, collaborative relationships with team members and representatives from federal and local agencies to coordinate and consult on the research, planning, and design of projects.
• - Advise federal and local applicants on plans, policies, and procedures in coordination with other offices, federal and District entities, and representatives of the public.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
• Suitable for Federal employment (as determined by initial evaluation, screening, and/or background investigation)
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
• Must successfully pass a drug screening

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet both the education and experience requirements described below. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience. To qualify, a copy of your unofficial transcript(s) must be provided with your application unless otherwise stated.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
1. Bachelor's degree (or higher) in community planning or related field such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, civil engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration that included at least 12 semester hours in the planning process, socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, and urban and regional economic analysis, and development finance.

Note : Applicants with degrees in related fields, such as those listed above, who do not have 12 semester hours of specified course work must have had at least 1 year of work experience in community planning acquired under the supervision and guidance of a community planner.

OR

2. A combination of education and experience - courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the above disciplines of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process, and socioeconomic and physical elements of planning; plus, appropriate experience or additional education.

- AND -

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, in addition to the basic education requirement , you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experiencefor the respective grade level(s) to which you are applying:

GS-12:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized work experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service, performing such duties as managing aspects of various projects and programs; coordinating with other offices, including Federal and District representatives, as well as the general public; performing complex analysis; providing recommendations to complex urban planning and design issues; preparing and presenting written reports and recommendations on plan and project proposals in graphic form to various audiences through the application of established urban design and planning principles, standards, and policies; reviewing and analyzing plans and projects with the use of various technical planning and design tools, such as GIS and CAD; and, preparing and conducting public engagement activities.

GS-13:
Specialized Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of specialized work experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service, performing such duties as providing expert advice on several areas of urban planning and design; managing all aspects of various projects and programs; coordinating with other offices as an agency representative, including Federal and District representatives, as well as the general public; performing complex analysis and critiques of master plans and other projects and plans; devising innovative planning solutions; preparing and presenting written reports and recommendations on plan and project proposals in graphic form to various audiences through the application of established urban design and planning principles, standards, and policies; reviewing and analyzing plans and projects with the integrated use of technical planning and design tools, such as GIS and CAD; and, preparing and conducting public engagement activities.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

For current or former Federal employees applying under the Merit Promotion authority : In addition to the above qualifications, these applicants must have served at least one (1) year at the next lower grade level in the Federal service (for example, if applying for GS-13, applicants must have completed at least one year of Federal service at the GS-12 level). These applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements, including time-in-grade restrictions.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. You MUST submit legible transcripts from an accredited institution with your name, school name, credit hours, course level, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Official copies of transcripts do not need to be provided at application, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify then you must provide official transcripts as a condition of employment. All required materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

NOTE : There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level of this announcement.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof of documentation required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference, you may refer to the resources at https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans and https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans-preference/ .

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov .

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Individuals who want to apply based on special priority selection rights under ICTAP must meet all eligibility requirements, be rated well-qualified for the position to receive consideration, and provide the required documents (see "How to Apply" for details) as proof of eligibility for ICTAP priority. To be considered well-qualified, the applicant must meet the basic qualifications and demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of this position upon entry. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

Promotion Potential: This position has career advancement potential up to the GS-13 salary level. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor.

The salary range in this announcement is representative of grade levels GS-12, step 1 through GS-13, step 10, including locality pay. Starting salary will be set in accordance with applicable pay setting regulations. Generally, pay for first appointment to the federal service is set at step 1 of the qualifying grade level.

Selection: More than one position may be filled from this announcement. This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

Once your complete application is received, it will be evaluated to determine qualifications for the position. If you meet the qualification requirement, your application will be placed in one of three categories based on your score using category rating under the delegated examining procedures: Highly Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified. Within these categories, qualified applicants eligible for veteran's preference will be placed ahead of and receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles. Veterans' preference points do not apply in category rating. For applicants under the merit promotion authority, VEOA eligibles are rated and ranked under the same assessment as other merit promotion candidates and must rank among the best qualified candidates in order to receive consideration. Veterans' preference does not apply to merit promotion actions. The amount of experience or training will not itself be accepted as proof of qualification for any grade. Your application will be assessed based on demonstrated experience in the competencies/ knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) identified below. Your relevant personal, educational, and work experiences will be evaluated on the following fundamental competencies:

• - Extensive knowledge of established urban design and planning principles, methodologies, analysis techniques, and related policies including NEPA and NHPA.
• - Ability to devise innovative resolutions to complex planning issues.

• - Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written, and graphic form.
• - Skill in performing comprehensive analysis on various urban planning and design areas such as land use, environmental and traffic conditions, historic preservation, zoning, and population densities.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package by the closing date which includes:

Your Resume to include dates of employment, hours worked per week, positions held, and detailed description of your duties and responsibilities demonstrating experience in the fundamental competencies listed above in this announcement.

Completed Assessment Questionnaire

Supporting Documents:

• - College Transcript(s)
• - Veterans' Preference Documentation ( if applicable) , e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and required documentation, VA letter, etc. See "Additional Information" in this announcement for resources.
• - Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibility Documentation ( if applicable ), e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal. See "Additional Information" in this announcement for resources.
FOR CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES : In addition to the other required (applicable) documents in this list, you also must submit the following documents:
• - SF-50 (indicating current grade and step and tenure group, latest WGI SF-50 most preferred)
• - Performance Appraisal (Most Recent), or Two Letters of Reference (none dated older than 15 months)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.