Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Superintendent, House Office Buildings, Assistant Superintendent, Facilities Support Division. The AOC is seeking an expert Architect to perform a variety of duties with respect to development of architectural designs and writing detailed specifications for new construction, interior and exterior alterations, restorations, additions and repairs to existing buildings and structures.

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Responsibilities

The Architect functions as a project manager directing design teams of interdisciplinary engineering specialists to plan and control the advanced architectural aspects involved in the design and construction of extensive projects of an unusual and/or unique nature; performing duties involving interior environmental design; accomplishing varied and complex project management duties in conjunction with coordinating project teams and making decisions affecting areas of responsibility that are controversial and precedent setting; and serving as a technical specialist and a key source of information on architectural matters.

Other duties include:

• Independently administers multiple assigned projects some of major size, scope and complexity in accordance with AOC best practices, including meeting with staff to define project scope and requirements, preparation of scope and statement of work, conceptual drawings, initial cost estimates and estimated project duration, then preparing an integrated construction package with multi-discipline drawings, final cost estimates, selecting material and equipment and preparing purchase requisitions and finally overseeing construction, tracking and reporting construction status to upper management, tracking deliveries, coordinating work activities with the general site foreman, preparing as-built drawings and closeout documents
• Prepares requirements and criteria for complex, high value projects for construction or modification of facilities. Coordinates with and advises Members of Congress, their staffs and other Congressional staff members on interior design factors.
• Performs contract administration activities for significant, high specialized procurements.
• Serves as a technical architectural authority for the agency.
• Reviews and/or directs the review of plans, specifications and analysis of design on project of major size and complexity for accuracy and technical competency.
• Acts as jurisdictional representative for projects, tasks and studies.
• Ensures the entire scope of work is performed and all quality requirements are strictly enforced.
• Performs a variety of pre-award, post-award and post-contract activities.
• Reviews plans, specifications and cost estimates for technical adequacy. As a COTR, reviews and evaluates shop drawings, progress schedules and conformance to technical documents during the course of construction.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• You must meet the education requirement.

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Qualifications

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards .

In addition to the basic education requirements, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level or pay band in Federal service or equivalent experience in private or public sector.

Specialized experience is defined as having experience in the following areas:

1) Serving as the technical and business manager of major projects, from the preliminary planning stage through the design and construction phases;

2) Performing project management and monitoring for new construction, renovations, and improvements to facilities;

3) Assessing compliance with construction standards, preparing full construction drawings and specifications, and preparing scope of work documents and statements of work for;

4) Providing technical architectural and historic preservation; and

5) Serving as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR).

Education

Basic Requirements:

1. 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

2. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished:

(a) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and

(b) 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 related curriculum or experience as defined in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) General Schedule Qualification Standards.

For a detailed explanation of the related curriculum or experience , please visit the following website at http://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.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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:

KSA1 - Mastery of architectural concepts, principles and practices sufficient to permit the architect to serve as a technical and business manager of designated major buildings projects from the preliminary planning stage through the design, construction and equipment installation stages to the check-out stage or point of occupancy.

KSA2 - Knowledge and skill sufficient to apply the latest developments in building design and construction in solving problems not readily treated by accepted methods.

KSA3 - Knowledge of related fields of endeavor such as mechanical and electrical engineering and landscape architecture.

KSA4 - Knowledge of and skill in applying concepts and procedures inherent in or associated with project management financial management and procurement to achieve project goals and objectives.

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).

To preview questions please click here .

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

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.

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.