Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Planning and Project Management, Construction Division, Construction Branch. The selectee will be responsible for overseeing and monitoring construction contracts and construction management support services. Projects involve the renovation, restoration and improvement of structures in assigned jurisdictions which are of great historical significance and require the use of specialized construction methods to accomplish.

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Responsibilities

The selectee will perform the following:

Major Duties:

Serves as a Contracting Officers Technical Representative with responsibilities for providing construction oversight on multi-million dollar new construction, renovation and rehabilitation projects.

Performs constructability reviews and collaborates with consultants, architects, engineers and estimators in advance of demolition, renovation and construction projects.

Directs construction teams composed of in-house and/or external construction teams. Provides technical guidance and advice to specialists, lower-grade employees and contract construction management support staff in the performance of their assignments. Provides clarification as needed to resolve technical difficulties as they arise to achieve the expected outcome.

Monitors AOC staff and contractors' safety protocols and fully enforces all applicable safety standards and regulations. Must follow all relevant safety rules, regulations and standard operating procedures. Must utilize knowledge of and must comply with all OSHA safety rules and regulations to ensure that work progresses in a safe manner. Attends safety training as required to be knowledgeable of applicable safety standards and regulations to effectively monitor and identify unsafe work practices on assigned contracts. Must ensure the use of any required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Coordinates access requests with Jurisdictions and U.S. Capitol Police and ancillary construction activities performed by other contractors or in-house staff.

Schedules meetings to identify action items, milestones, reasonableness of construction schedule and phasing requirements.

Works with Project Managers, Jurisdiction representatives, consultants and in-house resources to determine risks and makes recommendations to mitigate risks through review of construction documents, changes in scope of work and proactive oversight utilizing risk mitigation planning processes.

Works with engineers and architects, consultants and AOC staff to resolve conflicts and concerns as they arise. Evaluates estimates for financial and time impacts to the projects and advises on the degree of effect on schedule and budget. Prepares and or assists in the preparation and presentation of project reports to keep Jurisdictions and stakeholders informed on project status.

Provides advice to Jurisdiction representatives, in-house staff, engineers, architects and consultants on practicability of design, materials to be used and means and methods to accomplish work based on historical knowledge and construction experience. Recommends design changes to improve efficiencies, reduce changes to the contract and to enhance operations. Informs Project Managers regarding worksite access and staging space necessary to efficiently execute contract work.

Monitors and inspects contractor performance to ensure that the entire scope of the contract is performed and all quality requirements specified are in strict compliance. Monitors contract compliance against contractor's submitted Quality Control management plan. Develops effective quality assurance and surveillance plans to proactively identify and correct any deficiencies in work and materials.

Ensures that contract construction managers, consultants and in-house support personnel maintain effective construction surveillance utilizing project controls and protocols.

Recommends acceptance or rejection of construction activities, phases of work and overall project completion.

Analyzes and defines requirements using technical knowledge of engineering concepts, methods and procedures to coordinate with other projects and activities to integrate standards and precedents. Takes part in the development of requirements, integrating applicable industry best practices and lessons learned for inclusion in contract documents.

Contributes to the development of construction specifications by reviewing draft contract documents for practicability, accuracy, risk management and completeness. Assists in preparing documents for bid and award process.

Monitors projects' financial outlook to identify potential funding shortages or overruns that may affect contract actions.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
13 - Full Performance Level is GS-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.

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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

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 next lower (GS-12) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following:

Providing oversight and monitoring new construction, renovations, infrastructure improvements and/or building upgrade contracts.

Serving as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) or equivalent on assigned construction and consultant contracts.

Working with project managers, consultants and organizational resources to determine risks and making recommendations through changes in scope of work, construction documents and proactive oversight, utilizing risk mitigation planning and/or removal of these risks.

Recommending improvements in design and efficiencies, reducing changes to the contract and enhancing operations.

Education

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, genetic information, sexual orientation 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 on a case-by-case basis.

Moving expenses are not authorized.

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Probationary Period- A newly appointed selectee(s) 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:

• Knowledge of construction practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of engineering, architectural, and general contracting concepts.
• Ability to plan and manage construction projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

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 not hiring you or disqualification for 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
Not Required

Drug test required
Yes

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

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

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 choose to submit supporting documentation with your application profile, you may select ONE of the following methods:

1) You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Architect of the Capitol application site which you access through the USAJobs site.
OR
2) You can fax your documents using the system generated fax cover sheet.

Your application and all required documentation must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the closing date of this job announcement.

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.