Duties

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Engineer, Energy and Design Services Division, Architecture and Preservation Branch. The selectee will be responsible for implementing Preservation Policy and Standards for the historic buildings, structures, monuments, memorials, cultural landscapes, architectural decorative art, views and vistas, archeological resources and stored architectural materials under the AOC's jurisdiction.

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Responsibilities

** It is desirable that the incumbent be a Registered Architect (RA) with experience in preservation of historically significant monumental structures.

The selectee will perform the following:

Policy Advice and Guidance on Heritage Assets

- Ensures that the AOC adheres to the Preservation Policy and Standards for preservation of its buildings, grounds, monuments and other historic assets.

- Consults with superintendents, architects, engineers, project managers, curators, contractors and workers to understand their needs and concerns, to collaborate and to develop and ensure a full understanding of the appropriate preservation actions and treatments; Provides expert advice and guidance which requires extensive interpretation for many programs and projects.

- Ensures that alteration or additions to Heritage Asset materials and features will be physically and visually compatible, identifiable upon close inspection and properly documented.

- Engages stakeholders in the House of Representatives, Senate, Library of Congress and Supreme Court to ensure client knowledge and understanding of preservation projects.; Represents the AOC on preservation/conservation related teams and task forces as an expert consultant on broad projects and programs that impact the Capitol Complex.

Architectural Requirements and Specifications

- Applies specialized technical knowledge of professional architecture and preservation concepts, methods and procedures to analyze and define the requirements of multi-phase projects.

- Participates in the development of preservation requirements with customers, analyzes requirements and design criteria, assures implementation of requirements and evaluates project feasibility.

- In consultation with the AOC Curator and other curatorial offices, inventory, document and prepares condition assessments of the architectural, landscape, architectural decorative art and stored architectural assets under the AOC's jurisdiction; Consistent with AOC-wide policies, develops decision-making and review procedures.

- Provides advice and support to identify and make plans for the restoration of lost and/or damaged architectural features as part of emergency response and will work with the Curator, building superintendents and others who are part of the damage assessment and recovery team.

Architectural Problem Resolution

- Recognized as an expert source of information internally, by other agencies and on a national level for unprecedented technical problems, the latest developments and trends and other matters relating to architecture.

- Works with all levels of local management and program officials, key personnel of other government agencies and private industry to resolve and track complex and controversial problems that arise; Assures the overall resolution of architectural and historic preservation issues.

- Oversees the development of multi-purpose facility, multiple-phase facilities or construction projects characterized by complex environmental variables.

Organizational Liaison

- Works with the AOC's and Botanic Garden Curators and House, Senate and Supreme Court Curators to ensure that construction or maintenance projects in spaces including or adjacent to any works of fine art, decorative art, architectural or botanical assets will have minimal effect on the assets.

- Ensures the preservation and availability of historic project documentation, including architectural drawings, construction documents and photographs through coordination with the Records Management Branch and Photography Branch.

- Represents the Architect of the Capitol on preservation/conservation-related teams and task forces.

- Educates AOC staff about the history of the art and architecture cared for by the AOC, the resources available in the AOC archives, the importance of preservation and conservation throughout the Capitol complex and about the Preservation Policy and Standards and their relevance to the work undertaken by the AOC.

- Collaborates and coordinates with stakeholders in the House of Representatives, Senate, Library of Congress, Botanic Garden, Capitol Grounds, Capitol Police, Capitol Power Plant and the Supreme Court to impart knowledge and understanding of the Preservation Policy and Standards and to encourage full support and participation.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
14 - Full Performance Level is GS-14

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 educational requirements for Architect

.

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-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position includes the following:

• Performing architectural design, technical reviews, quality control, and project management on building projects from planning and programming through construction;
• Assessing compliance with construction standards, preparing full construction drawings and specifications, and preparing scope of work documents and statements of work;
• Providing technical architectural and historic preservation knowledge as well as engineering concepts, methods, and procedures; and
• Working directly with top level technical representatives of industry, Congressional offices, and others in the development of Architectural and Historic Preservation criteria and requirements.

Education

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, you must meet the following:

Basic Education:

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) six 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 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.

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 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 may be authorized for non-federal employees.

Probationary Period- 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:

• Professional knowledge of historic preservation, architectural and project management principles and a wide range of administrative methods, principles and practices
• Ability to problem solve
• 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 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
Other

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 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.