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Fire Protection Engineer

General Services Administration
Public Buildings Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As a Fire Protection Engineer you will be the Senior/Subject Matter Expert Fire Protection Engineer providing authoritative advice and guidance on the most complex fire protection matters to assigned region locations. 

Location:  2300 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64108

The Office of Facilities Management and Services Programs provides program management, support and guidance to GSA property managers.

We are currently filling one vacancy, but additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open date: 02/28/2020
Closed date: 03/09/2020
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$92,159 - $119,810 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-Time
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional travel may be required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
20PBSA118LRDE
Control number
561284500

Duties

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As a Fire Protection Engineer, some of your major duties will include:

  • Implementing and executing the GSA National Fire Protection Program policies and guidance for the Region.
  • Responsibility for all aspects of fire prevention and fire protection in GSA owned and leased buildings, including those housing offices, electronic data processing operations, records center operations, motor vehicle repair and storage, warehousing activities, laboratories and hazardous materials storage by making certain that all facilities are meeting all of the fire code requirements and conducting inspections of existing facilities.
  • Making authoritative "on the spot" interpretations and applications of codes and standards for both GSA owned and leased buildings for the most complex construction or renovation projects which may result in new policies or become precedent-setting for the Region.
  • Developing innovative solutions to resolve code conflicts where multiple building codes and standards apply or where building codes, laws or ordinances conflict with design concepts or objectives.
  • Reviewing drawings and specifications for major new construction, renovation projects and most space layouts to ensure compliance with current GSA standards for fire protection, exiting arrangements, and other safety features.
  • Providing expertise on the realm of fire protection engineering, including but not limited to fire, smoke, life safety, and egress.
  • Providing expert consultation on fire protection and prevention to upper levels of management, field office managers, PBS engineers, and as required, the management officials of other agencies. 
  • Conducting inspections of fire alarm and protection systems and equipment in cooperation with other GSA offices to validate compliance with fire protection, fire prevention, and life safety.
  • Developing, managing, and teaching training programs in all phases of fire prevention and protection in GSA owned and leased facilities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Apply online (See How to Apply section.)
  • US Citizenship or National (Residents of American Samoa and Swains Island)
  • Register with the Selective Service if you are a male born after 12/31/1959
  • Meet all eligibility criteria within 30 days of the closing date

If selected, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
  • Serve a one year probationary period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 1 investigation level). 
  • Have your identity and work status eligibility verified if you are not a GSA employee.  We will use the Department of Homeland Security’s e-Verify system for this. Any discrepancies must be resolved as a c
  • The work is primarily sedentary but also requires frequent physical activity (walking, climbing, bending, or stooping) during field surveys or the inspection of existing building systems in areas that may be cold, hot, drafty, greasy, and dirty, in pits, and on elevated work surfaces.  Respirators, impermeable clothing, safety glasses, hard hat, and/or safety shoes may be required in some situations.
  • Condition of Employment:  Certification as a "qualified fire protection engineer" required for entry at, or promotion to, the full performance GS-13 grade level.

Qualifications

For each job on your resume, provide:

  • the exact dates you held  each job (from month/year to month/year)
  • number of hours per week you worked (if part time).

If you have volunteered your service through a National Service program (e.g., Peace Corps, Americorps), we encourage you to apply and include this experience on your resume.

For a brief video on creating a Federal resume, click here. 

The GS-13 salary range starts at $92,159 per year, if you meet the following qualifications.  If you are a new federal employee, your starting salary will likely be set at the Step 1 of the grade for which you are selected.

You must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. All applicants must meet the Basic Requirements for Engineers.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ENGINEERS: A Degree in professional engineering OR a combination of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience. For specifics on qualifying education and/or experience - use the following link: Basic Requirements for Engineer Positions.

In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that includes:  1) Reviewing, inspecting, and analyzing fire and smoke protection systems and the installation of such systems to ensure code compliance and safe occupancy for office buildings, laboratories, data centers, and/or similar buildings. 2) Designing fire protection and/or smoke mitigation systems and developing related cost estimates for office buildings, laboratories, data centers, and/or similar buildings. 3) Conducting risk analysis of building occupancy and contents and fire/smoke protection systems to develop solutions that ensure a safe environment for occupants and comply with applicable codes. 4) Influencing, motivating, or persuading individuals or groups to collaborate and accept findings/recommendations.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPF):  In addition to the qualification requirements listed above, you must also meet the following SPF, which has been identified as:  Certification as a "qualified fire protection engineer" which requires one of the following:  

  1. An engineer having an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college or university that includes successful completion of a course of study in fire protection engineering, fire protection engineering technology, or fire safety engineering that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or a similar accreditation.
  2. A professional engineer (P.E. or similar designation) licensed in a related engineering discipline, plus a minimum of 4 years work experience in fire protection engineering having an understanding of the principles of physics and chemistry governing fire growth, spread, and suppression.
  3. A licensed engineer (P.E.) who has passed the principles and practice of engineering examination in fire protection administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs): QRFs are knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that could be expected to significantly enhance performance in a position, but are not essential for satisfactory performance. Applicants who possess such KSA's may be ranked above those who do not, but no one may be rated ineligible solely for failure to possess such KSA’s. The Quality Ranking Factor for this position is experience which utilizes the principles of physics and chemistry  governing fire growth, spread, and suppression, with at least 4 years’ experience in fire protection engineering and has at least 3 years as the person in charge of fire protection engineering work.

Education

Note: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Bargaining Unit status: AFGE professional

Relocation-related expenses are not approved and will be your responsibility.  

On a case-by-case basis, the following incentives may be approved:

  • Recruitment incentive if you are new to the federal government
  • Relocation incentive if you are a current federal employee
  • Credit toward vacation leave if you are new to the federal government

Additional vacancies may be filled from this announcement as needed; through other means; or not at all.  

If you are eligible under Merit Promotion, you may also apply under Vacancy Announcement #20PBSA117TRMP.  You must apply separately to each announcement to be considered for both.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will use a method called Category Rating to assess your application.  Here’s how it will work:

  • You will be scored on the questions you answer during the application process, which will measure your possession of the following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities:
    1. Ability to apply fire protection engineering knowledge to develop plans and strategies:  Expert skill in applying fire protection engineering concepts and codes in developing both short- and long-term strategies for resolving fire protection deficiencies in office buildings, courthouses, warehouses, data centers, and similar environments.
    2. Communication skills:  Expert ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to convincingly present technical fire protection engineering data, conclusions, recommendations, and advice to target audiences of varying technical aptitudes.
    3. Ability to negotiate and solve problems:  Expert skill in resolving complicated technical issues with other technical professionals and creating consensus on solutions and strategies especially in scenarios with vague, confusing, and contrary perspectives and conflicting goals.
    4. Ability to evaluate fire protection-related technical issues:  Mastery in ability and expert skill to evaluate or design fire protection systems for buildings, such as could be foundationally acquired through a bachelor’s degree program in fire protection engineering supplemented by several years of progressively more complex experience involving fire protection of buildings.
    5. Knowledge of fire protection engineering codes:  Expert knowledge and understanding of the codes and standards of the National Fire Protection Association and National Building codes in sufficient detail to quickly locate applicable criteria and apply to specific situations, which often include ambiguities and require interpretations.
  • Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of three categories:  Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified.
  • We will verify your answers to the questions in your resume.  If your resume doesn’t support your answers, we may lower your score, which could place you in a lower category.
  • Within each category, veterans will receive selection priority over non-veterans.

Additional assessments may be used, and, if so, you will be provided with further instructions.

If you are eligible under Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan or GSA’s Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP/CTAP), you must receive a score of 85 or higher to receive priority.


To preview questions please click here.

Public Buildings Service

Agency contact information

Terri Rizzolo
Phone
816-926-8395
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
Terri.Rizzolo@gsa.gov
Address
GSA, Public Buildings Service
2300 Main St, Floor 2NW
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
United States

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Public Buildings Service, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/26570

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