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Civil Engineer

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. Current students who are scheduled to graduate within nine months may also apply to these positions. However, these students cannot be appointed until after graduation and the official degree has been awarded and conferred.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/06/2020 to 10/19/2020
Salary
$52,905 to - $52,905 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9
Locations
MANY vacancies in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Springerville, AZ
Arcadia, CA
Sonora, CA
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Recent Graduates
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
21-NCH-ENG-810-9-RG
Control number
580896700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Recent graduate who has, within the previous two years, completed a qualifying Associate's, Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, professional, vocational or technical degree or certificate program. Veterans unable to apply within two years of receiving their degree due to military service obligation have up to six years after degree completion to apply.

Duties

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  • Conduct preliminary surveys and site investigations to obtain baseline and field data
  • Prepare design criteria for smaller or less complex portions of a project, such as conventional roads, facilities, utility systems or structures.
  • Compute quantities and cost estimates for civil engineering projects based on knowledge of the project, terrain and climate.
  • Implement civil engineering work in accordance with approaches that have been structured by senior engineers.
  • Investigate various routes and locations for proposed roads and trails using aerial photos and topographic maps.
  • Perform location reconnaissance and flag routes along corridors using transportation plan.
  • Complete road designs involving drainage structures, base and surfacing analysis and special structures using basic survey data.
  • Interpret safety regulations to assure that safe practices are followed during projects.
  • Observe construction at all stages to identify problems and take action to change designs within delegated authority.
  • Recommend changes to solve problems that may arise, such as, unusual foundation conditions caused by faults, or rocks susceptible to solution and landslides.
  • Administer contracts for projects that are limited in size, complexity or a minor part of a large project
  • Coordinate with other engineers to ensure technical accuracies for engineering projects.
  • Participate in investigations of existing facilities and utility to conform to safety, health, and regulatory requirements.
  • Confer with contractor representatives to resolve differences.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be at least 16 years of age and meet education requirements.
  • Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National or be lawfully permitted to the U.S. as a permanent resident or otherwise authorized to be employed.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.
  • The incumbents of Recent Graduate positions may be reassigned/relocated to any geographical location where the employee's services are needed as determined by management. Mobility agreement may be required.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period.
  • A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways.
  • This may be bargaining unit position represented by the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW.

Qualifications

You are required to meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program, as described below in order to be considered for this position. You must meet all the eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf The minimum qualification requirements for each grade level of this vacancy announcement are described below:

Basic Qualification Requirements for the GS-09:

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement (or date of referral if an Open Continuous announcement) as defined below. For more information on the qualifications for this position, go to: http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-admin.asp

Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree that included a major field of study in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-7 grade level; OR a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related; OR an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

  1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test-- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For the GS-9 level: Applicants must have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree (coursework directly related to the position being filled);OR successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering and 1 year of appropriate professional experience; OR a combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional experience; OR one year of specialized professional engineering experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level; OR or an appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). Professional engineering experience is defined as nonroutine engineering work that required and was characterized by (1) professional knowledge of engineering; (2)professional ability to apply such knowledge to engineering problems; and (3) positive and continuing development of professional knowledge and ability.

Examples of specialized experience are: Assisted in the design and development of routine construction drawings and specifications for projects with straightforward technical characteristics; Assisted with site visits to ensure construction was conducted in accordance with established contract specifications; and/or Assisted in gathering data used to monitor the progress of contractors in achieving contract requirements and project milestones such as performing basic surveys and investigations to establish baseline data used to initiate a requirements review.

Education

Please note that Superior Academic Achievement can only be applied if you have graduated or completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Note regarding certificate programs: A certificate program is defined as a post-secondary education, in a qualifying education institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum. While recently graduating from a certificate program may afford you Recent Graduate Program eligibility, it may not be sufficient in terms of qualification standards for the series and/or the grade level.

This position has a positive education requirement, as outlined above under basic qualifications. The term positive education requirement refers to an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determination that the duties of a scientific, technical, or professional position cannot be performed by an individual that does not have the prescribed minimum education. For additional information on the qualification standards for the 0810 series, visit the OPM Qualifications Standard found at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Completed all requirements for an associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, or technical degree or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two years; OR

If you are a current student who is in the process of completing your degree, academic documentation must accompany your application package to validate your upcoming graduation date (you must complete all degree requirements within nine months of the application closing date to be considered a Recent Graduate); OR

Due to military service obligation, you were precluded from applying to the Recent Graduate Program during any portion of the two-year eligibility period described above. This eligibility period cannot extend more than six years from the date on which the requirement for the academic degree or certificate was received.

You must possess the qualifications requirements identified below to be considered qualified for this position. Your application or resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

These positions are located in the following locations: BU=Eligible; NON-BU= Non Bargaining Unit:

Positions in the following location are full performance GS-11 and NON-BU eligible: Granby, CO; Chadron, NE; Springerville, AZ; Dickinson, SD; Bedford, IN; Laramie, WY; Steamboat Springs, CO; Bozeman, MT; London, KY and Winchester, KY

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact:
Michele White at michele.white@usda.gov for Granby, CO
Nathaniel Marcoe at nathaniel.marcoe@usda.gov for Chadron, NE
Chris Miller at chris.w.miller@usda.gov for Springerville, AZ
Curtis Grudniewski at curtis.grudniewski@usda.gov for Dickinson, SD
Brad Lidell at brad.lidell@usda.gov for Bedford, IN
Parks Frady at Jefferson.Frady@usda.gov for Bozeman, MT
Ryan Nupen at ryan.nupen@usda.gov for Laramie, WY and Steamboat Springs, CO
Deb Schoenberg at deb.schoenberg@usda.gov for London, KY and Winchester, KY

Positions in the following location are full performance GS-11 and BU eligible: Arcadia, CA; Anchorage, AK; and Sonora, CA
For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact:
Ricardo Lopez at ricardo.lopez2@usda.gov for Arcadia, CA
Griffith Berg at griffith.berg@usda.gov for Anchorage, AK
Timothy Huges at timothy.hughes@usda.gov for Sonora, CA

This position is being concurrently announced under Merit Promotion procedures as announcement number 21-NCH-ENG-810-9-FS-EA. Current federal employees may apply to both announcements. This position will be filled at the GS -09 grade level with promotion potential to the GS-11.

Additional information

Salary wage as shown is for Rest of the U.S. For more information, refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Salary and Wages web page.

GOVERNMENT HOUSING: May beavailable.

DAYCARE AVAILABILITY: Daycare facilities are not available.

PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Recent Graduates are on a trial period for the duration of the program

TRAINING/IDP: This position requires 40 hours of formal, interactive training per year. An Individual Development Plan (IDP) must be completed and approved by the supervisor within 45 days of appointment. A mentor must be assigned within 90 days of appointment.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Recent Graduates may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service after the successful completion of one year of continuous service. To be eligible for conversion, the Recent Graduate must meet the following:

  • Complete all requirements of the Recent Graduates program.
  • Receive a favorable recommendation by supervisor.
  • Meet the OPM Qualification Standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate may be converted. Conversion is not guaranteed and is based on the needs of the agency.
  • Meet any agency specific requirements as outlined in the Participant Agreement.
  • Perform the job successfully.
  • Receive favorable recommendation by the supervisor
RECRUITMENT/RELOCATION INCENTIVE: Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination will be made at the time of job offer.

How you will be evaluated

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

Please note, this position is targeted toward graduates who have been awarded their master's degrees.

This position has a targeted effective date of Winter 2020-Spring 2021.

Before you submit an application for any of our vacancies, you should completely review the announcement and the requirements. You should only apply for position if you meet the required minimum qualifications AND program requirements described in the announcement. Do not apply to a duty location if you are not willing to accept or travel to that location.

If you have reviewed the announcement and believe that you meet both the minimum qualifications and the program requirements, you should document your experience and education in your resume. Since traditional resumes do not provide all the information needed to determine your status, you should create a more detailed resume to use when applying to Federal positions.

Please ensure that your resume contains your full name, permanent address, contact phone number and email address.

If you meet the eligibility requirements of the Recent Graduate program and the basic minimum requirements established for the position, you may be referred to the selecting official for consideration. Qualified individuals with veteran's preference are listed ahead of individuals who do not have veteran's preference.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10911847

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