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Civil Engineer (Recent Graduate)

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Civil Engineer (Recent Graduate). Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Billings, Montana

For living conditions go to: https://www.usbr.gov/gp/employment/living_conditions.pdf

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
10/18/2021 to 10/27/2021
Salary
$62,794 to - $111,389 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Billings, MT
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - Up to 20 nights per month travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
BOR-MB-21-PW-11268263-JB
Control number
617617200

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Duties

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The full performance duties of this position are:

  • Performs engineering aspects of contract administration including (1) reviewing construction schedules, (2) reviewing and performing technical engineering analysis of proposed contract modifications, disputes and resulting negotiations, and final decisions, (3) coordinating review and approval of required technical data, (4) performing labor compliance checks, (5) reviewing and approving contractor's request for progress payment, (6) providing documentation through correspondence, final construction reports, and as-built drawings as appropriate, and (7) monitoring contractor's safety plan as required.
  • Reviews draft contract plans and specifications from the standpoint of constructability, adequacy of payment provisions, contractor quality control provisions, inspection and quality assurance provisions, sufficiency of layout, and detail.
  • Participates in the preparation of design data packages on assigned projects.
  • Responsible for monitoring construction progress, inspection and quality control programs, and safety compliance, and coordinating field problems with designers, contracting officer, and others and assisting in resolution of problems.
  • Prepares correspondence and reports in regard to general construction matters in the Region.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
  • You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
  • You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
  • Current permanent Federal employees who are selected from this announcement may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
  • You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
  • You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
  • You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
  • You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
  • You must apply within two years of receiving a qualifying degree or certificate, with the exception of veterans, who have up to six years to apply.
  • Promotion to the GS-12 dependent on receiving P.E. license.

Qualifications

To be eligible for consideration, you must first meet the Basic Education Requirement for this position, having:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; 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

B. 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 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:

1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)*, 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)** 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.*For more information about EI and EIT registration requirements, please visit the National Society of Professional Engineers website at: http:// www.nspe.org.**The FE examination is not administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. For more information, please visit: http:// www.nspe.org/Licensure/HowtoGetLicensed/index.html.

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 order to be rated as qualified for this position, the HR Office must be able to determine that you meet the education and/or specialized experience requirement - this information must be clearly supported in the resume.

To qualify at the GS-7, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-5 level in federal service having demonstrated an understanding of the review of draft contract specifications and drawings from the standpoint of constructability and technical feasibility, understanding how to review technical data, and monitoring construction progress. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having 1 full year of graduate level education OR superior academic acheivment. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

To qualify at the GS-9, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-7 level in federal service having demonstrated an understanding of the engineering aspect of contract administration functions associated with construction activities at embankment and concrete dams, hydroelectric powerplants or similar features, including: understanding the review of draft contract specifications and drawings from the standpoint of constructability and technical feasibility; understanding how to review technical data; understanding engineering analysis of proposed contract modifications; and monitoring construction progress. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree OR two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

To qualify at the GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in federal service having demonstrated experience in performing the engineering aspect of contract administration functions associated with construction activities at embankment and concrete dams, hydroelectric powerplants, and related or similar features, including: experience in participating in the review of draft contract specifications and drawings from the standpoint of constructability and technical feasibility; participating in reviewing technical data; participating in performing technical engineering analysis of proposed contract modifications and resulting negotiations; and in monitoring construction progress. You could otherwise qualify on the basis of Education having successfully completed Ph.D. or equivalent degree OR three full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related. You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications.

The superior academic achievement provision is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-07 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a qualifying grade point average (GPA), class standing, or honors society. For more information, visit OPM.

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.

You must meet all Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 10/27/2021.

Education

This vacancy announcement allows substituting education for experience. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable) to support claimed education if substituting education for experience. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university and date the degree was conferred. Non-submission will result in being rated not-qualified for the position.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

Additional information

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information, visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses are authorized with the exception of the Guaranteed Home Sale Provision or first-post-of-duty relocation expenses are authorized, as applicable. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed into law December 2017, suspends the moving expense deduction and the exclusion from income of qualified employer reimbursements of moving expenses that was allowed under previous tax laws. Employer reimbursements for moving costs are now generally taxed at the same rate as ordinary income.

If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may request consideration for a Superior Qualifications Appointment. For information, visit: OPM Fact Sheet.

Related non-Federal experience or related experience as retired members of the uniformed services may be credited towards computing entitlement to leave accrual, at managerial discretion, providing that experience meets certain criteria. This provision allows new employees to earn annual leave at a higher rate than would otherwise be allowed. (5 Code of Federal Regulations, 630). For information, visit: Creditable Service for Annual Leave

The Recent Graduates Program is a dynamic, one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Individuals must apply within two years of receiving a qualifying degree or certificate, with the exception of veterans, who have up to six years to apply to the Recent Graduates Program due to military service obligations. Participants in the Program receive training and professional development, complete an individual development plan (IDP), and are assigned a mentor. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in the civil service.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Category rating and selection procedures will be used to evaluate applications from this announcement. If an applicant meets the basic qualification requirements, their on-line responses to the vacancy assessment questionnaire will be used to determine the quality and extent of his/her experience, education, training, etc., for placement in one of the following categories: 1) Best Qualified, 2) Qualified. Qualified candidates will be assigned a numerical score on a scale of 70-100. The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher). The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide to the application questionnaire, and the result of the additional assessments required for this position.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires successful completion of additional assessment(s), including a resume review. These assessments measure the critical competencies listed above that are required to successfully perform the job.

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/11268263

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), the you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.

For evaluating the quality of candidates for referral to the selecting official, a three-phased process will be used.

Phase 1: Resumes will be reviewed by HR to ensure they meet basic qualification requirements (see definition of specialized experience). Best qualified applicants on the initial phase will continue on to the second phase and will be given an interim score based on the applicant assessment questionnaire, which will take the applicant approximately 30 minutes to complete when initially applying. With information received from the applicant assessment questionnaire in the first phase, applicant's will be evaluated on the following Competencies: Civil Engineering, Project Management, and Technical Competence

Phase 2: Best qualified candidates who pass the first phase will have their resumes reviewed by a panel of Subject Matter Expert(s). Resumes will be scored based on the following competencies: Civil Engineering, Project Management, and Technical Competence

Phase 3: Best qualified applicants from phase two will be referred to the selecting official for consideration.

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