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Architect (Interior Design)

Legislative Branch
Architect of the Capitol
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief Engineer, Energy and Design Services Division, Architecture and Preservation Branch. The selectee performs architectural and interior design, technical analysis and project management on building projects from planning and programming through constructions.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
03/20/2023 to 04/05/2023
Salary
$112,015 to - $145,617 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
Architect of the Capitol
Washington DC, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Permanent, Full-time
Work schedule
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer Civil Service Competitive Status
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
13 - Full Performance Level is GS-13
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
OCE-2023-164
Control number
714076000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

Duties

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The selectee performs architectural and interior design review and coordination of projects prepared by consultants under AOC's Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) architecture and engineering (A/E) contract managed by the Agency's Project Management Division; Assignments include rehabilitation and/or restoration of existing historic monumental public buildings and new construction of public or support structures under the jurisdiction of the AOC.

The individual selected for this position will perform the following duties:

Architectural and Interior Design Requirements, Specifications and Facility Design Work

As project team leader, coordinates with other project team members, disciplines and program representatives to ensure programmatic requirements are met while integrating applicable building code, standards, guides and precedents; Coordinates with other project and program areas to integrate concurrent standards, guides and precedents.

Analyzes requirements and design criteria, develops cost estimates, assures validation of requirements and evaluates schedules and the feasibility of project accomplishment.

Conducts surveys of and prepares drawings of existing conditions in preparation for design, periodic inspections during construction and final inspections at the completion of work to ensure design compliance.

Performs all architectural and interior design documentation (drawings, specifications, schedules, renderings, meeting minutes, reports, etc.) in accordance with the AOC's Design Guide and computer aided design standards.

Prepares purchase specifications and justifications for interior design materials.

Prepares comprehensive interior design packages to accompany building design.

Project Management

Acts as a Project Manager and Architectural and Interior Design Task Leader on assigned in-house design projects.

Prepares scope and statement of work; coordinates and leads an integrated team of multiple engineering disciplines, building superintendent's representatives and the agency Historic Preservation Officer and curator; Manages the schedule, budget and quality of projects.

Serves as Contracting Officers Representative (COR); Performs contract administration activities for IDIQ A/E consulting services contracts and other specialized procurements; Prepares scopes of work, fee estimates, schedules and contract solicitation documents prior to award.

During the period of contract performance, holds project meetings, maintains contract files, monitors work progress, ensures compliance with contract requirements, incorporates change orders, recommends approval of progress payments and final payment to the contractor and completes contract closeout process in compliance with AOC requirements.

Prepares, revises and maintains project papers and electronic files for agency archives.

Technical Architectural and Interior Design Advice and Guidance

Consults with management and planning personnel to prepare requirements and criteria for complex or high value projects for construction or modification to facilities; Analyzes and defines requirements of multi-phase projects.

Conducts reviews of contractor or consultant submissions that resolve highly complex technical difficulties and assist with issues involving historic preservation.

Provides expert advice to clients on the selection and design of essential items of equipment and furnishings to ensure maximum durability for longevity, aesthetic value, life expectancy, functional space arrangements, flow planning, etc.; Specifically selects appropriate textures/fabrics, floor coverings, furnishing materials, signage/graphics and furniture materials/systems to create optimum interior spaces to meet congressional and AOC needs.

Plans, designs and reviews new and/or extension, conversion or modernization of existing interiors of buildings or facilities.

Ensures that the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision and values are integrated into the strategies, goals, objectives, work plans and work products and services.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • 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 education requirements for Architects.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

  • A citizen of the United States;
  • A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
  • A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
  • A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
  • A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

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

For Architects:

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/architecture-series-0808/

--AND--

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 includes the following:

  • Comprehensive knowledge of and experience with professional architectural and interior design concepts, principles, and practices to accomplish the full range of duties concerned with planning, design, renovation and construction of building interiors;
  • Developing complete design plans, drawings, and specifications for new and/or existing architecture and interior design projects;
  • Coordinating and integrating the interiors, architecture, electrical, mechanical, civil, landscape architecture, environmental and structural engineering disciplines to ensure proper design consideration; and
  • Applying technical knowledge and expertise of Computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software to create and develop complete interior designs.

Education

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must possess the following:

Education Required For Architects:

Bachelor’s Degree in 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) 6 semester hours were in each of the following: structural technology, properties of materials and methods of construction, and environmental control systems

--OR--

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished: (1) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and (2) 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 at least one of the following:

  1. Related Curriculum: Degree in architectural engineering may be accepted.
  1. Experience: An applicant lacking a degree in architecture must have had l year of experience in an architect's office or in architectural work for each year short of graduation from a program of study in architecture. In the absence of college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that the applicant has acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture.

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 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, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information 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 made on a case-by-case basis.
 
Moving expenses are not authorized.
 
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
 
Probationary Period A newly appointed selectee 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.

Note:  Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

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:

  • Broad knowledge of architectural, interior design concepts, principles, and practices
  • Project Management
  • 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 non-selection or disqualification from 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).


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