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Interdisciplinary Architect/Engineer

General Services Administration
Public Buildings Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Are you a graduating student or a recent grad? Join our Pathways Recent Graduate Program! This one-year program offers professional and technical training, mentoring and developmental opportunities.

Location of position: Public Buildings ServiceDesign & Construction Division

We are currently filling TWO vacancies: ONE vacancy in Syracuse, NY and ONE vacancy any of the following locations: New York, NY; Kings County, NY; or Newark, NJ.

Additional vacancies may be filled as needed.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
07/18/2023 to 08/14/2023
Salary
$46,696 to - $86,780 per year

Salary is dependent upon the duty station and occupational series for which a candidate is selected for. 

Pay scale & grade
GS 07 - 09
Locations
FEW vacancies in the following locations:
Newark, NJ
FEW vacancies
Kings County, NY
FEW vacancies
New York, NY
FEW vacancies
Syracuse, NY
FEW vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional travel will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Recent graduates - The initial length of the job is one year that may become permanent.
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
12 - If you are converted to a permanent position, the full performance level of this position is GS-12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
23PBSB932AWOTR
Control number
737755500

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Recent Graduates: If you completed a qualifying degree within the previous two years, you may apply. If you are a veteran who was prevented from applying during the 2-year period due to your military service, you may apply if your degree was completed within the last 6 years. Enrolled students: If you will complete your degree requirements within 30 days of the closing date, you may apply.

Duties

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This position is being announced under the Pathways Recent Graduates Program.  This 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.  Successful applicants are placed in a dynamic, developmental program with the potential to lead to a civil service career in the Federal Government. Information about the Recent Graduates Program can be found at http://www.opm.gov/HiringReform/Pathways/program/graduates/

As an architect or engineer, you will be responsible for assisting in the overall architectural/engineering (A/E) project management of various leasing, design and construction projects assigned, including, but not limited to, planning, acquisition, design, and construction of new buildings and complexes, as well as the renovation of existing ones. Examples of duties include:

  • Assisting with analyzing the A/E issues in project assignment(s), selecting and applying accepted project management techniques and organizational practices.
  • Determining the most effective methodology needed to meet project goals and milestones concerned with planning, organizing, controlling, coordinating, reviewing, and recommending or approving design, construction, and related work.
  • Assisting with basic qualitative and quantitative A/E analytical techniques to research and gather narrative and/or statistical information, applicable work methods, and procedures to meet deadlines.  Carrying out the successive steps in fact finding and analysis of issues necessary to complete each phase of the project.
  • Applying basic project managerial and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature.
  • Identifying and developing data required for use by higher level personnel in the management and direction of projects.
  • Assisting higher level personnel in preparing briefings to management and/or senior staff employee(s)d on project status and recommendations.
  • Under close supervision, serving as a point of contact for the customer and has responsibility for providing customer service.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • 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

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 trial period, if required.
  • Undergo and pass a background investigation (Tier 2 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 condition of continued employment.
  • Signed participant agreement is required for employment under this Program.

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.  

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-07 salary range starts at $46,696 per year and the GS-09 salary range starts at $57,118 per year. Pay will be determined upon selection. Salary is set based on the duty station and occupational series for which a candidate is selected. 

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.

This position is interdisciplinary, which means the duties and responsibilities closely relate to more than one professional occupation.  This position may be filled in one of the following occupations: Architect, GS-0808; Civil Engineer, GS-0810; Mechanical Engineer GS-0830; Electrical Engineer, GS-0850; General Engineer, GS-0801; Fire Protection, GS-0804. 

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.  

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.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ARCHITECTS: A Degree in architecture or related field; OR a combination of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience. For specifics on qualifying
education, training, and/or experience - use the following link: Basic Requirements for Architect Positions.

To qualify for the GS-07 level: In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you may qualify for the GS-07 level based on one of the following: 

Registered to practice architecture by one of the State registration boards, using standards in compliance with the basic minimum provisions recommended by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards; OR

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is applying professional architecture or engineering principles, concepts, and practices to perform routine assignments; the ability to determine the technical ramifications resulting from changes in such things as item design or customer requirements; and familiarity with related architectural and engineering disciplines.; OR

One full year of graduate level education (18 semester hours or the equivalent) that is directly related to the position; OR

Completed all the requirements for a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, plus I have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded in the official transcript or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum (grade point averages are rounded to one decimal place) OR

Completed all the requirements for a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, plus I have a (GPA) of 3.5 based on the average of he required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the  curriculum (grade point averages are rounded to one decimal place) OR

Completed all the requirements for a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, plus election to membership in a national scholastic honor society (listed in the Association of College Honor Societies: Booklet of Information and/or Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities); OR

Combination of graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position.

To qualify for the GS-09 level: In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you may qualify for the GS-09 level based on one of the following:

Registered to practice architecture by one of the State registration boards, using standards in compliance with the basic minimum provisions recommended by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards; OR

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is progressively responsible experience in the design of construction or alteration projects involving buildings or major building systems of moderate complexity; or assisting in the coordination of the activities of architects, engineers, tenants and construction contractors on such projects. Such experience must also include having assisted in managing projects and/or portions of projects (balance scope/quality, schedule and budget) requiring the services of multiple disciplines from project initiation phase through project closeout; OR

Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree that is directly related to the position; OR

Combination of graduate level education and appropriate specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements of this position.

Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) at the baccalaureate level is fully qualifying at the GS-7 level.  To claim SAA, submit documentation of one of the following:

1.      Class standing -- You must be in the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

2.      Grade-point average (rounded to one decimal point) of:

    1. 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on your official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of your curriculum; or
    2. 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in your major field completed during your final 2 years of the curriculum.

3.      Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies.

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

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment

Additional information

Bargaining Unit Status: This position is eligible for the bargaining unit

If you are selected at a grade lower than the full performance level, you may be promoted up to that grade level without having to re-apply or compete against other applicants.

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

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

GSA is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility that goes beyond our compliance with EEO regulations including:

  • Valuing and embracing diversity, promoting equity, inclusion and accessibility, and expecting cultural competence; and
  • Fostering a work environment where all employees, customers and stakeholders feel respected and valued.

Our commitment is:

  • Reflected in our policies, procedures and work environment;
  • Recognized by our employees, customers and stakeholders; and

Drives our efforts to recruit, attract, retain and engage the diverse workforce needed to achieve our mission.

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. Knowledge of basic Architecture or Engineering principles, concepts, and methodology; and skill in applying this knowledge in carrying out elementary assignments, operations, or procedures.
  2. Knowledge of commonly used project management practices and procedures that specifically pertain to A/E work.
  3. Ability to obtain, compile, analyze and summarize information and quantitative data.
  4. Knowledge of state of the art A/E related software/computer systems.
  5. Ability to manage projects, priorities and requirements.
  6. Knowledge of procurement principles and procedures and of different types of contracts.
  7. Knowledge of established assessment and evaluative techniques and methodologies including cost/benefit analysis, acquisition planning, risk management, knowledge management, and forecasting.
  8. Knowledge and understanding of the Federal funding process and budget process.
  9. Knowledge of professional A/E principles, concepts and practices applicable to the design, layout, construction, repair and/or alterations to a variety of conventional structures.
  10. Knowledge and skill to adapt standard design and construction practices and techniques to establish design parameters; and prepare project justifications and specifications for plans and designs for new construction and renovation projects.
  11. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

Your answers to the questions will be used to place you in one of the following categories and standard score ranges: 

  • Best Qualified = Candidates scoring between 95 - 100
  • Well Qualified = Candidates scoring between 85 - 94 (Well Qualified for CTAP/ICTAP)
  • Qualified = Candidates scoring between 70 - 84

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 hurdle assessments, such as narrative responses or other assessments, may be administered to applicants who meet the requirements of the first hurdle, e.g., the minimum qualification requirements. If additional assessments are used, 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.

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcript(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcements to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment.  


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