Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

Summary

The position is located in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief of Operations, Superintendent, House Office Buildings, Assistant Superintendent, Tenant Services Division, Tenant Projects Branch. 

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/09/2025 to 12/30/2025
Salary
$84,601 to - $109,975 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Architect of the Capitol
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
HOB-2026-031
Control number
852357400

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

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.

Duties

Help

The tour of duty for this position is Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

*** Please Note: This position is a temporary appointment in nature and is not to exceed 13 months. This is strictly a temporary appointment where there is no permanent need or permanent funding available for the work involved. It is a position that is subject to the project needs of the agency, therefore, the appointment could be terminated at any time due to shortage of work or shortage of funds without any advance notice. If project work continues, it could be extended beyond the 13-month time frame at the sole discretion of the agency. As a non-permanent employee, you may also be separated for failure to meet management’s expectations, with no advance notice. ***

The incumbent also performs duties involving interior environmental design.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Architectural Advice and Guidance

  • Determine, explain, and recommend alternative solutions in response to client requirements.
  • Evaluate facility or structure in relation to design objectives.

Architectural Requirements

  • Prepare requirements and criteria for mid-value projects for the construction or modification of facilities.
  • Resolve technical difficulties as well as issues involving historic preservation that changes in approach, criteria, or requirements can overcome.
  • Prepare designs and develop architectural plans and specifications, including floor plans, evaluations, sections, and scale details.
  • Review functional, physical, aesthetic, and economic factors, and make recommendations regarding the type, color, characteristics, and availability of materials and furnishings.
  • Prepare architectural sketches and drawings.

Architectural Facility Design Work

  • Prepare in-house designs in coordination with other architects, engineers, and technicians within the division to ensure that all technical areas are fully considered, and design objectives are met, resulting in the most efficient and economical design.
  • Prepare necessary technical drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and procurement documents for project administration.
  • Evaluate design objectives and employ innovative approaches to meet project needs and requirements.

Architectural Projects

  • Serve as Design Manager/Architect, directing interdisciplinary engineering specialist design teams to plan and manage the advanced architectural aspects involved in designing and constructing extensive projects of an unusual and/or unique nature.
  • Serve as a technical specialist and a key source of information on architectural matters.
  • Conduct independent studies and assessments to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of form and function and recommend improvements to management.
  • Administer multiple assigned projects some of significant size, scope and complexity in accordance with Architect of the Capitol best practices, which may include: meeting with staff to define project scope and requirements, preparation of scope and statement of work, conceptual drawings, rough order of magnitude (ROM) and estimated project duration, preparing an integrated construction package with multi-discipline drawings, review of final cost estimates, selecting material and equipment, preparing purchase requisitions, and act as the technical expertise for Requests For Information (RFIs) in coordination with the Project Manager (PM) Contract Officer Representative (COR) during construction, preparing as-built drawings and closeout documents and ensures maintenance staff is trained.
  • Conduct ongoing audits of procedures, field operations, verification tests, and site activities to ensure that requirements are met.
  • Review plans, specifications, and cost estimates for technical adequacy.
  • Review and evaluate shop drawings to ensure conformance to technical documents throughout the construction process.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
  • You must meet the educational requirements for Architect.

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 General Schedule Qualification Standards.
 
You must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the job announcement.
 
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.

GS-11:

Candidates for the GS-11 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09) level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate allof the following:

  • Developing architectural designs and/or writing detailed specifications for new construction, interior and/or exterior alterations, restorations, additions, and/or repairs to existing buildings
    and structures; 
  • Performing interior environmental design; and 
  • Providing advice and/or guidance concerning projects with a range of construction costs, mid-size and/or standardized architectural elements.

Education

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

Basic Requirements:

  1. Degree: 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

  1. 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 as satisfying in full the basic requirements, provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in paragraph A. The curriculum for a degree in either architecture or architectural engineering cover's function, esthetics, site, structure, economics, mechanical-electrical, and other engineering problems related to the design and construction of buildings primarily (but not exclusively) intended to house human activities. The courses required for a degree in architecture generally place emphasis upon planning, esthetics, and materials and methods of construction, while the courses for an architectural engineering degree place equal or greater weight on the technical engineering aspects such as structural systems, mechanical systems, and the properties of materials. Because of this difference in emphasis, persons with degrees in architecture may have a preference for work assignments that offer greater opportunities for them to express their artistic and creative abilities. As a result, they may be more concerned with planning and design aspects of architecture, and persons with degrees in architectural engineering may be more engaged in aspects emphasizing technical engineering considerations.
    2. 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.

For a detailed explanation of the related curriculum or experience, please visit the following website at Architecture Series 0808.

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 Vet Guide for HR Professionals.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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:

  • Knowledge of Architectural Design and Specifications
  • Project Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Written Communication
  • Contract Administration

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).


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.