Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from currently Architect of the Capitol employees (AOC) only.

This role is responsible for assisting with developing, planning, coordinating and evaluating the emergency preparedness procedures, guidelines and drills for the various Jurisdictions and components of the Architect of the Capitol. These responsibilities are performed to ensure safety and consistency in responding to a variety of all hazards and threats across campus, during or immediately following an incident to the United States Capitol Complex and other properties under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol.

Emergency Management Coordination

• Serves as an Emergency Management Specialist for the assigned jurisdiction organizing all emergency preparedness and response planning for the AOC.
• At times, function as the primary AOC contact with counterparts in the various federal, state, local and voluntary agencies and organizations participating in the operation to coordinate the overall response.
• Examines and assesses Federal agency responses to declared disasters and the impact of the Architect of the Capitol policies and procedures on State and community institutions. Reviews, assesses and records the effectiveness of disaster relief and recovery operations; recognizes duplication of effort, deficiencies and inconsistencies.
• Following a disaster declaration, ensures there are adequate operational facilities, staff and communication for effective program support. 

Emergency Management Program Design/Review

• Assesses and evaluates planning programs for effectiveness and integration with federal plans for a significant organizational segment of the Capitol Hill complex. Develops guidance to be used for implementing criteria and evaluating preparedness based on exercises, plans and training, as they relate to the Integrated Emergency Management System process. 
• Evaluates progress of state and local capabilities, authorities, plans, procedures, training and exercises. Plans and recommends strategies to strengthen AOC capacities based on state and local governments’ individual capacities for dealing with emergencies.
• Provides analysis and advice on complex program issues based on operations and changing program requirements and identifies relevant issues. 
• Conducts in-depth research and analysis of guidance and policies to assist AOC management in planning and preparing for terrorism and other catastrophic events and participates in studies to help identify deficiencies in emergency preparedness response.
• Develop emergency preparedness plans and procedures for AOC Jurisdictions under the Architect of the Capitol and other agencies of government as necessary.

Emergency Management Program Compliance

• Administers national compliance/eligibility programs. Ensures effective methods for obtaining ongoing status of compliance requirements. Overseas Jurisdictional offices compliance activities. 
• Monitors and evaluates compliance with contractual agreements, Acts or other laws that apply to assigned programs.
• Serves as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) to ensure accurate and adequate oversight of contractor performance according to contract requirements, if necessary. Performs timely inspections to ensure compliance with job specifications, quality, timeliness and budget authorizations. 

Performs Liaison Activities

• Maintains relationships while representing the AOC with Congressional, state and local partners to communicate and disseminate information on the AOC's emergency preparedness strategy, mission, vision and implementation activities. 
• Assists in developing and maintaining on-going liaison with other Congressional, Federal, state and local emergency response organizations. Evaluates and adjusts acquisitions and maintenance of appropriate emergency planning and preparedness resources based on other responding organizations. 
• Participates in special studies in the District of Columbia metropolitan area to research issues identified as deficiencies in emergency preparedness plans and activities and coordinates solutions to deficiencies with AOC management to achieve readiness across the Agency.
• Oversee the development, scheduling and evaluation of emergency drills, tabletop, functional and full-scale exercises in achieving and maintaining emergency preparedness readiness.

Performs other related duties as required.

Conditions of employment

• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.

“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 http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.

Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, an applicant's one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance.

To qualify at the GS-12 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-11 level in the federal service. Examples of qualifying experience include the following types of tasks performed on a regular and recurring basis:

• Assisting with the development and implementation of policies & procedures related to an emergency preparedness for large scale organizations or government agencies;
• Evaluating and analyzing program procedures for effectiveness and recommending improvements;
• Collaborating, coordinating and communicating with external organizations and government agencies in support of emergency management efforts;
• Coordinating training exercises for large scale organizations or agencies to ensure compliance. 

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 the concepts, precedents, principles, and practices constituting a wide range of emergency management programs.
• Knowledge in exercise planning and evaluation techniques.
• Knowledge of procedures, techniques and requirements necessary to plan for and conduct large-scale multi-agency exercises.
• Skill in oral and written communications to facilitate discussions during planning meetings, negotiate and resolve planning issues, and prepare related correspondence.

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).