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Summary

The Commission reviews designs proposed for memorials, new or renovated government buildings, and privately owned properties in certain areas of Washington under the Shipstead-Luce and Old Georgetown Acts, as well as coins and medals. In addition, the Commission supports a variety of arts institutions in Washington, DC, through the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs (NCACA) program.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/09/2026 to 04/22/2026
This job will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year

First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level.

Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is suitable for telework and the employee may be allowed to telework situationally with supervisor approval.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel to conduct fieldwork to make inspections or survey buildings.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CFA-83000-26-CR-002(MP)
Control number
864451700

Duties

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This position is located within the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts located in Washington, DC.

At the full performance level of GS-13, the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

  1. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates incoming concept and permit submissions to the CFA pertaining to private construction, alteration, or demolition projects pursuant to the Old Georgetown Act.
  2. Reviews, analyzes, researches, and evaluates incoming concept and final submissions to CFA for Federal and District of Columbia government projects within the Old Georgetown Act area.
  3. Determines merits of proposals and adequacy of submission and presentation materials; researches property histories and precedents; coordinates with applicants and D.C. government agencies.
  4. Performs project reviews at a range of levels, from broad consideration of master plans, to initial concept level review of site designs, building massing, and exterior design and material character, to detailed reviews of construction drawings and other submitted materials, in order to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of design proposals for projects in the Old Georgetown Act area.
  5. Assists in the presentation of submissions to the Commission and Old Georgetown Board at scheduled public meetings; writes and edits correspondence related to project reviews; creates and maintains record files of submissions.
  6. Consults with prospective applicants in meetings and via phone and email; assists applicants in the interpretation of Commission and Old Georgetown Board actions and the development of alternative design solutions that arise as a result of the review process.
  7. Provides historic preservation expertise for the agency and shares knowledge of urban and landscape design and architecture.
  8. Coordinates with the D.C. government on issues of historic preservation review policies and procedures and participates as agency representative on regulatory historic preservation consultation matters.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and that the employee may be allowed to telework situationally with supervisor approval.

Salary Information:
GS-13:
$121,785 - $158,322 per annum
First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as CFA-83000-26-CR-001(DEU) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Competitive Examining procedures.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:
1) Applying a wide range of theories, principles, concepts, practices, and methodology of the art and science of historic preservation relevant to the design, alteration, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive use of existing historic and non-historic buildings in a historic district and to the design of new buildings in a historic district; AND
2) Analyzing and evaluating proposed architectural, landscape architecture, and urban designs for public and private building and landscape projects in a historic district and making recommendations, reports, and presentations on the findings, including in a permitting context; AND
3) Serving as a liaison with Federal and local government agencies to coordinate and facilitate projects reviews and their submissions; AND
4) Preparing for an organization's monthly meetings and developing and coordinating the meeting agenda and consent calendars.
Must meet all.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Please ensure that you include all information necessary to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements and OPM qualification standards for this position in these 2 pages.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview and to submit a writing sample.

If you are determined to be qualified based on your application materials, you may be invited to participate in a structured interview. This interview will be conducted by a panel of subject-matter experts and will assess your proficiency in the competencies listed in this job announcement. Participation in the structured interview is a critical part of the selection process. Falsifying your background, education, or experience may result in removal from further consideration.

A Structured Interview will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  • Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the appropriate tools to construct objects, structures, and buildings.
  • Architecture - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and practices used in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of buildings or other structures, taking into consideration aesthetic and functional concerns.
  • Critical Thinking - Assesses the authenticity, accuracy, and value of information. Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
Applicants selected for interviews may be asked to participate in a writing exercise or submit a writing sample as part of the interview process.

To preview the assessment questionnaire click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12930543

Commission of Fine Arts

Through its unique work as the only federal commission dedicated to design review and aesthetic excellence, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts serves the American people, international visitors, and those who live and work in the nation's capital, contributing to the beauty and dignity of this international symbol of American democracy.

Agency contact information

HR Assistant
Phone
703-787-1446
Email
human.resources5@bsee.gov
Address
US Commission of Fine Arts
401 F Street, NW
Suite 312
Washington, DC 20001-2728
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Commission of Fine Arts, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.cfa.gov/about-cfa

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