Summary
Located in the Office of Cost Management, Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO/PDCS/COST). Serves as a Architect/Cost Manager that provides expert professional advice, analyses, and guidance on construction costs for world-wide DOS renovations and new construction projects.
Duties
- Prepares estimates for construction projects; provides a complete range of cost analysis and cost management services.
- Conducts or reviews construction market surveys including gathering in-country construction cost data evaluating the impacts of laws, taxes, and all other conditions pertaining to construction cost estimates.
- Provide professional advice, analyses, and guidance on construction costs for world-wide DOS renovations and new construction projects.
- Conducts or facilitates the preparation of risk analyses for OBO construction cost estimates, including the development of project risk registers, identification of risk mitigation strategies, and calculation of appropriate contingency estimates.
- Serves as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and provides technical direction to architectural/engineering (A/E) contract cost engineers.
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Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- U.S. Citizenship is required.
- Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
- Statement of Employment & Financial Interest required prior to appointment.
- Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/
Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. You must meet both the Basic Requirement and the Specialized Experience to qualify for this series as described below.
BASIC REQUIREMENT
General Engineer - Applicants must show that they possess a professional knowledge of general engineering as evidenced by one of the following Basic Requirements:
- Successful completion of a professional engineering degree at an accredited university or college -OR-
- Have a combination of college level education or training AND technical experience that has furnished you with (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
- Professional registration as an engineer.
- Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training written test.
- Successful documented completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences as described by OPM.
- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field and at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.
Architect - Applicants must show that they possess a professional knowledge of architecture as evidenced by one of the following:
Basic Requirements: A. 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 B. 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:
- 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 covers 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.
- 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.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
IN ADDITION to the Basic Requirements listed above, you MUST also have 1 year of specialized experience that is related to the work of the position, is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service, and demonstrates the following:
- Experience preparing budget cost estimates for new construction and renovation/improvement projects utilizing industry standard techniques, such as parametric cost modeling.
- Experience identifying and resolving engineering issues related to construction methods, materials and technologies, contracting techniques, resources, scheduling and/or other technical aspects of the construction industry.
- Experience preparing cost or technical reports and briefings to facilitate management personnel in decision making process.
All applicants MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.
Additional information
- For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov.
- If eligible, telework and/or remote work agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Please note that any approved remote work arrangement is subject to the locality pay area of the alternative telework worksite.
- Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume will be conducted and compared against your responses to the assessment questions to determine if you are qualified for this job. Note: Responses to questions that are not fully supported by the information in your resume may result in adjustments to your rating.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements, as described in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement, will be assigned to one of three quality categories:
- Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate a basic level of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
- Well Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in some but not all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities) for the position.
- Highly Qualified - In addition to meeting minimum qualifications, applicants must fully demonstrate proficiency in all of the required competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities) for the position.
- Knowledge of construction management principles and practices as it relates to development of cost estimates.
- Skill in preparing and/or justifying the budget for new construction or renovation projects.
- Skill in using sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives in order to make recommendations as it relates to life cycle cost estimating.
- Skill in applying various types of contracts, techniques for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration relating to Contracting Officer Representative duties.
- Ability to assure that effective construction project controls are developed and maintained.
- Skill in preparation of detailed construction cost estimates.
Agency and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never been a Federal employee, you are not CTAP or ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category for this position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority.
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