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This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Senate Office Buildings, Facilities Support Division. The selectee serves as engineering consultant and advisor and provides professional guidance on moderately difficult fire prevention operations, practices, techniques, procedures, national codes, etc., in support of the planning, engineering design, and construction oversight for the repair and improvement of existing facilities.
02/28/2025 to 06/30/2025
$101,401 - $156,755 per year
GS 12 - 13
No
Yes—Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Not required
No
Permanent - Permanent, Full Time
Full-time - This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status
Excepted
13
No
Yes
SOB-2025-171
832869400
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.
This position is emergency essential. Depending on the type of emergency the employee may be required to report to work during emergency situations.
Fire Protection Engineering:
Serves as an expert fire protection engineer with responsibility for developing procedures, methods, designs, plans, and specifications for fire prevention, fire protection, and fire detection in historical buildings of major size and complexity. Interprets Life Safety Code requirements for application and relevance and writes technical and administrative policies
Analyzes and compiles data from property loss and damage by fire in order to determine causes of fire. Evaluates effectiveness of prevention and protection measures for facilities.
Interprets Life Safety Code requirements for application and relevance and writes technical and administrative policies
Fire Protection Program Management:
Serves as professional authority for plans and specifications of new construction; modification, alteration, or additions to buildings, structures, and utilities; for technical sufficiency of incorporated fire prevention and protection facilities.
Recommends approval of specifications and drawings, samples, and material certifications submitted by contractors for contract and performance requirements.
Prepares correspondence, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, status reports, and schedules as required to complete project assignment.
As COTR, prepares scopes of work, independent government estimates (IGEs), and actively manages maintenance and preventative maintenance contracts related to life safety, fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, etc.
Coordinates with other engineers and architects in design development to ensure that all technical areas are covered, areas of overlapping responsibilities between technical disciplines receive proper design consideration, and that the total project objectives and schedules are met.
Consults with construction contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems and latent conditions developing during construction and, based on the condition, prepares sketches or change drawings and specifications solving the problem and incorporates these change documents into the contract performance documents.
Develops the designs, plans, and specifications for fire protection and fire detection systems of major size and complexity for use in structures, buildings, and facilities including various types of industrial shops and multi-story administrative support buildings.
Serves as Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) on assigned projects.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:
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 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.
Candidates for the GS-12 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-11 grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as having experience in 4 the following 5:
1) Oversees and evaluating complex fire protection delivery systems.
2) Conducts fire safety surveys of government buildings.
3) Consults with construction contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems
4) Participates in design and design reviews for fire protection engineering aspects of facilities and construction projects.
5.) Inspects facilities to assess compliance with OSHA policies and/or NFPA standards
Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes:
Specialized experience is defined as having experience in all of the following:
1) Oversees and evaluating complex fire protection delivery systems.
2) Conducts fire safety surveys of government buildings.
3) Consults with construction contractor personnel to resolve difficult and complex unforeseen problems
4) Participates in design and design reviews for fire protection engineering aspects of facilities and construction projects.
5) Inspects facilities to assess compliance with OSHA policies and/or NFPA standards
In addition to the required specialized experience, you must meet the following:
The Ideal candidate has a Fire Protection Engineering degree.
Requirements for Engineers:
A. Degree: professional engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished
(1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying 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:
For additional information on General Schedule Qualifications Standards for professional engineering positions, please visit:
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.
***A copy of your transcript(s) will be required upon selection***
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 http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.
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, genetic information, sexual orientation 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 on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Probationary Period- A newly appointed selectee(s) 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.
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:
Design: Knowledge in designing, customizing, overseeing and evaluating complex fire protection delivery systems.
Fire Management: knowledge of and understanding fire protection engineering concepts, principles, and practices.
Project Management: Knowledge in applying professional interpretations, policies, principles, new methods and techniques and novel applications to a variety of life safety and fire issues to meet statutory and regulatory laws.
Communication: Knowledge in developing and applying procedures, methods, designs, plans, and specifications for fire prevention and fire protection.
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 not hiring you or disqualification for 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).
The Architect of the Capitol's (AOC) job application process is designed to ensure you only provide information necessary to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility for the position vacancy.
To apply for this position, you only need to submit: a) your resume and b) answers to the online vacancy assessment questionnaire. The online questionnaire contains eligibility and screening questions and other relevant information. No additional documentation or attachments are required at the time of application.
Your resume should list your education, training and work experience including job titles, employment dates (MM/DD/YR), duties and accomplishments.
Nothing further is required until it is requested by AOC’s Human Capital Management Division. If additional documentation is required for the position, you will be asked to provide it during the interview or selection process. At that time, you may be asked to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume.
For example, you may be asked to provide a copy of your diploma, college transcripts, or proof of Federal employment status. If the position requires licensure or certification, you will be asked to provide proof at the time of selection.
If Veterans’ preference is claimed, you will be asked to submit proof (DD-214, and, if claiming a 10-point preference, a SF-15 and the proof required by that form).
Failure to provide the required documents will end further consideration and/or result in the withdrawal of any tentative job offers.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
You MUST apply online. FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
If you are a new user to the USAJobs Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page.
NEED HELP?
If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.
All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs “Saved Documents” feature.
If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.
You will receive a notice generated by the USAJobs System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.
You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJobs Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within 2 weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/832869400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.