Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from All U.S. citizens. 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.

The incumbent serves as an Architect, performing a variety of duties that are broad in scope, with respect to the development of architectural designs and writing detailed specifications for new construction, interior and exterior alterations, restorations, additions, and repairs to existing buildings and structures coming under the jurisdiction of the House Office Buildings. The incumbent also performs duties involving interior environmental design.

The duties stated below are at the GS-13 level.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provide direction and guidance to ensure that jurisdiction work complies with the International Building Code (IBC), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Life Safety Code (NFPA 101).
• Serve as an expert design architect for facilities or structures that utilize new technology and are considered to advance the state-of-the-art in architectural design. Responsibility includes space and furniture layout, design and selection of furniture and furnishings, color coordination, lighting, and preparation of drawings and specifications. Independently prepares preliminary and final designs, construction drawings, and specifications.
• Lead field inspections and takes field dimensions and profiles of existing facilities as required to prepare preliminary and final drawings for alterations, restoration, addition, and repairs. Compute floor areas and summarize space availability and allocation.
• Verify design requirements with agency guidelines, not limited to, Architect of the Capitol preservation Policy and Standards, Architect of the Capitol Design Standards, other agency architects, and engineers responsible for related features, projects, or components of projects. Review architectural plans and specifications for adequacy and feasibility.
• Participate in the development of requirements with customers, analyze requirements and design criteria, develop cost estimates, assure validation of requirements, and evaluate schedules and the feasibility of project accomplishment.
• Develop or review specifications for the construction of various projects, including design-build efforts and design-bid-build projects.
• Develop and review project schedules to ensure reasonable and timely implementation of the design and construction of various projects, recognizing the critical nature of the projects. 
• Perform requirements analysis, develop and implement plans to ensure that project scope and requirements are defined and documented, projects are formally approved, and milestones and reviews are accomplished.
• Serve as project manager/architect in directing design teams of interdisciplinary engineering specialists to plan and control the advanced architectural aspects involved in the design and construction of extensive projects of an unusual and/or unique nature.
• Act as a Project Manager, Program Manager and Task Leader on assigned projects and is responsible for independently administering multiple complex projects some of major size, scope and complexity in accordance with Architect of the Capitol best practices, which may include: meeting with House-Staff to define project scope and requirements, preparation of scope and statement of work, conceptual drawings, initial cost estimates and estimated project duration, then preparing an integrated construction package with multi-discipline drawings, final cost estimates, selecting material and equipment and preparing purchase requisitions and finally overseeing construction, tracking and reporting construction status to upper management, tracking deliveries, coordinating work activities with the general site foreman, preparing as-built drawings and closeout documents and ensures maintenance staff is trained.
• Perform contract administration activities for significant, highly specialized procurements. 

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job competencies.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Must meet educational requirement for Architect.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.

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.

To qualify for a Architect, your resume and supporting documentation must support:

Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following 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-

2. 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 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.
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.

-AND-

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.

For the GS-11:

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

Specialized experience is defined as having experience: (1) Preparing requirements and criteria for mid-value projects for the construction or modification of facilities; (2) Coordinating with and advising staff members on interior design factors such as space planning, layout, and utilization of furnishings; and (3) Conducting client meetings and preparing design packages that include furniture and finish.

-OR-

Qualifying on Education for the GS-11:

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or
• 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or
• LL.M., [graduate education must be related to the duties of the position

For the GS-12:

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: (1) Preparing architectural requirements and criteria for medium-value projects for the construction and/or modification of facilities; (2) Preparing designs and developing architectural plans and specifications, including floor plans, evaluations, sections, and scale details; and (3) Performing requirements analysis, developing and implementing plans to ensure that the project scope is met and requirements are defined and documented, projects are formally approved, and milestones and reviews are accomplished.

For the GS-13:

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 is defined as having experience: (1) Designing large multi-purpose, multiple-phase facilities or structures design projects; (2) Conducting independent studies and/or assessments to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of form and function and recommending improvements to management; and (3) Reviewing and evaluating shop drawings, progress schedules, and inspecting conformance to technical documents during construction.

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 relate to the self-assessment questions in the job announcement. The self-assessment questions relate to the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies:   

• 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).

• Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.

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, 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.

Next steps