Architect

Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Summary

The Facilities Branch of the Finance and Facilities Division provides a range of facilities management and real estate support, logistic services, engineering and design, construction planning and management across multiple sections. These sections include the National Capital Region and Field Operations Support Sections in the Washington, DC area; Real Property Management Section, in Quantico, VA (FBI Academy); and Redstone Facilities Services Section in Huntsville, AL (FBI Redstone campus).

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens.

Duties

GS-13

Responsible for designing, planning, evaluating, and coordinating the construction and alteration of FBI facilities.
Provides architectural expertise relative to the planning and budgeting of FBI office space, maintenance facilities, and the like, and provides advice and assistance to officials, managers and other specialists in the accomplishment of assigned projects.
Serves as liaison architect between the FBI, other government stakeholders, and contract architectural-engineering (A/E) firms. Coordinates the review of plans and specifications developed by A/E firms.
Sets architectural standards for FBI facilities including those related to space planning. Serves as professional advisor to senior FBI management and to various FBI entities on all architectural issues pertaining to structural and life-safety requirements.
For projects designed in-house, manages the preparation of working drawings, specifications, and construction details, as required. Reviews cost estimates submitted by contractors to assure accuracy and fairness of price.
Travels to project sites and conducts on-site reviews of existing facilities and possible future sites. Collects data for updates that need to be made to bring facilities up to code and ensure safety of occupants. Meets with local FBI representatives, officials of other Federal, state and local agencies and departments and coordinates development of plans for new construction and renovations.

GS-14 (in addition to above):

Serves as senior technical authority on architectural matters and is responsible for architectural aspects of planning, design, construction and alteration of all FBI facilities throughout the United States and its territories.
Provides guidance, direction, training, and oversight to lower-level architects within the unit in processing of their individual architectural projects and assignments. Provides written or oral input concerning their performance on specific projects to unit management personnel.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance.
Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid Driver License.
Some travel may be required.

ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Qualifications

GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

Ability to prepare, read, interpret scaled design contract drawings and floor plans, blueprints, and shop drawings, as well as ability to think and reason in abstract terms as a means of assessing space requirements.
Working knowledge of related engineering fields such as structural, mechanical and electrical to incorporate such areas into overall design considerations.
Knowledge of International Building Code, NFPA Life Safety Code, and other Federal, state, and local building codes and regulations.

GS-14: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of SE equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. SE (in addition to the above) is defined as follows:

Mastery of advanced concepts, principles and practices of architecture acquired through a bachelor's degree in architecture and through extensive experience in the work. Such knowledge enables incumbent to serve effectively as an expert in the full range of architectural systems, processes and components inherent in the design and construction of FBI facilities.
Knowledge of and skill in contract administration and project management necessary to plan, design, evaluate, coordinate, advise on, administer or oversee the creation, construction, alteration or restoration of buildings or facilities to ensure implementation of these projects on a scheduled basis and in a cost-effective manner.

Education

Positive Education Requirement
This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Basic 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 one 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.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

Additional information

The FBI is in the Executive Branch of the federal government. It is one of the components of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI is the principle investigative arm of the DOJ. All FBI positions are in the excepted service.

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.

Review our benefits

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated using the FBI's Candidate Rating Procedures. Your resume and supporting documents will be reviewed to verify that you meet the job qualifications listed in this announcement. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

If you are found minimally qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

The competencies will be used in a Structured Resume Review to objectively evaluate applicant resumes. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the competencies identified below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess the following competencies.

Competencies

Communication
Design
Project Management
Flexibility/Adaptability
Problem Solving/Judgment

Required Documents

Utilizing the Resume Builder, outline your relevant work experience and associated start and end dates. Uploaded resumes will not be reviewed or used for qualification purposes.
Other supporting documents (if applicable):
- College transcripts, if qualifying based on education or if there is a positive education requirement
- Former civilian Federal employees must submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. This is a requirement to verify your Time in Grade (TIG). Actions such as promotion, within grade increase, or reassignment actions must be submitted as your most recent SF 50.
- Most recent Performance Appraisal; not applicable to current FBI employees
  Veterans: DD 214; Disabled Veterans: DD 214, SF-15, and VA letter dated 1991 or later
- Memorandum for Record (MFR): Work performed outside assigned duties (that would not normally be documented on an SF-50, i. e., back-up duties), has to be documented in detail by an immediate supervisor in order to receive full credit for amount of time worked in that position. If no documentation is furnished no credit will be given for time worked in that position. The following notations must be specified in the documentation:
  - Percent of time worked in the particular position (cannot conflict with main duties.
  - The month/year work began
    Frequency worked (i.e., daily, monthly, etc.)
  - Specific duties performed

How to Apply

To apply for the Architect position, please click here.

Agency contact information

Mary Arbelo

Email: marbelo@fbi.gov

Address: Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20535
US

Next steps

Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The Most Competitive candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. You will be notified of your status throughout the process.

Architect Job