Duties
As a Community Planner GS-0020-9, your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:
1. Assisting in preparing plans and supporting the review of projects in accordance with Commission policies.
2. Preparing summaries, narrative statements, and analysis of components of technical planning reports, physical plans, and recommendations on plans and project proposals related to planning topics, such as urban design, land use, zoning, transportation, security, commemoration, historic preservation, and development.
3. Conducting site visits and consultation meetings with federal, regional, and local partners to consult on plans and projects.
4. Conducting planning research and analysis and preparing reports in support of Commission activities, using technical planning and design tools.
5. Maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate and consult on the research, planning, and design of projects in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Résumé and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
- Subject to a drug testing prior to appointment.
Qualifications
THIS POSITION HAS A BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THIS REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED.
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
1. Degree: community planning; or related field such as urban affairs, architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, sociology, geography, economics, political science, or public administration that included at least 12 semester hours in the planning process, socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, urban and regional economic analysis, and development finance.
Note: Applicants with degrees in related fields, such as those listed above, who do not have the 12 semester hours of specified course work must have had at least 1 year of work experience in community planning acquired under the supervision and guidance of a community planner.
OR
2. Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the above disciplines of which at least 12 semester hours were in the planning process, and socioeconomic and physical elements of planning, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENT, APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:
At the GS-09 level- Applicants must have at least 52 weeks of experience, equivalent to at least the next lower grade level of GS-07, conducting planning research and analysis and preparing reports using technical planning and design tools.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
To qualify for this position solely on education, the following education may be used to substitute for specialized experience:
GS-09: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in a related field.
ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
Additional information
This position will be filled at the GS-09 grade level. Full performance is GS-13. Note that promotion to the next grade level is not implied, it is pendent upon meeting time-in-grade requires and demonstrated ability to perform the next higher/targe grade level.
If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. For more information on veterans' preference visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx).
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 85 or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: Career Transition.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): If you have never worked for the Federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To receive selection priority, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority, applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and have a rating of 85 or above.
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.
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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Once your complete application is received, it will be evaluated to determine qualifications for the position. If you meet the qualification requirement, your application will be placed in one of three categories using category rating: Highly Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified based on your score. Within these categories, qualified applicants eligible for veteran's preference will receive selection priority over non-preference eligibles. Veterans' preference points do not apply in category rating. The amount of experience or training will not itself be accepted as proof of qualification for any grade. Your application will be assessed based on demonstrated experience in the competencies/ knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) identified below. Your relevant personal, educational, and work experiences will be evaluated on the following fundamental competencies:
1. Public Planning - Knowledge of established urban design andplanning principles, methodologies, analysis techniques, and related policies and the ability to devise innovative resolutions to complex planning issues.
2. Oral and Written Communication - Ability tocommunicate effectively in verbal, written, and graphic form.
3. Research - Skills in performing comprehensive researchand analysis on various urban planning areas such as land use, zoning, population densities, transportation, environmental conditions, historic preservation, and physical design considerations such as development pattern, use, function, and spatial relationships among building and open spaces.
4. Partnering - Experience with partnering and developing strategic relationships to further planning goals.
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three" but protects the rights of Veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Veterans' preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent will be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the GS-09 level or higher).
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your résumé showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed.
2. Other supporting documents:
- Cover Letter, optional
- College Transcript(s)
- Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable (e.g., DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service, SF-15 Form and related documentation, VA letter, etc.)
- Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.)
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.