Construction Control Representative (Pathways Recent Graduates) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. 25R-SC-312424-PATH-OPDC Department Smithsonian Institution
Salary $63,307.00 to $82,305.00 Grade 08 to 08
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/11/2025 Close Date 7/28/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Washington, DC


Summary

The Smithsonian Institution (SI) is a diverse museum and research complex dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. This position is located in Construction Management (CMD), which is a division within the Office Planning, Design, and Construction (OPDC).

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens/Nationals who have completed a degree or certificate from a qualifying education institution within the previous 2 years or are within 9 months of graduating. Veterans unable to apply within 2 years of receiving their degree, due to military service obligation, have a full 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. The eligibility period for veterans must be within 6 years of degree completion.

Duties

In this position you will receive on-the-job and formal training designed to increase your proficiency in preparation for the target position.

The following are the duties of this position at the full working level.

  • Performs routine assignments under close supervision such as inspecting materials to be used in construction, reviewing checklists for compliance, inspects construction and renovation projects and resolves discrepancies where possible

  • Under close supervision compares work in progress and reviews materials and equipment for adherence to specifications.

  • Provides information, compiles data and prepares reports and drafts correspondence.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
  • May need to complete a Probationary Period
  • Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
  • Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered with Selective Service.
  • Must have valid state driver's license.

Eligibility Requirements for the Pathways Recent Graduate program.

The following individuals are eligible to apply:

1. Individuals who completed a qualifying associate's, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution within the previous two (2) years, or have completed “qualifying career or technical education programs” (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps);

OR

2. Veterans, who due to military service were unable to apply within two (2) years of completing a qualifying associate's, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational or technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution, have a full two (2) years upon release or discharge from active duty to apply. However, a veteran's eligibility period may not extend beyond six (6) years from the date on which the veteran completed the academic requirements described above;

OR

3. Individuals are eligible to apply to the Smithsonian Institution Recent Graduates Program up to nine (9) months prior to completing their academic requirements.

Qualification requirements must be met within 30 days of the job announcement closing date.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must first meet Pathways Recent Graduate Program eligibility as stated above.

AND

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:
You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes activities such as performing routine assignments such as inspecting construction for compliance with plans and specifications, applying skills in selecting efficient methods and procedures to plan and accomplish construction projects. 

The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis.
To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.

Successful applicants are placed in a developmental program at the GS-8 level (promotion potential to GS-11).  At the successful conclusion of the program, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional or term position. Conversion to the competitive service is not implied or guaranteed. All conversion requirements will be identified in the Participant Agreement. Program requirements include but are not limited to:

  • Successful completion of at least one (1) year of continuous service and all program requirements
  • Completion of at least 40 hours of interactive training;
  • Mentorship;
  • Demonstration of successful job performance; and
  • Meet the qualification position standards.

Education

This Pathways Recent Graduate position has an education requirement. The education requirements are located in the Requirements section of this announcement. You MUST submit dated documentation showing completion or intended completion (if graduation is no more than 9 months from the date of application) of all educational requirements (e.g. letter from the registrar, unofficial transcripts). An official transcript will be required if you are selected. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

CERTIFICATE:  A Certificate Program is a post-secondary educational program in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one full-time academic year of study, that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational or business school curriculum. For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year of full-time study. IF you are applying with a completed IT or Business Professional Certification you must submit a dated transcript or letter issued by the Academic Institution detailing your completed coursework and credit hours completed. If your Academic institution calculates a full-year of academic studies with fewer hours, or academic credits are expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from the conventional hours, please have your academic advisor provide a letter certifying the Certificate program meets the regulatory definition.

Additional information

  • This position is included in the bargaining unit.  
  • Selection must be flexible to rotate between DC and MD worksite locations during tenure, based on program requirements.
  • All selectees must sign a Participant Agreement.
  • An official transcript must be provided to confirm degree completion prior to appointment to the position.
  • Subject to a 1-year trial period (unless already completed).
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so.
  • This is an excepted service appointment and will be made for a specified period of time as identified in this job announcement. It will not become permanent. If you currently hold a Federal position in the competitive service and accept this appointment, you will voluntarily relinquish your competitive position. Upon completion of this appointment, you will not be returned to your previous position.

Recruitment Incentive: Recruitment incentive(s) may be authorized for this position.  However, approval for incentives are contingent upon various availability. If authorized, certain incentives will require the incumbent to sign a service agreement to remain in the Federal government for a certain time period.

Note: This statement does not imply nor guarantee an incentive will be offered and paid.

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 windowLearn more about federal benefits.

The Smithsonian offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, vacation and sick leave, holidays, health/life insurance, accident insurance, and excellent retirement program options.

Please see Benefits at https://www.si.edu/OHR/benefits for a complete description.

Flexible Spending Accounts - https://www.fsafeds.com/
Health Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp
Leave - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp
Life Insurance - http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp
Long Term Care Insurance - http://www.ltcfeds.com
Retirement Program - https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/

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.

Your application will be evaluated first for the basic qualifications described above. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria:

  • Knowledge of construction documentation and standard construction methods.
  • Ability to review specifications.
  • Ability to communicate in a professional or customer service environment.

Best Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and excels in most of the job related competencies above.

Better Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements and satisfies most of the job related competencies above.

Good Category - Meets the minimum qualification requirements, but does not satisfy most of the job related competencies above to a substantive degree.

This 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 category. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Category) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied. Preference eligibles who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. Applicants who have not submitted a resume in the USAjobs system and/or have not answered all of the vacancy questions will not be considered for this position. 

Important Note: The review of your resume will determine your final rating and should provide sufficient information regarding how your education and experience relate to this position, including the major duties and qualifications criteria listed.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Your application package should include the following documents:

  • Resume - Your resume can be uploaded and attached to your application or created using the USA Jobs on-line resume builder. If you want to receive full credit for relevant experience your resume MUST contain the job title (including the occupational series and grade if it is Federal), duties, starting and ending dates (month and year), hours worked per week, and salary.

    USAJOBS has guidance on how to ensure that you submit a complete resume: If you have not written a Federal resume before, you may watch this Resume Writing Tutorial video on the USAJOBS YouTube channel, or read through a helpful Resume Writing FAQ article on the USAJOBS Help Site to learn what details you should, and should not, include in your resume. If any of the above information is not included in your resume, we may not be able to fully credit you for your experience.

  • Proof of Veteran's Preference - DD214 (Member 4 Copy), if you are a veteran. Additionally, applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, as well as additional documentation required by the SF-15, such as a VA letter.
  • Unofficial school transcripts, if the position has an education requirement or if you are using education to qualify. If selected for the position, you must provide an official transcript before appointment.
  • Proof of U.S. accreditation for foreign study, if applicable.

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.

How to Apply

Click on the "Apply Online" button on the upper right side of the page. Please Note:

  • You must apply for this position online through the 'Apply Online' button and submit required supplemental documents (if they are relevant to you).
  • You may submit required documents by uploading them online during the application process; OR You may manually fax required documents. Faxes are received by an automated system, not a physical fax machine. Documents that are faxed as part of the application process must be sent with the system generated cover sheet by the closing date. Documents faxed without the system generated coversheet are not retrievable and cannot be considered as part of the application package.
  • The complete application package, including any required documents, is due in the Smithsonian Office of Human Resources on the closing date of the announcement by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Agency contact information

Susie Cunningham
Address
SMITHSONIAN
Office of Human Resources
POB 37012, 600 Maryland Avenue, MRC 517
Suite 5060
Washington, District of Columbia 20013-7012
United States

Next steps

At the end of the application process you will be able to create and save a PDF file that contains your responses to the assessment questions. You may save this file as initial receipt of your application. After the job announcement closes, you will receive an email from the Smithsonian with confirmation of receipt. The Smithsonian receives many applications for each job. Each application is reviewed carefully which may take a few weeks. We will send you an e-mail to update you as we go through phases of the application review process. You may also check your application status by logging into www.usajobs.gov and selecting the tab "My USAJOBS;" e-mailing vacancy.info@si.edu; or by contacting the Office of Human Resources Representative listed.

Additional Information:

  • Tips on applying for Smithsonian jobs are available at www.sihr.si.edu/jobs.cfm.
  • The Smithsonian does not pay relocation expenses.
  • The Smithsonian embraces diversity and equal employment opportunity (www.si.edu/oeema).


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.