Duties
Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 3:30PM
MAJOR DUTIES: Listed at the GS-14 Level.
Program Development and Coordination (30%)
Formulates and designs jurisdiction-wide programs, plans, procedures, and methodologies for programs to improve fire protection and life safety compliance. Advocates for the use of innovative improvement techniques that are appropriate to the agency mission and culture.
Working with jurisdiction and Safety and Code Compliance counterparts, the incumbent leads the fire protection program and assists with leading the Library Buildings and Grounds toward meeting the organization's vision, mission and goals. Demonstrates leadership in an inclusive workplace that fosters the success of the programs.
Cooperates with stakeholders both internal and external to the jurisdiction to assure that Fire Protection and Life Safety policies are interpreted and applied consistently, that program/projects are created and applied coherently, and that strategies, programs, and projects that prove particularly successful are available to be used elsewhere.
Leads the development, creation and implementation of SOPs, policies and procedures for the LBG’s Fire Protection Program. Includes the readiness of emergency management documents for LBG and oversees emergency exercises.
Analyze and provide solutions to create long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones for evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of the implementation of these programs. Consider factors such as attainment of program goals and objectives, and compliance with Agency establish policies. Develop and provide preliminary courses of action to be taken to address changes in programs, technological developments, policies and processes.
Develop comprehensive reports on both the technical and administrative aspects of the responsible programs for higher level management.
Project Management (25%)
Functions as the technical expert for broad programs involving the design, installation, maintenance, and operation of fire protection systems, assemblies, structures, and operations. Manages significant elements or phases of fire prevention/protection projects. Overcomes difficult and complex technical, project management, program management and organizational problems using innovative and original approaches.
Plans, guides, coordinates, and the work of contractors engaged in accomplishing the missions and functions of the organization. Performs periodic review and analysis to assess achievement of major goals and milestones. Develop operational procedures and directs in the interpretation and application of the National Fire Codes of the National Fire Protection Association as the authority having jurisdiction within the context of the various fire and building codes under the delegated authority of Policy 11-6. Participates in preliminary and critical fire protection design reviews and determines, develops, and defends requirements.
Technical Advice and Guidance (25%)
Acts as an expert consultant on the most challenging problems in fire protection engineering and life safety for the jurisdiction. Works with all levels of local management and program officials, key personnel of outside agencies and private industry to resolve and track complex and controversial problems that arise. Identifies changes and repairs necessary for fire protection and life safety compliance in jurisdiction properties and develops comprehensive plans to carry out changes.
Provides expert advice to jurisdiction management officials and their staff regarding fire protection and life safety aspects of design, modernization, operation, repair and maintenance systems and equipment.
Researches and investigates fire protection and life safety problems and incidents to determine required actions and the root cause of the incident. Recommends corrective action and changes to AOC standards that will prevent recurrence of the incident.
Oversees special fire protection engineering and life safety studies that lead to major modifications of current systems or resolves key problems facing the jurisdiction.
Performs major, complex phases of specific assignments or projects designed to accomplish comprehensive goals of Fire Protection Engineering.
Contract Management (20%)
Performs contractor oversight duties as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR), modifying or rejecting task plans and other deliverables for fire protection systems. Evaluates overall effectiveness and assesses technical design submissions for compliance with national codes.
Responsible for design and configuration of fire protection systems and final acceptance or rejection of fire protection system installations and modifications. Evaluates and approves all fire protection system requirements and operational procedures, preventive maintenance tasks, inspection plans, repairs, corrections, tests and priorities.
Performs other related duties as assigned
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
- You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
- Must meet the educational requirement for Engineers.
- You must be able to pass a drug test.
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 OPM qualification standards
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-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience at the GS-13 level is Mastery of fire protection system design performing design, troubleshooting, as well as familiarity with installation, maintenance and repair of fire protection systems for the jurisdiction involving the oversight of contractors and direction for a wide variety of technical and trade craft work of in-house workers. Development of agency wide fire protection policies, standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential fire hazards.
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 at the GS-12 level is Surveying existing fire protection and fire alarm systems, developing details of working drawings and preparing preliminary cost estimates for assigned features; developing alternate layouts to determine feasibility, economy, suitability, and practicability of design.
Education
In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must possess the following:
Education Required for Engineers:
1. Bachelor's degree in professional engineering: To be creditable, 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: -- statics, dynamics; -- strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); -- fluid mechanics, hydraulics; -- thermodynamics; -- electrical fields and circuits; -- nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and -- any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
--OR--
2. 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:
- 1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern
(EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
- 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- 3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
- 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)
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.
Additional information
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 OPM vet guide
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, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, 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 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.
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.
A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.
Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).
The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.
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.
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:
KSA's at the GS-14 level:
- Knowledge of the principles, concepts and practices of fire prevention engineering, with emphasis on code enforcement and interpretation for the Design and Construction of fire protection and life safety systems for various types of buildings.
- Knowledge in Fire Management to provide oversight on operations, testing and maintenance of fire protection and life safety systems; and to develop working procedures and policies to achieve code compliance.
- Knowledge in communicating in Writing and verbally, to convincingly present technical fire protection engineering data, topics, conclusions and recommendations. Knowledge in collaboration when meeting and dealing with congressional staff, upper levels of management, engineers, and other personnel including the public.
KSA's at the GS-13 level:
- Knowledge in Problem Solving and resolving complicated technical issues; creating solutions and strategies especially in scenarios with vague, confusing, and contrary perspectives and conflicting goals; and providing technical guidance in the fire prevention field
- Knowledge of Program Management with a focus on Fire Protection Engineering and Emergency Management. The ability to develop short-term and long-term program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones and effectively implement, manage and execute those agency-wide programs.
- Knowledge of Project Management, Ability to manage and meet project goals and objectives for timely completion.
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).
You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Required Documents
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.
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.