Summary
The National Science Foundation is seeking a qualified candidate for a General Engineer (Program Director) position for the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Office of Polar Programs (OPP) in Alexandria, VA.
For more information on GEO please click here.
For more information on OPP please click here.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
Applications will be accepted from all US citizens who meet citizenship and eligibility requirements. Please see the "Other Information" section for further information.
Duties
The National Science Foundation is the Federal agency responsible for single point management of the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). This includes managing U. S. scientific research activity in the region as well as: planning, budgeting, managing and overseeing logistics and operations that support 150-180 Antarctic laboratory and field research projects each year; providing for design, engineering, construction, maintenance and operations of three permanent Antarctic stations; overseeing the operation of two ice breaking research vessels; developing specialized computer and communications infrastructure; and coordinating the airlift and sealift that comprise the Antarctic logistics system. Within the U.S., the USAP operates a logistics facility in Port Hueneme, California. Gateway facilities are operated in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Punta Arenas, Chile, in addition to the permanent and temporary field stations in Antarctica.
The responsibilities for managing the USAP include facility replacement and renovation at the three permanent Stations in Antarctica (South Pole Station, McMurdo Station, and Palmer Station) as well as the provision of temporary and semipermanent seasonal field facilities. The associated design, engineering, construction, maintenance and operation of these and other USAP facilities is typically carried out by civilian contractors under the supervision and oversight of the Office of Polar Programs in the National Science Foundation.
The Facilities Engineering Projects Manager in the Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics (AIL) Section of the NSF Office of Polar Programs has overall responsibility for management of master planning, design, and major construction planning and prioritization for the USAP. The incumbent works with contracted architectural and engineering firms, the NSF Antarctic Support Contractor (ASC), and/or other Federal agencies that can provide engineering, technical analysis, oversight, and other construction management expertise. The responsibility is especially challenging because the continent lacks indigenous sources of services, labor or materials. Moreover, the design and engineering criteria for facilities must meet the requirements imposed by the extreme environments encountered. The Antarctic facilities are critical to achieving the policy objectives of the United States in Antarctica. Additionally, facilities at USAP gateway sites in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Punta Arenas, Chile, must be operated and maintained in accordance with local regulations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Working closely with other AIL managers responsible for logistics, operations, science support and information technology, the Facilities Engineering Projects Manager has the following specific duties and responsibilities:
- Initiate strategic planning for USAP facility requirements to guarantee maximum operational efficiencies and energy conservation.
- Forecast future budget requirements for proposed and scheduled construction initiatives.
- Update and oversee the planning for continuous improvement- in terms of fire/life/safety, habitability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness for Antarctic facilities
- Provide associated direction to the civilian contractor and personnel from other U.S. Government and civilian entities.
- Direct, coordinate and review the activities of U.S. Government technical consultants primarily representing PACDIV, a Naval engineering command; and the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory) and civilian contractors and consultants performing facilities related requirements studies, conceptual and architectural designs, engineering analyses, site evaluation, cost and schedule estimating, procurement and transportation of materials and construction. In addition, the incumbent oversees the development and implementation of facilities construction plans and develops renovation requirements. These functions must be coordinated and monitored to ensure the orderly and logical sequencing of events that result in a safe, efficient and cost effective infrastructure that meets the objectives, budgets and logistics constraints of the USAP.
- Oversee and perform facilities inspections and acceptance on behalf of the US government and issue occupancy certificates in accordance with the NSF A-123 process. Provides input to annual financial statement audit activities and reviews
contractor-furnished reports on real property depreciation and deferred
maintenance activities.
- Oversee project development including individual project cost and schedules, and implement changes where appropriate to meet cost, schedule and performance objectives. Review project controls for sufficiency, including risk management processes, change control procedures and document control programs.
- Oversee and coordinate long range facilities planning needs for the USAP at all Antarctic stations and operating locations.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
This position is outside the competitive civil service.
You must meet eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
This position is in the bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 3403.
The Selected Candidate(s) may be subject to a background investigation.
Appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a physical examination according to standards used for USAP medical/dental screening for travel to Antarctica.
Qualifications
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in an Engineering field plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's degree in an Engineering field plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
In addition, applicants must have at least six years of experience managing and overseeing the planning and execution of complex facilities projects. A Professional Engineer (PE) license and experience in facilities project/program management is
highly desirable.
Education
Please refer to the Qualifications section.
If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
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.
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.
You will be evaluated on the extent and quality of your experience, expertise, education, and research activities relevant to the duties of the position. In some cases, additional assessment processes may also be used. We strongly encourage you to specifically address the Quality Ranking Factors below. This will ensure that you receive full consideration in the evaluation process.
Quality Ranking Factors
- Extensive experience in project management, including planning, executing and overseeing major and complex facilities design, engineering and construction projects, as well as planning, executing and overseeing safe, efficient and cost-effective facilities maintenance programs in remote areas.
- Analytical skill in assessing the application of technologies in facilities design and engineering, construction, maintenance and operations.
- Ability to develop and implement annual and long-range plans including cost and schedule estimation and review.
- Skill in implementing contracts, MOAs and cooperative agreements, including negotiating statement of work, cost and performance evaluation.
- Skill in providing oversight to and resolving issues with a mix of civilian and U.S . Government entities providing facilities design, engineering, construction, maintenance and operations.
Required Documents
All applicants must submit a resume in any format and may also submit a cover letter.
In order to be considered for federal appointments, Non-Citizens must affirm that they meet the Appropriations Law eligibility criteria by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. Non-citizens who do not provide the affidavit at the time of application will not be considered. Non-Citizens who are exempt from the Appropriations Law requirements due to their status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on December 16, 2009 must provide a statement with their application noting their exemption with documentation of proof of status as officers or employees of the U.S. government on that date.
You are strongly encouraged to upload a current performance appraisal and/or letter(s) of recommendation and a supplemental statement that describes how your background relates to the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) listed in the Qualifications and Evaluation Requirements section of this announcement. Additionally, you are encouraged to list all applicable awards either in your CV or in a supplemental statement. This information will be used in the evaluation process.
Transcripts are not required; however, please indicate the year that each degree was obtained on your application materials. If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, you MUST submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern time on the vacancy closing date.
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
Applicants must complete and submit an application online at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) USAJOBS website at https://www.USAJOBS.gov. An account must be established at the OPM website following the instructions provided in order to apply for the position. Once you have completed the USAJOBS process, you will be re-directed to the USA Staffing system to complete your application process, answer the online questions, and submit all required documents. Applications submitted other than the USAJOBS online application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED under this announcement.
- Your application and all supporting documents must be received by 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Applicants applying online for this position will be able to apply until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the closing date of this announcement. Please allow adequate time to complete your application.
-If you encounter technical difficulties during the process, please submit a USA Staffing Help Ticket for assistance. If you have technical difficulties applying to the vacancy on the USAJOBS website, click on Contact USAJOBS. It is suggested that you do not wait until the last day to apply for a vacancy announcement. We will not accept applications other than those submitted through USAJOBS.
- As the applicant, it is your responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, and submitted is received and is accurate. Ensure that your application includes the required documents listed under "Required Documents" and that they are uploaded in the appropriate fields.
- If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of this application and hiring process, please notify the point of contact on this job opportunity announcement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR DATE OF BIRTH ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
WARNING! Applications submitted online must have a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full or blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
Next steps
You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website
Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
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