Operations Staff Director Job in Washington DC, DC

Vacancy No. OCO-2025-250 Department Architect of the Capitol
Salary $167,603.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 4/25/2025 Close Date 5/12/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington DC, DC


Summary

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief of Operations (OCO).  The selectee serves as the senior assistant, staff director and overall advisor to the OCO, providing assistance, advice and guidance for AOC operations, programs, plans, policies and procedures.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

See Requirements section of this announcement for information on who may apply.

Duties

The individual selected for this position directs and supervises the Operations Staff and assists with formulating policy, providing management oversight and coordinating agency and jurisdiction operations and services including facilities management, customer service, visitor support, utilities and tenant/client services. Responsibilities also include coordinating performance measures, metrics and analytics to continuously assess and improve operational performance as warranted.

Duties:

Leadership and Managerial Responsibilities

  • Leads and supervises the Operations Staff. Performs administrative and technical supervisory functions for subordinates, including assigning duties, evaluating performance, and managing the workload, resources, spaces and requirements.
  • Develops performance requirements for subordinates and ensures a mutual understanding of the performance standards.
  • Provides employee skills enrichment through job-related coaching/mentoring and training.
  • Resolves complaints and grievances.
  • Provides leadership to ensure support for equal employment opportunity (EEO) goals and requirements.

Program Assessment and Oversight

  • The Operations Staff Director for OCO assists in the development and governance of exceptionally complex programs and policies to implement guiding regulations, demonstrating a mastery of professional, technical and facilities management skills in achieving enhanced organizational performance.
  • Develops and directs specific programs and policies to meet operational objectives.
  • Monitors and assesses AOC operations through reports, correspondence review, performance measures and metrics, consultations and personal observations.
  • Prepares written analyses, recommendations, summaries and recommendations to AOC Jurisdictions and/or the Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Operations on matters of major significance to the AOC.
  • Performs professional quantitative analysis of the select AOC operations, functions and programs to support internal AOC decision making as well as reporting to congressional oversight committees and clients.
  • Provides guidance to jurisdictions on developing comprehensive replies to Congressional and external inquiries involving facilities management, utilities services, visitor services and other technical and operational issues.

Communication, Collaboration and/or Liaison

  • Serves as liaison to operational jurisdictions and front-line client/visitor-facing organizations, focusing on all aspects of agency operations from routine and recurring maintenance to the most urgent and sensitive matters.
  • Analyzes the effectiveness of existing, new and emerging programs or operations in meeting established goals and identifies and implements process improvements and cross-functional initiatives that create a more productive environment for site improvement and budget outlays.
  • Assists the Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Operations in reviewing and promulgating operation plans and objectives and providing guidance and leadership for AOC Jurisdictions on the development of their associated plans.
  • Maintains cognizance of workload, deadlines, priority programs and operational trends in order to reduce problems, resolve conflicts and institute corrective action.
  • Reviews significant incoming directives and high-level correspondence requiring agency decisions or response and recommends appropriate action.
  • Partners with senior management officials across the agency to achieve broad objectives, outcomes and goals.

Reports and Analysis of Empirical Outcomes

  • Provides leadership in the evaluation, assessment and improvement of operations, programs and management systems by applying a wide range of qualitative and quantitative techniques.
  • Provides leadership for data integrity and comprehensive reporting.
  • Analyzes and evaluates AOC systems, functions and processes, to render cogent recommendations and plans for linking otherwise disparate data.
  • Utilizes complex analytical and statistical tools, to conduct multi-variate analysis, synthesizing results to produce accurate reporting and presentation.

Advice, Guidance and Customer Service

  • Provides advice and guidance on agency and jurisdiction operations and services including, but not limited to, facilities management, visitor support and client services.
  • Oversees evaluations and leverages metrics to develop the most comprehensive understanding of agency operations with broad and long-range impacts.
  • Advises senior executive leaders on proposals and issues that involve exceptional controversy, intensive outside interest or significant long-range effects on the program or on other organizations.
  • Plans and directs the development of policies, standards, systems and procedures to ensure total integration of operations and services across the AOC.
  • Plans and directs requirements analysis and assesses future needs for program elements. Makes authoritative recommendations for changes or improvements as necessary.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be able to pass a drug test.
  • Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
  • You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

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-15 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-14) grade level in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position must demonstrate the following:

  • Providing leadership and/or administrative and technical supervision of staff, including managing workload, training and development, performance management, resource management and space requirements.
  • Planning, coordinating and directing the development and execution of strategic initiatives, standards, policies, procedures and systems to meet current and future operational objectives.
  • Performing complex analysis of facilities management and support services programs and operations and making recommendations to improve organizational performance.   
  • Developing and implementing process improvements and cross-functional initiatives in support of organizational programs, operations and strategic goals.
  • Developing innovative solutions to resolve complex problems and directing corrective action.

Education

There is no educational requirement for the Miscellaneous Administration and Program series (0301).

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; SF15, 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 made 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.

Note: Please be advised that federal retired annuitant candidates may only be considered as a temporary employee if the role can be filled in that capacity.

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.

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.

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:

  • Leadership Ability
  • Programs and Operational Management
  • Reporting and Analysis
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Oral Communication

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 non-selection or disqualification from 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.

How to Apply

You MUST apply online.

FORMS RECEIVED BY FAX, EMAIL OR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you are a new user to the USAJOBS Site and have never registered for an account; you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJOBS user AND you must be signed-in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help with setting up an account or for general assistance in using USAJOBS, go to USAJobs Help Page.

NEED HELP?

If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! If you have problems completing your on-line application, contact the Monster Hiring Management Help Desk at 1-866-656-6831 or by e-mail at MGSHELP@monster.com. The help desk is available Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  You may call and leave a voice mail message at all other times.

All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJOBS “Saved Documents” feature.

If you are unable to apply on-line, you may visit our Employment Center for technical assistance in entering your application. The Employment Center is located at 441 Second & D Streets S.W., Washington, D.C., Room H2-178, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You may call (202) 226-7000 for directions.

Agency contact information

Joy Weaver
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
joy.weaver@aoc.gov
Address
Architect of the Capitol
2nd and D Street, S.W.
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
United States

Next steps

You will receive a notice generated by the USAJOBS System when you have successfully submitted your application. We will review your application and transcript(s) (if you are qualifying based on education) to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements.

You can check the status of your application by logging into http://www.usajobs.gov. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application has changed by logging into your USAJOBS Account, editing your profile and changing the ‘Notification Settings’ to indicate that you want to be notified by email when the status changes. Information regarding the status of your application should be updated in the system within two (2) weeks after the closing date of this job announcement.


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


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