ARCHITECT

Summary

About the Position: The selectee performs a variety of Architectural duties related to the development of architectural designs and writing detailed specifications for new construction, interior, and exterior alterations, restorations, additions, and repairs to existing buildings and structures.

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Duties

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• Serve as an Architect within the Design Branch of Engineering and Construction Division.
• Responsible for all aspects of architectural design for facilities including new construction, renovations of existing structures, and other architectural design support for assigned civil works and military program projects.
• Serve technical or design team leader on assigned in-house, A/E, and Design-Build projects.
• Develop spatial requirements and relationships, code analysis, coordinate building design elements, create building floor plans, elevations, and sectional relationships, development of construction drawings, design analysis, and specifications.
• Coordinate architectural design work and life safety requirements at all stages of design .
• Collaborate with structural, mechanical, electrical, environmental, civil site, cost, other engineers, and other designers and integrates engineer discipline requirements to produce a coordinated design.
• Research, program, plan, and design new buildings or extensions or alterations to existing structures.
• Restore and conserve historic structures by applying knowledge of architectural design, construction detailing and procedures, building and life safety codes, and building materials and systems.
• Develop general and detailed drawings, design analyses, computations and calculations, and technical specifications for architectural features of assigned projects.
• Perform office and field architectural duties associated with field verification, in house design, reviews, and support during construction.
• Utilize computer aided design and drafting systems and three-dimensional building information modeling in the design and development of design and construction contract drawings
• Evaluate technical data pertaining to materials, equipment, shop drawings, proposals for modifications and additions.
• Evaluate methods of installation submitted by contractors and performs reviews for technical feasibility, adequacy and compliance with specifications.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• Must possess a valid State motor vehicle operator's license for the class of vehicle being operated based on site specific, job-related requirements, and must maintain this license.
• Registered Architect required for GS-12 within 12 months of appointment.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

• Current Civilian Employees of the Command
• Domestic Defense Industrial Base/Major Range and Test Facilities Base Civilian Personnel Workforce
• Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
• Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
• Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
• Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
• Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
• Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Basic Requirement for Architect GS-12:

NOTE: You must provide a copy of your transcript.

1. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in architecture or in a related field that included 60 semester hours of course work in architecture or related disciplines of which at least (1) 30 semester hours were in architectural design, and (2) 6 semester hours were in each of the following: structural technology, properties of materials and methods of construction, and environmental control systems.

OR

1. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the arts and sciences underlying professional architecture, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the architectural principles, methods, and techniques and their applications to the design and construction or improvement of buildings. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by at least one of the following: (1) Related Curriculum - Degree in architectural engineering provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in statement A above, or (2) Experience: 1 year of experience in an architect's office or in architectural work for each year short of graduation from a program of study in architecture. In the absence of any college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that you have acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture.

In addition to meeting one of the basic requirements above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Minimum Qualification requirements for the GS-12 :

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes professional knowledge of architectural concepts, principles, and practices applicable to a broad range of architectural, engineering, construction management, life cycle management, and related assignments; ability to apply comprehensive architectural practices, methods, and techniques to perform relatively complex projects with complete responsibility; knowledge of design and construction practices and techniques in establishing design parameters and preparing project documents and specifications; knowledge of computer aided design and drafting (CADD) programs to perform complex design and drafting assignments, convey design concepts and ideas, and formulate working drawings; and knowledge of and familiarity with related fields of work (ie various engineering groups) to ensure areas of overlapping responsibilities receive proper design consideration. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11)

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-11).

Education

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:

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• This is an Engineer and Scientist Career Field position.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit for more information.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) allowances may be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations and an agency determination that a PCS move is in the Government Interest.
• If you are a current federal employee duty located 50 miles or more outside of the area for this recruitment, you may be considered for a relocation incentive. This incentive option is not applicable to new federal government employees.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here:

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.

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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.

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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.