Community Planner

Architect of the Capitol•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position is in the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Office of the Chief Engineer, Planning, Engineering and Architecture. The selectee serves as a General Engineer, Architect, or Community Planner and performs program management and/or project identification and development, particularly for projects arising from the facility condition assessment database and for public spaces or facilities included in the master plan. The position may be filled at the GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13 level, with progressively more complex and independent assignments at the lower grades. The duties described are at the GS-13 level. The position develops and manages facilities planning programs and projects, including multi-million-dollar renovation and new-construction initiatives. Work may cover public spaces, buildings, infrastructure, storm water management, and other planning programs. The selectee coordinates AOC expertise and resources, advises on project planning, oversees consultant and contractor work, and supports continuous improvement throughout project life cycles. The role also evaluates adjacent-agency projects that may affect the Capitol complex and collaborates with regional planning agencies.

Requirements

Meet OPM qualification requirements, including applicable specialized experience and/or education, by the announcement closing date.
Meet the educational requirements for the applicable professional discipline: Architect, Engineer, or Community Planner.
Pass a drug test as a condition of employment.
For GS-11, have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including experience preparing initial planning and documentation for multi-million-dollar renovation and new-construction projects; providing significant, innovative recommendations or methods for cost-effective, high-quality design and construction in planning, architecture, sustainability, or engineering disciplines; and evaluating studies, plans, design specifications, and progress reports for architectural, engineering, and construction processes and projects. Alternatively, qualify through a related Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, three full years of progressively higher-level related graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M.
For GS-12, have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11, including the GS-11 experience areas and leading broad-based programs that affect agency planning initiatives.
For GS-13, have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12, including the GS-12 experience areas and developing master plans and/or advancing existing master plans for a large complex of buildings.
For Engineer qualification, meet the stated engineering degree requirements (including an ABET-accredited engineering program or specified engineering coursework) or the stated combination-of-education-and-experience criteria, such as professional engineer registration, passing the EIT examination, qualifying coursework, or an appropriate engineering technology/professional-field degree.
For Architect qualification, meet the stated architecture degree and coursework requirements, or the specified combination of education and experience demonstrating knowledge of architecture and its application to building design, construction, or improvement.
For Community Planner qualification, hold a community-planning or related degree with the specified planning coursework, or meet the stated related-work-experience or combination-of-education-and-experience requirements.
Foreign education must be evaluated as equivalent to U.S. education; applicants educated in whole or in part outside the United States must provide the required equivalency evidence if selected.
Meet the AOC employment eligibility criteria, which include U.S. citizenship or one of the other specifically listed qualifying immigration, national allegiance, or federal employment categories.
If applicable, provide documentation for veterans’ preference and satisfy Selective Service registration or exemption requirements.
A selected candidate is subject to a criminal record check and satisfactory adjudication.

Responsibilities

Produce or oversee facilities planning products and services, including Area Development Plans, Capital Improvements Plan project development, Asset Evaluations, Facility Requirements, Project Charters, Special Studies, AOC Form 1391 project documentation, site planning, energy and sustainability documentation, external engagement, storm water program management, economic analyses, parametric cost estimates, and business case analyses.
Prepare initial program planning and documentation for multi-million-dollar renovation and new-construction projects involving public spaces, buildings, and infrastructure systems.
Develop and manage planning-related programs, including storm water management and project identification, to establish criteria for improved project development.
Coordinate in-house technical expertise and management capabilities across divisions and jurisdictions; integrate project elements and develop actionable recommendations.
Apply knowledge of AOC Preservation and Sustainability policies and recommend improvements and efficiencies to project-planning practices.
Plan complex project-development functions with project teams and make precedent-setting decisions within areas of responsibility.
Identify and secure appropriate resources for agency professionals and contractor organizations.
Serve as a professional specialist and key source of information for assigned areas of accountability.
Evaluate and monitor projects by other agencies that are adjacent to the Capitol complex and may affect AOC projects.
Collaborate with regional planning agencies, including the National Capital Planning Commission, District of Columbia Office of Planning, District Department of Transportation, National Park Service, and Smithsonian Institution, to coordinate external and internal project planning.
Assist with project administration and help resolve technical difficulties through changes in approach, criteria, or requirements.
Conduct studies to develop criteria for planning initiatives and issues identified during field inspections.
Facilitate resolution of project- or program-related issues at division director, jurisdiction executive, project coordinator, assistant executive director, and executive director levels.
Lead project scope, schedule, and budget considerations during programming and study phases.
Provide technical design and management guidance to professional Architect/Engineer firms.
Serve as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), reviewing compliance with Architect-Engineer contract specifications.
Monitor A/E contractors’ performance against contractual, functional, and technical requirements; recommend action for programming or planning deficiencies.
Review functional and technical project-planning aspects in detail and ensure applicable codes, standards, and criteria are met.
Recommend resources and efforts for project implementation and exercise specified contracting-officer authority for execution and administration of personal and professional services contracts.
Independently supervise indefinite-delivery contracts for planning/programming, studies, and designs as needed.
Participate in AOC efforts to improve business practices and customer satisfaction.
Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of plans, recommend improvements, study processes and impacts, and develop implementation plans across project life-cycle phases, from planning and programming through design, construction, commissioning, and post-occupancy evaluation.
At GS-13, develop master plans and/or advance existing master plans for a large complex of buildings.

Benefits

A variety of health insurance plans
Retirement system with investment options
Paid holidays
Paid sick and annual leave
Life insurance
Incentive systems
Subsidized transportation
Training and development opportunities
Potential higher annual leave accrual credit based on qualifying prior work experience
Opportunity for eligible employees to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program