This position is located in the Civil Rights Division's (Division), Disability Rights Section, Department of Justice. As an Architect, you will utilize your knowledge of advanced architectural concepts, principles, and practices in order to serve as the design and technical expert evaluating and reporting on a variety of projects by other architects, engineers, and design professionals - from the planning stage through design, construction, and occupancy.

Duties

The incumbent will serve as a Architect. Duties include, but are not limited to: Providing expert technical and professional advice and assistance; Applying innovation, creativity, imagination, resourcefulness, and technical judgment nationally concerning architecture, physical accessibility, barrier removal, and design and construction issues; Managing and preparing reports in writing and orally on evaluations of buildings, facilities, and sites; Evaluating and resolving complex architectural design issues relating to the physical accessibility of all types of buildings, facilities, and sites, large and small, for people with disabilities used by public and private entities; Expertly reviewing architectural designs, plans, blueprints, construction drawings, specifications, change orders, and as-built drawings of architects, engineers, and other professionals for compliance with the ADA and relevant accessibility standards, including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design; and Developing criteria and instructions for national technical assistance and training on architecture and physical accessibility issues.

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirement for Architect: A. 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 B. 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. The curriculum for a degree in either architecture or architectural engineering covers function, esthetics, site, structure, economics, mechanical-electrical, and other engineering problems related to the design and construction of buildings primarily (but not exclusively) intended to house human activities. The courses required for a degree in architecture generally place emphasis upon planning, esthetics, and materials and methods of construction, while the courses for an architectural engineering degree place equal or greater weight on the technical engineering aspects such as structural systems, mechanical systems, and the properties of materials. Because of this difference in emphasis, persons with degrees in architecture may have a preference for work assignments that offer greater opportunities for them to express their artistic and creative abilities. As a result, they may be more concerned with planning and design aspects of architecture, and persons with degrees in architectural engineering may be more engaged in aspects emphasizing technical engineering considerations. 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 the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the specialized experience requirements listed below: Specialized Experience Requirements: To qualify at the GS-13 grade level, candidates must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service or other pay system. Specialized experience includes: (1) reading and interpreting building codes and standards; (2) creating drawings of existing and planned structural conditions and design features; AND (3) utilizing knowledge of technical accessibility standards, such as the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Section 504, Fair Housing Act, Architectural Barriers Act, or other federal laws. To qualify at the GS-14 grade level, candidates must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service or other pay system. Specialized experience includes: (1) experience interpreting and applying building codes and standards, including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and developments in building, facility, and site design in construction and physical accessibility, including barrier removal or program access; (2) creating drawings of existing and planned structural conditions and design features; (3) serving as a subject matter expert when evaluating plans, drawings, and facilities for compliance with technical accessibility standards, including the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, in order to evaluate existing, newly constructed, or altered buildings, facilities, and sites; AND (4) participating with leadership, staff or expert design professionals on the ADA Standards for Accessible Design and technical materials related to accessibility. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the specialized experience requirement - please be sure to include this information in your resume. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Merit promotion applicants applying for a grade higher than the grade you currently hold, must provide an SF-50, which shows type of service appointment, tenure group, grade, and salary. Your SF-50 Form must also show the length of time you have been in your current/highest grade (examples of appropriate SF-50s include Promotions, Within Grade/Range Increases, and SF-50s over one year old). No award SF-50s will be accepted. All qualifications, time-in-grade, and education requirements (if applicable) must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. YOUR RESUME MUST support your responses to the online questionnaire and provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience as described in the vacancy announcement. If you are using experience to meet all or part of the qualification requirements, please ensure that your resume includes the month and year that you began and ended each position held or that position will not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. Please review the Qualifications section of this position to review education requirements. You may also review education requirements of this position by (hyperlink the appropriate IOR). If the link does not work, copy and paste the following URL: (display the full URL for the appropriate IOR).

You must submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and/or semester hours earned, degree earned and confer dates.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements, please see the statements below.

You will need to submit an official transcript, unofficial transcript, or a list including courses, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and/or semester hours earned, degree earned and confer dates. Failure to provide this documentation will result in objection to your qualifications, and removal from consideration. You will be required to submit your official college transcript if you are selected.

All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Click here to check accreditation.

Foreign Education: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that 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 more information about this requirement, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website for Foreign Education Evaluation.

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Contacts

• Address Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20530 US
• Name: Robin Hofmann
• Email: [email protected]