See QUALIFICATIONS and EDUCATION for important information about this position. Serves as SSA architect with authority and responsibility for architectural matters involving SSA facilities at headquarters and nationwide. Responsible for planning, developing and implementing very unique, complex and comprehensive agency-wide facilities planning, design and construction projects. See DUTIES for additional responsibilities of this position.

Duties

Serves as an agency wide consultant and advisor on architecture and facility planning to members of the SSA executive staff and the regional commissioners. Responsible for planning, coordination, control and professional adequacy of projects from inception, budgeting and scope development thru technical evaluation and acceptance of architectural/engineering designs to completion of actual construction. Consults with private architectural/engineering firms for the development and/or review of plans, specifications, working drawings and cost estimates for new construction, repair, alteration, restoration and improvement projects. Prepares construction contract documents including, designs, working drawings, specifications, statements of work and cost estimates. Provides guidance and technical direction to lower grade architects, engineering technicians, computer graphics specialists, draftsmen, space managers, management analysts and project managers.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship required. Selective Service Registration, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• Fingerprinting and background and/or security investigation may be required. Job offers are contingent on fingerprinting and background/security investigation results.
• See QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS and HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED sections for more information about this position.

Qualifications

To qualify for this GS-13 Architect position you must demonstrate: (1) the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for the federal GS-0808 series AND (2) Specialized Experience. (1) INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): you must have one of the following: A. Bachelor's or higher degree in Architecture. B. Bachelor's or higher degree in a field related to Architecture (including Architectural Engineering)which includes at least 60 semester hours in architecture or related disciplines with at least 30 semester hours in architectural design and 6 semester hours in EACH of the following: (1) structural technology, (2) properties of materials and methods of construction and (3) environmental control systems (e.g., courses covering function, esthetics, site, structure, economics, mechanical-electrical and other engineering problems related to the design and construction of buildings intended to house human activities). C. An applicant lacking a degree in architecture must have had l 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 college courses, 5 years of such experience is required. This experience must have demonstrated that the applicant has acquired a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional architecture. (Note that one additional year of Specialized Experience (separate from any experience you claim here) will still be required to meet Full Minimum Qualifications (see below). (2) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE must have been gained in a federal position at or above GS-12 OR (if your position and/or experience is in another federal pay scale OR outside of federal service) by performing duties at a level of responsibility and difficulty equivalent to GS-12. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is professional architecture work, such as conceptualizing, planning and implementing designs to ensure buildings and structures are responsive to human activities and needs; are structurally sound and permanent; and are economical to acquire, operate and maintain. In general, landscape architecture; selection of furniture/furnishings that do not alter a basic architectural design; and city and/or community planning do not meet the qualifications for this position. DUTIES THAT DEMONSTRATE QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE INCLUDE: -- applying architectural design, standards, codes, techniques and practices; -- interpreting designs/design manuals; -- using computer-aided design and drafting technology to create and produce design documents; -- designing a wide variety of structures and complexes and collaborating on planning, designing and -- collaborating on planning, designing and constructing a project, from initial discussions with the client to the completion of the project. If you have this experience, your resume must describe, in your own words, the duties you perform that demonstrate it. Since Specialized Experience also has a time component, it must be evident that the duties you describe are at the required level for at least 52 weeks. Reviewers cannot assume you perform duties you don't describe. An affirmative response to the online questionnaire is not sufficient to demonstrate experience. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Individual Occupational Requirement and Specialized Experience) must be met by the closing date of this announcement. CONDITIONS OF THIS POSITION: The work is mostly sedentary; however, some walking, bending and climbing is required to inspect buildings at various stages of construction and to investigate reported problems. May be subject to related construction hazards when visiting and investigating onsite operations, repair and improvement or construction activities. Some travel is required to conduct architectural studies on various SSA building facilities and meet with regional representatives. Information on this job series can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/architecture-series-0808/

Education

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) that must be supported with an appropriate transcript, even if you already hold a federal 0808 series position.

DO NOT SUBMIT A DIPLOMA IN LIEU OF A FULL TRANSCRIPT.

TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE LEGIBLE or you may not receive credit for completed courses.

Submit copes of your full transcripts, showing your name, the name of the school, the program in which you were enrolled, the relevant courses completed and degree conferred. A transcript that does not show a degree was conferred cannot be considered to have resulted in a degree.

If your degree is in Architectural Engineering or another field related to Architecture, submit a transcript showing successful completion of at least 60 semester hours in architecture or related disciplines with at least 30 semester hours in architectural design and 6 semester hours in EACH of the following: (1) structural technology, (2) properties of materials and methods of construction and (3) environmental control systems.

Since course titles do not always indicate that a course pertains to a creditable field,highlight qualifying courses to ensure they are given consideration.

This may require you to print a copy of your transcript, highlight the qualifying courses and upload the highlighted copy to this vacancy announcement.

If you attended more than one college or university, submit transcripts for all schools attended.

Unofficial transcripts or screenshots of electronic/web transcripts with the required information will be accepted at the time of application. CHECK YOUR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT TO CONFIRM IT SHOWS THE REQUIRED INFORMATION. You must upload your transcripts as part of your application. Documents will not be accepted via email or regular mail.

If selected, you may be required to provide your official college transcripts prior to the effective date of your appointment.

See QUALIFICATIONS for more information on what your transcript must demonstrate.

Foreign Education: If your transcripts show education completed in foreign colleges or universities, you must also provide documentation 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 a conventional/accredited U.S. education program; or that full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Contacts

• Address DCBFM - OFLM 6401 Security Boulevard Baltimore, MD 21235 US
• Name: OPE Staffing DCBFM
• Phone: 410-965-1234
• Email: [email protected]