Specifier (Interdisciplinary), GS-XXXX-11/12 (17629)

Position Overview

Engineering and Construction Division; Design Branch; General Engineering Section

The Walla Walla District US Army Corps of Engineers helps manage local water resources for navigation, flood damage reduction, disaster assistance, hydroelectric power generation, and other natural and heritage areas.

DUTIES

• Plan, coordinate, develop, and direct the review work of preparing contract specifications and review plans for both civil and military works projects.
• Conduct research, investigation, and analysis to ensure specification provisions meet design criteria and technical requirements.
• Prepare and review specifications for listings of required contractor submittals.
• Participate in timely and thorough review of specifications.
• Report and recommend changes and revisions to drawings and specifications.
• Edit finished specifications draft for advertising.
• Prepare amendments for invitation of bids.
• Prepare or coordinate the preparations of Contract Change Orders.

This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD, Section 9905 to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires that the incumbent possess or obtain and maintain a valid state Driver's License in one of the 50 U.S. states or possessions to operate vehicles.
• This position has a Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel requirement of 15% of the time.
• You MUST submit a copy of your transcripts with your application package or proof of alternate Basic Requirements listed in this announcement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or 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.

EDUCATION

Minimum Education Requirement:

Basic Requirements for General Engineer (0801), Civil Engineer (0810), Mechanical Engineer (0830), or Electrical Engineer (0850):

A. Degree: Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) in engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree(or higher degree) in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); OR (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials(stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, or any other written test required for professional registration, by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in A above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program.

4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.

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

EXPERIENCE

Minimum Experience Requirement:

GS-11 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience in experience (1) applying engineering knowledge AND (2) using plans and specifications. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09). (Specific experience must be well documented in resume).

OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

GS-12 Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes experience (1) applying engineering knowledge to civil works projects with an emphasis in developing technical plans and specifications and (2) participating in technical reviews with other professionals. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11 or above). (Specific experience must be well documented in resume).

Physical Effort: The work is primarily sedentary. Some work may require periods of walking, standing, bending, climbing, or driving a motor vehicle in activities such as inspections of installed equipment and visits to construction sites and industrial, commercial, or other business establishments. Employees may carry light items such as books, instruments, and other similar materials. The work does not require any special physical effort.

Working Conditions: Work is usually performed in an office setting, although there may be occasional exposure to conditions at construction sites or hydropower projects.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Applications must be submitted after 12:01 AM (PST) of the posted Job Posting Open Date and before 11:59 PM (PST) of the posted Job Posting Close Date to receive consideration.
• All positions require the applicant to be a citizen of the United States. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, are required to register for Selective Service prior to appointment.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• A trial or probationary period may be required.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement/requisition.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• Management may select at any of the grade levels announced.
• Non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade.
• Hiring incentives such as a recruitment/relocation bonus, service credit for leave, and student loan repayment may be authorized (subject to available budget).
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses may be authorized (subject to available budget) if the selecting official determines the relocation is in the best interests of the government. Subject to the provisions of the Joint Travel Regulations.
• 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 https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/ (https://www.dfas.mil/civilianemployees/civrelo/Civilian-Moving-Expenses-Tax-Deduction/) for more information.
• This position is eligible for situational telework.
• Eligible for Special Salary Rate (SSR) 0755 for GS-0810, 0830, and 0850.
• This position is covered under the Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Bargaining Unit.