About this role
Job SummaryThe incumbent performs a variety of assignments requiring professional experience and technical competence in civil engineering activities, procedures, principles, techniques and evaluations utilized in the performance of supervised rural credit and development programs. There are 2 vacancies for this announcement one will be filled in Harrisburg, PA and Temple, TX Office. This position is filled through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation.
QualificationsApplicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience, education, and/or professional certifications, as defined below. In addition to meeting the basic requirement listed below in Education, qualified applicants must possess: Time in Grade: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet the time in grade requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. GS-11: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09); or its non-federal equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as assisting in the review of construction project preliminary plans, drawings, designs, specifications and cost estimates; advising/consulting with private groups, public bodies and other agencies on civil or environmental engineering and architectural aspects of projects; assisting in providing advisory and technical services in the engineering, planning and design process for projects that may include single housing, wastewater facilities, businesses, community facilities, OR 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR a combination of graduate level education beyond the second full year of graduate level education and specialized experience that together meets the qualification requirements for this position. GS-12: Applicants must possess one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11); or its non-federal equivalent. Specialized experience is defined as reviewing construction project preliminary plans, drawings, designs, specifications and cost estimates. Advising/consulting with private groups, public bodies, and other agencies on civil or environmental engineering and architectural aspects of projects. Providing advisory and technical services in the engineering, planning and design process for projects that may include single or multi-family housing, wastewater facilities, businesses, and community facilities. There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at this grade level. 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 and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Major DutiesDuties are at the full performance level. Advises and consults with private groups, public bodies and state and/or federal agencies on the civil engineering aspects of projects financed by RD loan and grant programs.Advises members of the engineering and architecture profession of RD requirements in regard to the planning, design, drawings and specifications, advertisement for bids, negotiation and awarding contracts, and construction management.Provides technical guidance for project eligibility and priority. Reviews planning documents/Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER) and completed analyses and recommendations regarding the technical merit of applications for funding.Reviews projects for modesty in size, cost, and design, compliance of the facility with Federal, State and local laws, regulations, and standards applicable to funding policies and regulations, cost effectiveness and other requirements.Works with staff, applicants and their consultants with respect to the suitability of proposed PERs as well as other documents associated with applications for funding and projects approved for funding.RequirementsYou must be a US Citizen or US National. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt. Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check. Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.