Summary This position is located in Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard, Training Center Petaluma, Petaluma, CA. Responsibilities The incumbent is an architect responsible for planning design, layout, and construction of new, and renovations or rehabilitation of existing Coast Guard buildings and facilities. Duties include acting as project leader or as member of multidiscipline design and construction objectives. The incumbent is responsible for preparation of master plans and special studies as they may apply to Coast Guard planning situations. the incumbent advises in matters of community and regional planning issues as they to the Coast Guard. Act as liaison between the Coast Guard and local governments on issues of planning when the Coast Guard is involved in local community affairs. Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include: Evaluating design objectives and employes innovative approaches to meet project needs and requirements. Providing technical advice and guidance to the contractor regarding new or complex aspects of assignments or in performing the work required by the contract. Collaborates with managers, other architects, and/or contractor personnel, and provides advice and insight on the resolution of unique and/or complex architecture problems, where innovative adaptations or development of few features is required. Preparing a statement of work or other binging specification or acquisition performance standards. Assess project progress and maintains liaison between the various activities involved in the assignment. Participating in planning conferences with supervisors to provide necessary information pertaining to design engineers. Preparing correspondences, technical reports, estimates, fact sheets, status reports, and schedules as required to complete project assignments. Requirements Conditions of Employment Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. U.S. Citizenship is required. A one-year probationary period may be required. Background Investigation is required. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Qualifications Basic Requirements: Degree: architecture; or 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 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: Related Curriculum: Degree in architectural engineering may be accepted as satisfying in full the basic requirements, provided the completed course work in architectural engineering provided knowledge, skills, and abilities substantially equivalent to those provided in the courses specified in paragraph A. 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. Experience: 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. In addition to the Basic requirements To qualify for the GS-12 grade level: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Preparing technical reports status reports and schedules to complete projects. Monitoring project progress and cost. Performing architectural facility or structural design work i.e performing complex calculations, evaluating designs objectives, identifying economical and efficient procedures Resolving architectural problems, Collaborating with stakeholders/ Knowledge of architectural requirement and specifications National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Education This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Student Loan: Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent or term position may be eligible for student loan repayment up to $10,000 (pre-tax) for one calendar year. More than one loan may be repaid if the combined repayments do not exceed $10,000. Receipt of this incentive will require a three-year service agreement. Additional Information Applicants will be required to complete questions contained on the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) at the time a tentative job offer is made. Certain responses on the form could pose a problem with suitability for employment determinations. If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete/make updates to the OF-306 and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, or imprisonment. DHS uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about e-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities at click here Recruitment Incentive: Selectee(s) for this position who are newly appointed to a permanent position are authorized to receive a one-time recruitment incentive of 25% of the salary, including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12-month service agreement. "Newly appointed" refers to the first appointment (regardless of tenure) as an employee of the Federal Government, an appointment following a break in service of at least 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government, or, in certain cases, an appointment following a break in service of less than 90 days from a previous appointment as an employee of the Federal Government. Relocation Incentive: Selectee(s) for this position who are current federal employees on permanent appointments who would be moving outside of the current commuting area of their current position to accept this position are authorized to receive a one-time relocation bonus of 25% of the salary including locality for this position. Receipt of the bonus will require a 12-month service agreement. The employee must establish a residence in the new geographic area prior to payment. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR § 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement. More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued. If you need a reasonable accommodation for the application and hiring process, please contact 206-816-2049. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation