Summary

This position is located in the state office throughout Rural Development (RD). The incumbent will serve as a Lead Civil Engineer and provide guidance on engineering and environmental protection functions associated with program activities and certain Internal Review functions.

Duties

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• Advise and assist on the various engineering aspects of RD Housing and Business programs including the Rural Business-Cooperative Service's energy loan and grant proposals.
• Communicates team assignments, deadlines and time frames for completion; ensures organization mission and vision are communicated to the team; provides advice on work methods; identifies, distributes and balances workload.
• Advises members of the engineering profession of RD requirements in regard to the planning, design, drawings and specifications, advertisement for bids, negotiation and awarding contracts, and construction management.
• 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.
• Counsels applicants and consulting engineers on policy and requirements for planning, designing and construction or environmental work, making estimated costs and contracts, as well as recommending consideration.
• Advises and gives training to staff on civil engineering and environmental protection
  related activities of RD programs.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement including time-in-grade restrictions, specialized experience and/or education, as defined below

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.

For GS-13 level: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience to at least the next lower grade level or its non-Federal equivalent that demonstrates: In addition to the Basic Requirements (outlined below) - Extensive experience 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. Extensive experience providing advisory and technical services in 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 experience at the GS-13 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.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education

Basic Requirements: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by 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.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.