Summary This position is located in the Construction Branch of a Federal Lands Highway (FLH) Division which is part of the Federal Highway Administration located in either Ashburn, VA; Sevierville, TN; or Tupelo, MS. The incumbent serves as a field representative of the assigned Division on smaller, non-complex construction projects, or may serve as an assistant on larger, more complex construction projects. Responsibilities As an Engineering Technician (Civil) at the entry level, you will: Assist construction inspector in charge of paving with responsibility for quality assurance of paving operations. Assist bridge inspector with checking line and grade, checking forms, placement of reinforced or structural steel or other similar work connected with bridges, large box culverts, or retaining walls. Serve as inspector of contractor's surveying operations, responsible for monitoring and evaluating contractor staking. Monitor contractor sampling and testing procedures for accuracy and conduct independent assurance sampling. Monitor and enforce contractor for compliance with all required quality control responsibilities. Observe and evaluate safety precautions of contractor and calls attention to infractions of safety regulations. The ideal candidate for this position is a technician with education and/or experience in the technical aspects of highway construction, who can ensure compliance with contract specifications, provide technical direction and guidance, and perform contract administration services and support. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen and eligible for consideration. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. Submit applicable documentation early for open period review consideration. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You will be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Current Federal employees and non-competitive selectees may need to complete a probationary period (unless already completed). DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. DRIVER'S LICENSE: You must have a valid state driver’s license and be fully qualified to operate a government-owned vehicle. TRAVEL: The position involves a significant amount of travel away from your duty station for extended periods of time. Travel may often be to remote locations. You must be willing to travel for extended periods of time, often to remote locations. PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: The work requires some physical exertion such as bending, crouching, climbing, lifting, and walking long distances. In addition, you will be exposed to varying weather and terrain conditions. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter. TELEWORK ELIGIBILITY: Telework for this position is typically only allowed in emergency situations. If approved, the number of telework days will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position. Qualifications Individual Occupational Requirements for series 0802 (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above): This series covers technical positions supervising, leading, or performing work involving applying a practical knowledge of the methods and techniques of engineering or architecture; and construction, application, properties, operations, and limitations of engineering systems, processes, structures, machinery, devices, and materials. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in: drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. For more information refer to: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/engineering-technical-series-0802/ To determine which grade(s) you are eligible for, review the following grade specific details. You will be asked questions as part of your application but make sure to verify how you meet this experience in your resume, and/or upload the applicable education documents, or you may be deemed ineligible. For the GS-07: On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-05 grade level, which included: Experience assisting/monitoring materials sampling and testing; interpreting highway design plans and specifications; and surveying for roadway construction. Or on Education, you must have at least one (1) full year of graduate education* leading to a master's degree or equivalent with major study in an appropriate field of engineering, construction, or industrial technology. You can also have a combination of the graduate education* and specialized experience listed above. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. Please note that specialized experience requirements for the following grades, 09 and 11, can be met by qualifying experience at the second lower grade level since no one-grade level positions exist in the normal line of progression for this occupation in this organization/location. Also note that Time-In-Grade requirements (for Status applicants) can be met by experience at the second lower grade level for the same reason. For the GS-09: On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-07 grade level, which included: Experience evaluating procedures, methods, controls, and operations for compliance with specifications and construction operations as they relate to the construction of roadways. Or on Education, you must have at least two (2) full years of graduate education* or a master's degree or equivalent with major study in an appropriate field of engineering, construction, or industrial technology. You can also have a combination of the graduate education and specialized experience listed above. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application. *Graduate Education - To qualify for GS-0802 positions at grades 07 & 09 based on graduate education (which is education above a Bachelor's degree), the field must be directly related to the position. For the GS-11: On Experience, you must have at least one year of specialized experience, equal or equivalent to the GS-09 grade level, which included: Experience working on the administration and inspection of Federal, State, or local highway construction projects that include operations such as grading, drainage, concrete and asphalt construction, and traffic flow and maintenance. You cannot qualify based on education at the GS-11 level, you must have experience. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will also be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Civil Engineering Technical Knowledge - Knowledge of the concepts, principles and methods required to provide technical assistance to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems. Quality Assurance - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure a product fulfills functional requirements and standards. Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed. For all types of consideration, 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. Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply for the grades 07 and/or 09 based on education if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of the closing date of this announcement. If selected, the final transcript must be received before your start date. Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education Graduate Education - To qualify for GS-0802 positions at grades 07 & 09 based on graduate education, the field must be directly related to the position. Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-TECH Additional Information This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the final referral certificate. The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation