Interdisciplinary

About the role

About the Position: Cost Engineer in the Engineering and Construction Division, Cost Engineering and Specifications Section. You will be a member of multidisciplinary teams to provide cost engineering and specification support for a variety of Civil Works Projects ranging from $250k to programs over a $1B.

Projects include facilities O&M, hydraulic steel structure fabrication, flood risk management, ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation of navigation structures and new navigations structures.

What you will do

• Full performance grade (GS-12) should be able to do the following.
• Developmental grades (GS07-GS11) will gain on the job experience and training to perform the following.
• Applies professional knowledge of civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering in relation to design and construction features to prepare cost engineering products for a wide variety of projects.
• Prepare cost products that are well organized, technically and economically sound, accurate, meet regulations and project requirements.
• Prepare and manage cost products including price quotes; quantity take-offs; construction estimates, schedules, and work plans; parametric estimates; technical analysis of contractor proposals and assist with contract negotiations.
• Prepare engineering cost estimates for planning, design, and execution of construction by contract projects.
• Prepare construction cost estimates and review construction estimates prepared by in-house personnel and contracted architects/engineers.
• Review contract documents (i.e., drawings and specifications) for completeness, provide comments and recommendations on how to improve the documents.
• Advise and interpret regulations, directives, and policies to management on specifications and cost estimates.
• Provide engineering advice, guidance, and recommendations to professional, technical, and administrative personnel.
• Coordinates specification and cost estimate work with others.
• Use of estimating software and other estimating tools such as Micro Computer Aided Cost Engineering System (MCACES MII).
• Prepare detailed technical specifications for new work as well as modifications to specifications for current contracts.
• Use of specifications writing software such as SPECSINTACT.
• Prepare cost informed construction schedules using Primavera P6 or other advanced scheduling software.

Education

Education for GS-09: master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 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 perform the work of the position.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience for GS-09: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if 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 first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. Specialized Experience for GS-11: To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job.

Specialized experience is defined as experience preparing plans and specifications, cost estimates, and project schedules (such as municipal projects, flood navigation, environmental, recreation, military projects and/or various types of buildings, supplies, and service contract work).

Experience with quantity take off and cost estimating software, experience managing design or construction projects planning, developing, and/or reviewing cost estimates for projects in the phase; assisting with resolving most conflicts independently when producing technical specifications and/or cost estimates; and reviewing contract documents (i.e., drawings and specifications as a whole) for completeness and compatibility as well as for conformance to established standards.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-09) OR Education for GS-11: 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 perform the work of the position.

(Note: You must attach a copy of your transcripts.) OR Combination of Education and Experience for GS-11: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position if 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. Specialized Experience for GS-12: To qualify based on your work experience, your resume must describe at least one year of experience which prepared you to do the work in this job.

Specialized experience is defined as overseeing the work of junior engineers or architect, participating in multidisciplinary design projects, independently planning, reviewing, and/or preparing technical specifications for contracts (such as municipal projects, flood navigation, environmental, recreation, military projects and/or various types of buildings, supplies, and service contract work); planning, reviewing, and/or developing cost estimates for projects in all phases of construction or operations and maintenance; implementing knowledge of contractor means and methods; performing and validating quantity take offs, coordinating and performing project schedules for civil or military construction projects, applied experience with cost estimating software and providing technical guidance on the review of engineering documents to ensure conformance to established standards.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11) This position will be filled at the GS-07, GS-09, GS-11, GS-12 level. If selected at the GS-07, GS-09, or GS-11 level, noncompetitive promotion to the full performance level is authorized.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the online assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Arithmetic/Mathematical Reasoning Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies.

You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered.

You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Basis for Rating: Qualified candidates will be assigned to one of three quality categories: Best Qualified, Highly Qualified and Qualified. Veteran preference eligibles are listed ahead of non-preference eligibles within each quality category. Best Qualified.

Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements for the announced position. Highly Qualified. Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements for the announced position.

Qualified. Candidates in this category meet the minimum experience requirements for the announced position.

Documents you must provide

• The documents you are required to submit vary based on whether or not you are eligible for preference in federal employment.
• A complete description of preference categories and the associated required documents is in the Applicant Checklist for Public Announcements.
• As described above, your complete application includes your resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply.
• If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
• Your resume: Your resume must be two pages or less and must support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
• Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.
• For each relevant work experience, make sure you include the employer's name, job title, start and end dates (include month and year), for qualifications purposes, the number of hours worked per week, and a brief description that show you can perform the tasks at the required level listed in the job announcement.
• If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as incomplete, and you may not receive consideration for this position.
• Avoid using acronyms and terms that are not easily understood.
• The hiring agency will not make assumptions about what's in your resume.
• If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you may not be considered for this vacancy.
• For additional information, to include formatting tips, see: What to include in your resume.
• Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent Performance Appraisal, if applicable This position has an individual occupational requirement and/or allows for substitution of education for experience.
• If you meet this requirement based on education you MUST submit a copy of your transcript with your application package or you will be rated ineligible.
• See: Transcripts and Licenses NOTE: Documents submitted as part of the application package, to include supplemental documents, may be shared beyond the Human Resources Office.
• Some supplemental documents such as military orders and marriage certificates may contain personal information for someone other than you.
• You may sanitize these documents to remove another person's personal information before you submit your application.
• You may be asked to provide an un-sanitized version of the documents if you are selected to confirm your eligibility.

What to expect next

If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement.

You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Additional information

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

For further information, visit: *** This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Certain Personnel of the DoD Workforce to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service. Incentives may be authorized.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.

You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.

This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. Direct Deposit of Pay is required.

Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. This is a career field 18 position.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: ***