Civil Engineer

Salary: $78,009.00 to $121,551.00 Per Year

This position is located in an Area or State Office within USDA Rural Development (RD). The 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. This position is filled through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Direct-Hire Authority for this occupation.

Major duties
Duties 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.

Qualifications

Applicants 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 or multi-family housing, wastewater facilities, businesses, community facilities, 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. Experience 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. 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.