Fire Protection Engineer

This position is located in the Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief of Operations, Superintendent Library Buildings and Grounds, Assistant Superintendent Facilities Support Division. The incumbent is a Senior Fire Protection Engineer, assisting the Supervisory Fire Protection Engineer, Facilities Support Division with the fire protection systems, fire alarm systems and utilities in the Library Buildings and Grounds.

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Applications Will be Accepted from All US Citizens

Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday 7:00AM - 3:30PM

MAJOR DUTIES: Listed at the GS-14 Level.

Program Development and Coordination (30%)

Formulates and designs jurisdiction-wide programs, plans, procedures, and methodologies for programs to improve fire protection and life safety compliance. Advocates for the use of innovative improvement techniques that are appropriate to the agency mission and culture.

Working with jurisdiction and Safety and Code Compliance counterparts, the incumbent leads the fire protection program and assists with leading the Library Buildings and Grounds toward meeting the organization's vision, mission and goals. Demonstrates leadership in an inclusive workplace that fosters the success of the programs.

Cooperates with stakeholders both internal and external to the jurisdiction to assure that Fire Protection and Life Safety policies are interpreted and applied consistently, that program/projects are created and applied coherently, and that strategies, programs, and projects that prove particularly successful are available to be used elsewhere.

Leads the development, creation and implementation of SOPs, policies and procedures for the LBG's Fire Protection Program. Includes the readiness of emergency management documents for LBG and oversees emergency exercises.

Analyze and provide solutions to create long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones for evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of the implementation of these programs. Consider factors such as attainment of program goals and objectives, and compliance with Agency establish policies. Develop and provide preliminary courses of action to be taken to address changes in programs, technological developments, policies and processes.

Develop comprehensive reports on both the technical and administrative aspects of the responsible programs for higher level management.

Project Management (25%)

Functions as the technical expert for broad programs involving the design, installation, maintenance, and operation of fire protection systems, assemblies, structures, and operations. Manages significant elements or phases of fire prevention/protection projects. Overcomes difficult and complex technical, project management, program management and organizational problems using innovative and original approaches.

Plans, guides, coordinates, and the work of contractors engaged in accomplishing the missions and functions of the organization. Performs periodic review and analysis to assess achievement of major goals and milestones. Develop operational procedures and directs in the interpretation and application of the National Fire Codes of the National Fire Protection Association as the authority having jurisdiction within the context of the various fire and building codes under the delegated authority of Policy 11-6. Participates in preliminary and critical fire protection design reviews and determines, develops, and defends requirements.

Technical Advice and Guidance (25%)

Acts as an expert consultant on the most challenging problems in fire protection engineering and life safety for the jurisdiction. Works with all levels of local management and program officials, key personnel of outside agencies and private industry to resolve and track complex and controversial problems that arise. Identifies changes and repairs necessary for fire protection and life safety compliance in jurisdiction properties and develops comprehensive plans to carry out changes.

Provides expert advice to jurisdiction management officials and their staff regarding fire protection and life safety aspects of design, modernization, operation, repair and maintenance systems and equipment.

Researches and investigates fire protection and life safety problems and incidents to determine required actions and the root cause of the incident. Recommends corrective action and changes to AOC standards that will prevent recurrence of the incident.

Oversees special fire protection engineering and life safety studies that lead to major modifications of current systems or resolves key problems facing the jurisdiction.

Performs major, complex phases of specific assignments or projects designed to accomplish comprehensive goals of Fire Protection Engineering.

Contract Management (20%)

Performs contractor oversight duties as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR), modifying or rejecting task plans and other deliverables for fire protection systems. Evaluates overall effectiveness and assesses technical design submissions for compliance with national codes.

Responsible for design and configuration of fire protection systems and final acceptance or rejection of fire protection system installations and modifications. Evaluates and approves all fire protection system requirements and operational procedures, preventive maintenance tasks, inspection plans, repairs, corrections, tests and priorities.

Performs other related duties as assigned

• Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related KSAs.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
• Must meet the educational requirement for Engineers.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.

To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States.

You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM qualification standards

Specialized experience: is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level.

Candidates for the GS-14 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience at the GS-13 level is Mastery of fire protection system design performing design, troubleshooting, as well as familiarity with installation, maintenance and repair of fire protection systems for the jurisdiction involving the oversight of contractors and direction for a wide variety of technical and trade craft work of in-house workers. Development of agency wide fire protection policies, standards, regulations, practices, and procedures to eliminate or control potential fire hazards.

Candidates for the GS-13 grade level must have at least 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower (GS-12) grade level in the Federal service.
Specialized experience at the GS-12 level is Surveying existing fire protection and fire alarm systems, developing details of working drawings and preparing preliminary cost estimates for assigned features; developing alternate layouts to determine feasibility, economy, suitability, and practicability of design.

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements for this position, applicants must possess the following:

Education Required for Engineers:

1. Bachelor's degree in professional engineering: To be creditable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; 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: - statics, dynamics; - strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); - fluid mechanics, hydraulics; - thermodynamics; - electrical fields and circuits; - nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and - any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat