Foreign Service Engineering Officer

Job Description

Responsibilities

• Assist in the planning, analysis, negotiation, implementation and evaluation of USAID engineering and construction projects in support of the full range of foreign assistance objectives (governing justly and democratically, investing in people, economic growth, peace and stability, and humanitarian assistance). Manage U.S. Government resources, implementation teams, contractors and grantees to achieve specific program objectives and results consistent with overall US domestic and international policy and law.
• Serve as a technical resource to foreign assistance activities involving the project design and implementation of infrastructure and other construction projects. Support engineering and infrastructure activities by researching, reviewing and analyzing data; providing assistance and advice on engineering and construction issues. Assist in coordinating and managing strategies, policies, concepts, procedures, and guidelines for establishing infrastructure or construction projects. Analyze technical constraints to engineering and construction projects and recommend courses of action.
• Coordinate program development, implementation, and performance monitoring plans. Support the contracting activities for architecture and engineering, construction management, and construction services (e.g. design and bid documents for performance-based and incentive contracts, design-build and design-bid-build contracts, construction oversight and management services, etc.). Monitor progress and ensure compliance to design specifications and safety and sanitation standards through inspection of project sites.
• Coordinate assigned activities with other USAID Bureaus and Offices, the Department of State, other USG agencies, and the private sector.
• Perform a variety of duties related to special projects involving program issues that contain complex elements. Assist in managing special cross-cutting initiatives and task force groups to accomplish programmatic goals. These groups may review specific programs at the organization or develop new initiatives in various program areas.
• Provide technical guidance to several areas of emphasis within the overall portfolio; e.g. water and sanitation infrastructure; roads and transportation; energy; hospitals, clinics, schools and other public facilities; housing; etc.
• Provide cost estimations for quantities, cost of materials, equipment or labor to determine project feasibility and value engineering options. Supports project management activities, direction of construction, operations and maintenance activities at project sites.
• Assist in the preparation and presentation of engineering reports, such as bid requests, cost-benefit analyses, environmental impact statements, and feasibility studies descriptions.
• Serve as a technical resource in developing programs and operational plans for national, state, municipality service delivery objectives
• Define and accomplish technical assistance or A&E services for rehabilitation of infrastructure program objectives.
• Support utility sector policy reform efforts that include but are not limited to: operation and maintenance, utility management and administration, cost recovery and sector commercialization.

Requirements Conditions of Employment

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Must have worldwide availability.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS security clearance.
• Must be between 18 and 59 years old at time of application.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

This is a Foreign Service announcement. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience.

Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills – Shows courtesy and empathy to others; develops and maintains effective relationships; effectively deals with individuals who are difficult or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds cultures; is sensitive to individual differences.

Project Management - Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.

Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems.

Planning and Evaluating – organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short/long term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

FS-05: A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or architecture plus six (6) years of relevant experience including three (3) years overseas or diverse work experience OR Professional licensure in engineering (P.E.), a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or architecture and three (3) years of relevant experience including one (1) year of overseas or diverse work experience OR a Master’s degree in an engineering or architecture major plus three (3) years of relevant experience including one year overseas or diverse work experience. If applicants have both a BS and MS degree, at least one must be in engineering or architecture.

FS-04: A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or architecture plus seven (7) years of relevant experience including four (4) years overseas or diverse work experience OR Professional licensure in engineering (P.E.), a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or architecture and four (4) years of relevant experience including three (3) years of overseas or diverse work experience OR a Master’s degree in an engineering or architecture major plus four (4) years of relevant experience including three (3) years overseas or diverse work experience OR a PhD in in an engineering or architecture major plus four (4) years of relevant experience including three (3) years overseas or diverse work experience. If applicants have both a BS and MS degree, at least one must be in engineering or architecture.

Relevant experience includes engineering work in the public or private sector associated with technical consulting, design, oversight, construction or management of infrastructure projects. This includes involvement in the creation of engineering assessments such as feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, cost analysis and economic assessments. Overseas work on international development activities is considered relevant experience.

Overseas and diverse working environment includes: A) working and living in a foreign country, nation, territory, or tribe; or (B) working and living in an economically disadvantaged community in the United States. Such diverse work experience would be characterized by situations in which you were exposed to new cultures, learned foreign languages, encountered different behavioral norms and practices, coordinated and engaged with external partners and local counterparts, or conducted public outreach and communications.

Education

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements. Transcripts from any and all foreign educational institutions must be accompanied by an official Evaluation of Educational Credentials in order to be considered for the position. It is your responsibility to provide evidence that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States when applying. If you are qualifying based on foreign education, you must submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency.