Department: Department Of Homeland Security Agency: Federal Emergency Management Agency Job Announcement Number: AN224900 CIVIL ENGINEER Salary Range: 69,332.00 - 107,185.00 USD per year Series & Grade: GS-0810-12/13 Promotion Potential: 13 Open Period: Tuesday, January 5, 2009 to Thursday, February 19, 2009 Position Information: Full Time Career/Career Conditional Duty Locations: 1 vacancy - Philadelphia Metro area, PA When disaster strikes, America looks to FEMA. Now, FEMA looks to you. Join our team and use your talent to support Americans in their times of greatest need. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) prepares the nation for all hazards and manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. We foster innovation, reward performance and creativity, and provide challenges on a routine basis with a well skilled, knowledgeable, high performance workforce. FEMA offers development opportunities, competitive compensation, and networking opportunities. This position may be filled at the GS-12 or GS-13 grade level. WHO MAY APPLY: Open to all U.S. citizens and to all competitive status candidates (current Federal employees who serve under a competitive career-career conditional appointment in the competitive service), reinstatement eligibles (former Federal employees who served under a career appointment in the competitive service), and VEOA eligibles (veterans with preference and veterans who have been honorably discharged and substantially completed at least 3 years of continuous active duty service); those who are eligible for special or noncompetitive appointment authorities such as 30% or more compensably disabled veterans, persons with disabilities, and ICTAP eligibles. This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies. FEMA employees are subject to 24 hour on-call in the event of any emergency. This service may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites that require functioning under intense physical and mental stress. Key Requirements: U.S. citizenship required. FEMA employees are subject to deployment. Relocation expenses are not authorized. May be required to serve a one-year probationary period. Major Duties: Organization: This position is located in the Risk Analysis Branch of the Mitigation Division within a Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Office. Primary Purpose: The incumbent serves as Senior Engineer and performs program and engineering work in support of the National Flood Insurance Program and Mitigation Division goals to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects. Specific Duties: Incumbent serves as an advisor and technical representative and engineering expert for FEMA programs. Serves as the lead regional expert on current technology used for the flood map modernization initiative including one or two dimensional modeling, remote sensing, computer assisted mapping, and geographic information systems (GIS) and incorporates advances in these new technologies into the flood insurance studies. Identifies and defines study and mapping standards and recommends modifications so that hazard maps and studies reflect current policy and legal requirements. Provides expert technical direction to higher level of management conducting flood risk studies and mapping. Implements guidelines and specifications for the planning and engineering aspects of flood, mudslides and erosion studies to ensure that flood risk studies will provide a sound basis for insurance rating and floodplain management measures. Proposes work in order for study contractor to fulfill the needs and requirements of FEMA. Provides monitoring and oversight of technical issues with contractors. Works on grant administration and contracting in civil and or coastal engineering, hydrology, and surveying issues. Provides direction, counsel and guidance on all engineering related policies, principles and procedures. Participates in inter/intra agency meetings to develop and review flood hazard information. Serves as the technical subject matter expert for flood hazard information. Serves on technical committees dealing with local and regional water resource planning, hydraulics, hydrology, and related natural hazards. Develops and presents technical issues and conclusions to both technical and non-technical audiences. Prepares flood risk studies and mapping (i.e. hazard maps) work statements and guidelines to evaluate contractors. Responds to various inquiries through written correspondence regarding FEMA programs. Qualifications: BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: A. Have a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, 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: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Have a combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration --Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia , Guam , or Puerto Rico . Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test- Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia , Guam , and Puerto Rico . Applicants who have passed the EIT examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a bachelor's degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college of university that included 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, or (b) a BET from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) may be rated eligible for certain engineering positions at GS-5. Eligibility is limited to positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of the engineering technology program. Applicants for positions that involve highly technical research, development, or similar functions requiring an advanced level of competence in basic science must meet the basic requirements in paragraph A. Because of the diversity in kind and quality of BET programs, graduates of other BET programs are required to complete at least 1 year of additional education or highly technical work experience of such nature as to provide reasonable assurance of the possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for professional engineering competence. The adequacy of this background must be demonstrated by passing the EIT examination. Specified academic courses --Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum --Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-12: In addition to meeting the BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS applicants must also: Have one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes providing professional engineering advice on long term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects; reviewing of proposals for mitigation projects for engineering soundness and benefits/cost factors; provides technical direction to staff conducting flood risk studies and mapping; formulates guidelines and specifications for the planning and engineering aspects of flood mudslides and erosion studies; collaborating with other entities in the development of flood hazard information. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR GS-13: In addition to meeting the BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS applicants must also: Have one year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes providing professional engineering advice on long term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects; reviewing of proposals for mitigation projects for engineering soundness and benefits/cost factors; provides technical direction to staff conducting flood risk studies and mapping; formulates guidelines and specifications for the planning and engineering aspects of flood mudslides and erosion studies; collaborating with other entities in the development of flood hazard information. Applicants meeting the basic qualification requirements stated in this Employment Opportunity will be rated and ranked on the following Selective Placement Factor and Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities. This will provide a more detailed description of the applicant's background and skills as it relates to this specific vacancy. Selective Placement Factor: Demonstrated current knowledge and recent experience (within the last 10 years) in water resources engineering. Ideally this includes hydrology and open channel hydraulics modeling or coastal hydraulics modeling, digital mapping and an understanding of the National Flood Insurance Program. Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSA's): Knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and techniques of hydrology, hydraulics and/or coastal engineering and surveying. Knowledge of floodplain mapping processes which includes relevant practices in the fields of civil and/or coastal engineering and surveying. Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS), digital mapping, remote sensing, and state-of-the-art ground surveying techniques (GPS). Knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) statutory authority and regulations. General knowledge of the Federal government contracting process. Skill in communicating technical issues both orally and in writing. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Additional Requirements: This position requires a Public Trust background check. Key Emergency Essential Personnel - may be subject to 24 hour on call and/or irregular work hours in the event of an emergency. Travel may be required. May be required to serve on a 1 year probationary period. Time-in-Grade Requirements: Status applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the Federal service. How You Will Be Evaluated: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your application will be made to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire. The rating you receive is based on your responses to the questionnaire and is a measure of the degree to which your background matches the knowledge, skills and abilities required of this position. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and/or experience your rating will be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. If you receive an ineligible rating as a result of your occupational questionnaire response(s), your application/resume will not receive any further review or consideration. VETERANS PREFERENCE: Five-point preference is given to those honorably separated veterans (this means an honorable or general discharge) who served on active duty (not active duty for training) in the Armed Forces: during any war (this means a war declared by Congress, the last of which was World War II); during the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955; for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; during the Gulf War period beginning August 2, 1990, and ending January 2, 1992; for a period of more than 180 consecutive days any part of which occurred during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized, such as El Salvador, Lebanon, Granada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti. Medal holders and Gulf War veterans who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered on active duty on or after October 14, 1982, without having previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty, must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. Effective on October 1, 1980, military retirees at or above the rank of major or equivalent, are not entitled to preference unless they qualify as disabled veterans. Ten-point preference is given to: those honorably separated veterans who 1) qualify as disabled veterans because they have served on active duty in the Armed Forces at any time (including active duty for training) and have a present service-connected disability or are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs; or 2) are Purple Heart recipients; the spouse of a veteran unable to work because of a service-connected disability; the unmarried widow of certain deceased veterans; and the mother of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and totally disabled. Proof of Veterans' Preference: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD214. If you are currently on active duty and do not have a DD-214, you must provide an official "Statement of Service" from your Command. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must complete and submit a form SF-15, "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form. Note: Reservists who are retired from the Reserves but are not receiving retirement pay are not considered "retired military" for purposes of Veterans' preference. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) eligibles: To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must: be a preference eligible, OR be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.opm.gov/employ/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp. Benefits: The Federal government offers a number of exceptional benefits to its employees. The following Web addresses are provided for your reference to explore the major benefits offered to most Federal employees. Flexible Spending Accounts - The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. For additional information visit: https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp Health Insurance - The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program offers over 100 optional plans. For additional information visit: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp Leave - Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information visit: http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp Life Insurance - The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) offers: Basic Life Insurance plus three types of optional insurance, for additional information visit: http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.asp Long Term Care Insurance - The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for Federal employees and their parents, parents-in-law, stepparents, spouses, and adult children. For additional information visit: http://www.ltcfeds.com/ Retirement Program - Almost all new employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan. The three tiers are: Social Security Benefits, Basic Benefit Plan, Thrift Savings Plan. For additional information visit: http://www.opm.gov/retire/index.asp This link provides and overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp Other Information: This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. When promotion potential is shown, the agency is not making a commitment and is not obligated to provide future promotions to you if you are selected. Future promotions will be dependent on your ability to perform the duties at a higher grade level, the continuing need for an employee assigned to the higher level, and administrative approval. If you left Federal employment and received a buyout and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the buyout to the agency that paid you. Send only those materials needed to evaluate your application. Please do not place your application in a notebook or binder. Application materials will not be returned. Competitive status is not required for qualified handicapped individuals eligible for appointment under 5 CFR 213.3102(u); those eligible under the Veterans Recruitment Act; and those eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, provided that these individuals otherwise meet the description of 'Who May Be Considered.' If you are an eligible Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant, you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at 85 or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456. If you are a male applicant who was born after 12/31/59 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista, etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement. All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this 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 in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications. How To Apply: You must submit your application so that it will be received by the closing date of the announcement. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package, which includes both of the following parts: 1. Your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire, and 2. Your résumé and any other documents specified in the Required Documents section of this job announcement. Use Application Manager for convenience and quickest processing. Track your progress to a Complete Application Package using the My Application Packages checklist and status displays in Application Manager. Your Application Package status must be Complete by February 19, 2009. Option A: Application Manager Application Manager may be used to submit all required documents under this announcement. To begin, choose one of these options: If your résumé is going to come from the USAJOBS Resume Builder, you begin the process by clicking the Apply Online button near the bottom of this page. Your résumé will be attached only to the Application Package you complete and Submit immediately after you click the Apply Online button for this job announcement, not to any Application Packages you may already have created. If your résumé is going to be one you prepared outside of USAJOBS Résumé Builder, click this link to begin the process: Online Questionnaire. To return to Application Manager at any time, use whichever one of the links you used to begin as described above, or simply go to https://ApplicationManager.gov. Option B: Paper Qualifications Questionnaire If it is not possible for you to use Application Manager, you can write your answers on paper. Follow these steps: 1. You can print a copy of this job announcement so that you can read the questions offline. 2. Obtain and print a copy of the OPM Form 1203-FX, which you will use to provide your answers. You can obtain the form at this URL http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/OPM1203fx.pdf or by calling USAJOBS by Phone at (703) 724-1850; after the introduction, press 1, and listen for instructions. 3. You may submit the Form 1203-FX, resume, and any supporting documents either by fax, by mail or in person: A) By Fax: If you upload your documents using Application Manager, Do Not Fax the same documents. To verify uploaded documents have been processed, please wait one hour to ensure they have cleared the virus scan. You can verify that your uploaded documents are attached to your application by checking the Details tab of your Application Manager account https://applicationmanager.gov for this vacancy announcement. Your documents will display under the Details tab in the Document area. Faxed documents will take 2-3 business days to process. To fax documents, you MUST use the special fax cover page. Print the pre-populated cover page on the upload documents screen of Application Manager. Or, you may click this link http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf to print a copy of the cover page. When faxing documents, follow the procedures outlined below. Include the 8-character Vacancy Identification Number AN224900 Provide your Social Security Number and full name in the spaces provided or we will not be able to associate your document(s) with the rest of your application. You may submit multiple documents for the same vacancy announcement using one cover page. Fax your cover page and documents to 1-478-757-3144. Faxed documents submitted with missing information will not be processed. The following will prevent your documents from being processed: Not using the special cover page mentioned above. Missing, incomplete, or invalid Vacancy Identification Number Missing or incomplete Social Security Number or name Note: If you have documents in your Application Manager account from a previous vacancy announcement they can be opened, copied and saved then reused as an upload file for this vacancy. Uploading your documents will speed the processing of your application for this announcement. B) By Mail or In Person: AN224900 Mid Atlantic Services Branch Norfolk Office of Personnel Management 200 Granby Street Suite 500 Norfolk, VA 23510-1886 APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY Saturday, May 30, 2009 (Eastern Time). Instructions for completing the OPM 1203-FX: If you are applying to this announcement by completing the OPM 1203-FX form instead of using the online application methods, please use the following step-bystep instructions as a guide to filling out the required questionnaire. You will need to print the vacancy announcement and refer to it as you answer the questions. You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application and print your responses before submission. You are responsible for the accuracy of your application. Social Security Number Enter your Social Security Number. Providing your Social Security Number is voluntary, however, we cannot process your application without it. Vacancy Identification Number AN224900 1. Title of Job CIVIL ENGINEER 2. Biographic Data 3. E-Mail Address If you would like to be notified by E-mail, please select Yes and enter your e-mail address in the space provided. 4. Work Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 5. Employment Availability If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 6. Citizenship Are you a citizen of the United States? 7. Background Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 8. Other Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 9. Languages If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 10. Lowest Grade Select/enter the lowest grade you are willing to accept: 12 - 13 12 13 11. Miscellaneous Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 12. Special Knowledge If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 13. Test Location If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 14. Veteran Preference Claim Select/enter your claim for Veterans’ Preference. 15. Dates of Active Duty - Military Service 16. Availability Date If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 17. Service Computation Date If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 18. Other Date Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 19. Job Preference Please select the appropriate response to the question below: Are you a current career or career conditional FEMA employee? 1 Yes, I am a current career or career conditional FEMA employee. 2 No, I am not a current career or career conditional FEMA Employee. 20. Occupational Specialties Select/enter at least one occupational specialty code as defined below. Your selection will be used to determine your consideration for this position under open competitive and/or merit promotion procedures. The specialty codes for this position are 001, 002 and 003. You must select at least one specialty code; however, you may select all three codes, if applicable. 001 - All U.S. Citizens 002 - Competitive merit promotion. This includes current Federal employees who serve under a competitive career-career conditional appointment in the competitive service), reinstatement eligibles (former Federal employees who served under a career appointment in the competitive service), and VEOA eligibles (veterans with preference and veterans who have been honorably discharged and substantially completed at least 3 years of continuous active duty service). 003 - Noncompetitive merit promotion. This includes applicants who are eligible for special or noncompetitive appointment authorities such as 30% or more compensable disabled veterans, Veterans' Recruitment Authority (VRA), and persons with disabilities. This also includes applicants who meet the qualifications for this position and who have previously held, or currently hold, a Federal position at the grade of this position as announced under AN224900. 001 All U.S. Citizens 002 Competitive Merit Promotion 003 Noncompetitive Merit Promotion 21. Geographic Availability The location code for this position: 0533 Philadelphia Metro area, PA 22. Transition Assistance Plan In this section indicate if you are a surplus or displaced Federal employee requesting special priority consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). Note: To receive consideration for CTAP or ICTAP, you must submit the necessary supporting documentation. Refer to the vacancy announcement for additional information and instructions. 23. Job Related Experience If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 24. Personal Background Information If you are applying by the OPM Form 1203-FX, leave this section blank. 25. Occupational/Assessment Questions: 1. From the descriptions below, select the one which best describes your education and/or experience to meet the BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS for Civil Engineer, GS-0810-12/13. Mark only 1 response. A. I have a professional engineering degree. To be acceptable, 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: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. B. I have a combination of education and experience--college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION--Current registration as a professional engineer by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. WRITTEN TEST- Evidence of having successfully passed the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination, or the written test required for professional registration, which is administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Applicants who have passed the EIT examination and have completed all the requirements for either (a) a bachelor's degree in engineering technology (BET) from an accredited college of university that included 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences. Eligibility is limited to positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of the engineering technology program. Applicants for positions that involve highly technical research, development, or similar functions requiring an advanced level of competence in basic science must meet the basic requirements in paragraph A. Because of the diversity in kind and quality of BET programs, graduates of other BET programs are required to complete at least 1 year of additional education or highly technical work experience of such nature as to provide reasonable assurance of the possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for professional engineering competence. The adequacy of this background must be demonstrated by passing the EIT examination. 3. SPECIFIED ACADEMIC COURSES--Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A. 4. RELATED CURRICULUM--Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field, e.g., physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. C. My education and/or experience are not reflected in any of the above statements. 2. From the descriptions below, select the one which best describes your experience to meet the ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS for Civil Engineer, GS-0810-12/13. Mark only 1 response. A. I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes providing professional engineering advice on long term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects; reviewing of proposals for mitigation projects for engineering soundness and benefits/cost factors; provides technical direction to staff conducting flood risk studies and mapping; formulates guidelines and specifications for the planning and engineering aspects of flood mudslide and erosion studies; collaborating with other entities in the development of flood hazard information. B. I have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes providing professional engineering advice on long term risks to people and property from hazards and their effects; reviewing of proposals for mitigation projects for engineering soundness and benefits/cost factors; provides technical direction to staff conducting flood risk studies and mapping; formulates guidelines and specifications for the planning and engineering aspects of flood mudslide and erosion studies; collaborating with other entities in the development of flood hazard information. C. My experience is not reflected in the above statement. 3. I have demonstrated current knowledge and recent experience (within the last 10 years) in water resources engineering. Ideally this includes hydrology and open channel hydraulics modeling or coastal hydraulics modeling, digital mapping and an understanding of the National Flood Insurance Program. A. Yes B. No 4. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your Knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and techniques of hydrology, hydraulic, and/or coastal engineering, and surveying. Mark only 1 response. A. I have demonstrated experience in developing, evaluating, and/or applying the theories, principles, practices, and techniques of hydrology, hydraulic and coastal engineering, river mechanics, surveying, and other engineering or related disciplines, with emphasis on flood hazard analyses and mapping in the context of the National Flood Insurance Program. B. I have demonstrated experience in evaluating or applying several of the theories, principles, practices, and techniques of hydrology, hydraulic and/or coastal engineering, river mechanics, surveying and other engineering or related disciplines, with emphasis on flood hazard analyses and mapping in the context of the National Flood Insurance Program. C. I have demonstrated experience applying the basic theories, principles, practices, and techniques of hydrology, hydraulic engineering, river mechanics, and other engineering or related disciplines, with emphasis on flood hazard analyses and mapping in the context of the National Flood Insurance Program. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. 5. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your Knowledge of floodplain mapping processes which includes relevant practices in the fields of civil and/or coastal engineering, hydrology, and surveying. Mark only 1 response. A. I have demonstrated experience in applying and developing approaches and methodologies for the preparation of flood studies or other natural hazard identification studies (in civil engineering, hydrology, and surveying), which includes providing direction during the preparation of the study through decision-making relevant to its completion rendering if defensible against scrutiny from outside interests. I have expert knowledge of the entire floodplain analyses and mapping process, including relevant and leading edge practices in the fields of civil and coastal engineering, hydrology, river mechanics, and surveying. B. I have experience in contributing to developing approaches and methodologies for the preparation of flood studies or other natural hazard identification studies (in civil engineering, hydrology, and surveying), which are defensible against scrutiny from outside interests. I have extensive knowledge of the entire floodplain analysis and mapping process, including relevant practices in the fields of civil and/or coastal engineering, hydrology, river mechanics, and surveying. C. I have experience in using approaches and methodologies for the preparation of flood studies or other natural hazard identification studies (in civil engineering, hydrology, and surveying), which are usually defensible against scrutiny from outside interests. I have broad knowledge of the relevant practices in the fields of civil engineering, hydrology, and surveying. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. 6. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS), digital mapping, remote sensing, and state-of-the-art ground surveying techniques (Global Positioning Systems). Mark only 1 response. A. I have extensive knowledge and experience in geographic information systems (GIS) techniques, including collecting field data and creating digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps, or other types of digital map products. I have experience in preparing final digital map products for distribution in appropriate formats (i.e. Internet, CD, paper, other). I also have demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in data collection using remote sensing and state of the art Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. B. I have knowledge and experience in geographic information systems (GIS) techniques, including creating digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps or other map products after field data have been compiled. I have experience data organization, digitization, and other aspects of digital map production. I also have a basic knowledge and/or experience in data collection using remote sensing or Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. C. I have a basic knowledge in using a geographic information system (GIS) and digital map production. I also have a basic knowledge and/or experience in data collection using remote sensing or Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. 7. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your Knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) statutory authority and regulations. Mark only 1 response. A. I have specific knowledge and experience implementing regulations relating to the National Flood Insurance Program. B. I have experience in implementing regulations relating to the mapping and/or floodplain management aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program. C. I have a general knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program statutory authority and regulations. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. 8. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your General knowledge of the federal government contracting processes. Mark only 1 response. A. I have direct experience with Federal contracting procedures, including the monitoring and oversight of technical contracting issues. I have additional experience in developing work statements and guidelines, as well as evaluating and overseeing the results and progress of Federal level technical contracting studies. B. I have experience with Federal contracting procedures, including the monitoring and oversight of technical contracting issues. C. I have a general knowledge of Federal or non-Federal contracting procedures. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. 9. Choose from the statements below the response that best describe your Skill in communicating technical issues both orally and in writing. Mark only 1 response. A. I have considerable experience in developing and presenting technical issues and conclusions to both technical and non-technical audiences, such as Federal, state, and/or local government audiences, or to the general public. I have experience training groups or individuals on procedural or technical issues. I am skilled in the preparation of reports, technical papers, and/or correspondence. Some papers have been published in scientific journals or conference proceedings. B. I have experience in developing and presenting issues and conclusions to both technical and non-technical audiences. I also have experience in the preparation of reports or technical papers. C. I have experience involving both oral and written technical and non-technical communications. D. My experience is not reflected in any of the above statements. Required Documents: For this job announcement the following documents are REQUIRED: Résumé Transcripts (If education/coursework is required for this position and/or you are qualifying based on education, you must submit a copy of your transcripts or a complete course listing that includes credit hours and grades.) Assessment Questionnaire responses SF-50* (if applicable) Veterans' Preference or VEOA documentation (if applicable) ICTAP/CTAP documentation (if applicable) Additional required documents as specified in the Section "Other Information" * If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. If you are a current FEMA career or careerconditional Federal employee, you do not have to submit a SF-50. To submit the documents requested follow the options listed in the "How To Apply" section of this announcement. Your resume, curriculum vitae, the Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF612), or any written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications can be submitted electronically using the document upload process, fax, mail or by hand deliver. Please ensure your resume contains your full name, address, phone and at least your last four digits of your social security number. Complete applications must be received by midnight Eastern Time on Thursday February 19, 2009. Contact Information: Mid-Atlantic Services Branch Phone: (757)441-6765 Email: NorfolkMail@opm.gov Or write: Mid Atlantic Services Branch Norfolk OPM Federal Building 200 Granby Street Norfolk, VA 23510-1886 What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. You will be notified of the outcome. The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.