U.S. Department of State CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER Full Time

Summary:

The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Construction Engineering positions based on the needs of the Department. Learn more about the Department of State and a career in the Foreign Service at https://careers.state.gov.

Clarification from the agency
Must be a U.S. citizen. Potential applicants should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements and understand a Foreign Service career. Applicants may not reapply for one year after their previous application for the same position. If a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years, you may not apply (except Diplomatic Security Special Agent (SA) candidates whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).

The following are typical duties, performed at various grade levels, in the course of a career as a Construction Engineer (CE).

OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS

Responsible for performing:

Duties of an Owner’s Representative for the USG including quality assurance tasks, approving quality programs, hiring, and managing quality assurance staff.
Financial control tasks including approving progress payment requests, preparing estimates, evaluating changes in costs, evaluating contractors’ claims, establishing procedures for petty cash, controlling costs, and monitoring schedule.
Safety tasks including approving project safety programs, monitoring safety, ensuring safety training and equipment, and ensuring health requirements.
Security tasks including approving project security programs, managing security staff, monitoring security, ensuring document security, and coordinating final inspections.
Preconstruction tasks including performing design reviews and constructability reviews.
Administrative tasks including managing the site office, approving budgets, preparing inventories, hiring and managing local employees, preparing reports and files, liaising with local officials and utilities, performing contracting officer duties, ensuring proper inventory control, and performing other site obligations (e.g., tours).
Commissioning tasks including coordinating close outs, commissioning of systems, managing the commissioning agent, providing warranty support, ensuring commissioning training, and participating in relocation.
Responsible for ensuring:

Contractor’s work is properly inspected;
Corrective actions take place;
Trades are certified;
Materials meet contract specifications; and
Conflict resolution.
Responsible for:

Selecting laboratories for testing; and
Accepting contractor submittals.
DOMESTIC ASSIGNMENTS

Responsible for performing:

Program management and project support tasks including prequalifying bidders, evaluating bids, participating in the design of new facilities, providing guidance to contractors, coordinating construction projects, coordinating procurement, traveling to project sites, making recommendations to contracting officers, organizing meetings, preparing progress information, providing supervision, and participating in planning.
Administrative support tasks including developing special contract provisions, participating in policy/procedure development, and participating in training.

Responsible for:

Following established safety regulations related to construction and renovation practices and regulations.
Supervising contractors and tradesmen that work with building equipment, heavy machinery and construction vehicles. All of these tasks are at times performed at construction sites with ambient noise and other environmental factors that are typical for such sites.