FACILITY MANAGER |  |
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
Announcement No.: FM-10-01
Opening Date: January 15, 2010
Closing Date: February 12, 2010
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE FACILITY MANAGER
Starting Salary Range: FP-04, $57,678 - $84,702 per annum per annum
Additional Benefits: When assigned overseas, Foreign Service employees are provided tax free housing and utilities and a tax free educational allowance for their dependents. Approximately two-thirds of all assignments abroad qualify for additional compensation (5% - 35% of base pay) depending on the location. For additional benefits see Compensation and Benefits.
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State (DOS) is developing a rank order hiring register of eligible candidates to fill a limited number of entry-level Foreign Service Facility Manager (FSFM) vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
Area of Consideration: All Sources
Location: Initial assignment will be in Washington, D.C. for orientation and training. Afterwards, appointees will be assigned overseas, moving at two to three year intervals to other overseas or domestic assignments.
All potential applicants are strongly urged to read this entire Vacancy Information to ensure that they meet all of the requirements for this position before applying.
Applicants must be American citizens and at least 20 years old to apply and at least 21 years of age to be appointed. By law (Foreign Service Act of 1980), all career candidates must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month in which they reach age 60.
For more information contact the Department of State, Office of Human Resources, HR/REE, 202-261-8904.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
A Facility Manager (FM) in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) manages the Department of State's real property assets abroad. FMs oversee large holdings of United States Government-owned and leased properties, and ensure they are maintained within accepted U.S. standards in a safe and operable condition. They provide a wide range of building-related services, managing physical resources and asset management operations in a specific country. FMs may be assigned as Regional Facility Managers with responsibilities for FM program activities in several countries. FMs normally work under the direction of the Management Counselor or Officer at post, and supervise one of the largest and most diverse work forces at an Embassy. Facility Mangers are responsible for:
- Strategic planning - maintains property inventory, develops preventive maintenance plan, determines replacement dates, performs annual facility condition inspections, determines facility condition indexes, develops work orders, prepares inspection documentation, performs long range planning, develops annual maintenance work plan, maintains post's development master plan, plans facility budget, and establishes performance goals.
- Asset management - prepares briefing data, ensures facility warranty compliance, executes service contracts, submits facility maintenance and repair requirements documents, uses computerized maintenance management system, analyzes maintenance data, prepares contingency plans, and ensures regulatory compliance.
- Facility operation and maintenance - operates physical plant, maintains physical plant, repairs physical plant, oversees contractor performance, assists contract development, schedules and modifies physical plant operations, develops preventative maintenance schedules, develops maintenance and repair resource estimates, institutes maintenance policy, monitors and improves post energy use, ensures utilities availability, maintains maintenance equipment accountability, and maintains reference library and materials.
- Work management - monitors ICASS standards (international cooperative administrative support services), allocates funds, prioritizes work, establishes work schedules, conducts customer surveys, institutes quality control procedures, inspects custodial and grounds maintenance work, coordinates facility management activities, and ensures maintenance and repair materials availability.
- Personnel administration - sets performance goals and objectives, prepares employee evaluations, develops training programs, develops staffing patterns, improves professional proficiency, performs routine safety inspections, administers safety training, ensures safe work practices, ensures proper handling of HAZMAT, and tests post water and ambient air quality.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF DUTIES:
FMs are normally deemed "essential personnel" in most missions, and are required to be on "stand-by" or "on-call" duty 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Some posts' operations never shut down, and in other instances, extended hours may be dictated by high-level visits or the political climate of the host country of assignment.
CAREER TRACK MOVEMENT:
The FM career path requires the attainment of professional designations that vary based upon pay-grade level. Promotion eligibility to the FP-02 level requires the attainment of the Facility Management Administrator (FMA) designation from the Building Owners and Managers Institute International (BOMI). Promotion eligibility to the FP-01 level requires the attainment of the Certified Plant Engineer (CPE) designation from the Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE). Additionally, promotion eligibility requires the completion of specific Department of State leadership and management courses at several levels.
Once promotion eligibility is met for a specific pay-grade level, the FM's name is submitted to the annual Promotion Selection Board. Boards meet to review each FM's Employee Evaluation Report (EER). Available promotions are awarded to FMs whose EERs have demonstrated their ability and potential to perform successfully at the next level of responsibility. Due to the limited number of yearly promotion opportunities, promotion panels select promotees based on published criteria and quality of performance. Performance is evaluated annually, in writing, by the supervisor.
INITIAL SALARY, SALARY INCREASES AND TENURE:
Initial salaries for new employees are set within the FP-04 pay scale of the Foreign Service Salary Schedule depending on education, specialized experience and salary history. Salaries are determined at the time the offer of employment is made.
In general, persons with satisfactory performance ratings receive a within-grade salary increase annually through step 10 and biennially through step 14 if they have not received an equivalent increase during that period.
Foreign Service Specialist Career Candidates are considered for tenure by a Tenuring Board after a minimum of two years experience in the Foreign Service.
EDUCATION AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, all Facility Manager candidates must have at least a Bachelor's degree at the time of appointment, as indicated below.
| Grade Level | ANNUAL SALARY | EDUCATION REQUIREMENT | SPECIALIZED Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP-04 | $57,678 to $84,702 | BS or BA Degree | 3 Years |
| FP-04 | $57,678 to $84,702 | BS/BA in Facility Management | 0 Years |
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT:
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree from an accredited program. A B.S. or B.A. in any undergraduate course or major is acceptable; however additional credit will be given for degrees in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Facility Engineering
- Facility Management
- Mechanical Engineering
- Construction Engineering
- Civil/Structural Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Architecture
- Project Management
- Degrees received from non-U.S. colleges or universities will be considered acceptable based on any of the following evidences:
- The candidate submits an evaluation of completed course work from an accredited program in a college or university. The candidate must substantiate that foreign course work is equal to the curriculum recognized by an accredited foreign degree evaluation organization. .
- A state university in the U.S. accepts the institution as one whose transcript is given full value in subject areas applicable to the curriculum at the state university and is a recognized non-U.S. equivalent program.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
This job requires a minimum of 3 years of work experience in facility management. Specialized experience must show that applicants have an in-depth knowledge of their field and can be expected to perform maintenance and/or engineering duties related to the operation of Department of State facilities worldwide. Applicants must show that their academic achievements and/or job-related experience have been at progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
A master's degree in an engineering-related discipline may be substituted for one year of specialized experience or a doctoral degree in a related discipline may be substituted for two years experience toward satisfying the three year minimum requirement for specialized experience. No specialized experience is required if the applicant holds an undergraduate or graduate degree in Facility Management.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The education, work experience, and other qualifications will be evaluated for evidence of the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and other requirements that have been identified as important to successful job performance as a Facilities Manager based on extensive job analysis research. Not all of these attributes need to be met by a candidate; the attributes will be used as a set to evaluate candidates.
- Knowledge of facilities management fundamentals, construction methods, machines and tools, architectural and engineering drawings, facility maintenance planning, property inventory methods, facility condition inspection, statements of work, acquisition and contracting procedures, building codes, computer applications, service contracts, contractor performance evaluation, facility warranty agreements, physical plant operation, health and safety practices and procedures, environmental safety practices and procedures, equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies and procedures, and human resource practices. Knowledge of these areas in the federal government is desirable but not essential.
- Skill in communication, project management, formulating cost and planning estimates, writing statements of work, architectural and engineering drawings, choosing tools and test equipment, trouble shooting, installation, leading a multinational workgroup, interpersonal relationships, and negotiation.
- Other requirements such as curiosity about peoples and cultures, interest in living abroad, tolerance of travel, worldwide available, tolerance of living away from family, tolerance for working overseas, and tolerance for hardship, isolation, and/or possible danger.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications.
HOW TO APPLY:
The following application materials are necessary for a complete application package. They become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned:
- A completed Application for Federal Employment (DS-1950) (534kb, PDF).
- A completed Employment Data Form (This is an optional form which requests information to be used for statistical purposes only) on pages 6 and 7 of the DS-1950.
- A copy of your latest Personnel Action (SF-50), if you are presently a federal employee.
- A completed Supplemental Qualifications Statement (KSAs).
- A two-to-three page typed narrative autobiography which discusses your:
- Personal history (background)
- General work experience, not included in the application, which is related to this position.
- Personal interests and hobbies.
- Motivation for wanting a career in the Foreign Service facility management profession.
- Official college or university transcripts including confirmation of any degree(s).*
- A copy of your most recent annual performance report.
* A copy of the transcript(s) may be used pending issuance of the Official documentation.
These documents should be submitted together and addressed to:
U.S. Mail, Overnight or Federal Express deliveries
U.S. Department of State
Application Evaluation Branch
Attn: Facility Manager (FM) Program
2401 E Street, NW, Room H-518
Washington, DC 20522
For additional information please refer to our web site at careers.state.gov.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
A: College Transcripts
Applicants will be prompted to print out a fax coversheet once they have successfully submitted their application. Instructions for submitting these forms are included in the online application. This document must be faxed before the closing date of this announcement, which is midnight eastern time.
Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable as part of the application process. If you are selected for an interview you will be asked to bring your official transcripts to your oral assessment.
B: Supplementary Questionnaire
Purpose: The Supplementary Questionnaire provides an opportunity to describe examples of your experience which relate to the skills listed below and best show your ability to handle various aspects of construction engineering. The information you give may be used to structure your oral examination/interview should you be invited, and is an important factor in the competitive evaluation of applicants.
Instructions: Limit responses to 200 words or less for each item. Describe how you used the following abilities and/or knowledge, indicating the source from which the work related experience was acquired. Examples can be drawn from any part of your personal experience. Compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Facility Manager is the ability to write clearly and concisely.
- Facility Management Skills:
Give examples of a broad working knowledge of all aspects of facility management to include project management, planning, contract management and maintenance management of major building systems (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, electrical systems, building automation, fire alarms, electrical generation, waste water and plumbing, etc.) - Project Management Skills:
Give examples of a working knowledge of and previous experience in construction and renovation to include development of Statements of Work (SOW), requests for proposals (RFP), cost estimates and a broad knowledge of US and International building standards. - Computer Skills:
Give examples of your knowledge of computer and software techniques, requirements, methodologies, procedures, and current developments as they relate to practices in the facility management field (i.e. CMMS, Autocad, MS Office Suite and communication software). - Interpersonal and Leadership Skills:
Discuss your ability to supervise and manage a diverse workforce, including directing and motivating others. (Describe experience in at least one of the following: planning for short and long range staffing needs; planning and adjusting schedules; evaluating employees' work; demonstrated effectiveness with employee relations; managing an employee safety program; and/or analyzing and improving operations.) - Problem Solving:
Give examples demonstrating your ability to think logically and objectively, to analyze problems, and to apply sound judgment in assessing the practical implications of alternative solutions. - Communication Skills:
Give examples displaying your ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.
C: Autobiography
A maximum 1,000 word autobiography which discusses your:
- Personal background
- General comments on work experience
- Personal interests and hobbies
- Motivation for joining the Foreign Service as a Facility Manager
In cases where education is substituted for experience, copies of college transcripts, diplomas, etc. must be presented at the time of oral assessment. At the same time, bring a copy of your Professional Engineering Registration or Certificate of Engineer in Training, or other certifications, if applicable. These materials become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned.
Selected candidates: Please note all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with the oral assessment are the responsibility of the candidate.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 310, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABLING CONDITION, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, MARITAL STATUS, OR PRIOR STATUTORY, CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITY. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES. APPLICANTS REQUIRING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION OR HIRING PROCESS SHOULD SO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT. ALL DECISIONS FOR GRANTING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.