Open Date: February 9, 2022
Closing Date: March 3, 2022
Position Title: Intern –Student Trainee (Engineering and Architecture) GS-0899-03
Type of Appointment: Post-Secondary Students for a TERM appointment, then will be converted to permanent upon completion of intern program.
Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District. (Duty location could be: Pullman, WA, Spokane, WA, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Bridgeport, WA, Yakima, WA, Seattle, WA, Mtn. Home, ID, Corvalis, OR)
Salary Range:
GS-03: $28758 – 41,273 - This is the Recruitment Grade GS-04: $32,283 – 46,330 - This is the Target Grade
Duties:
This intern position is designed to prepare a student trainee for employment after graduation as a General, Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineer or Architect. Interns will be assigned tasks designed to increase familiarity with the target occupation in a real world work environment.
- Assist with data collection, extraction and analysis by entering and retrieving data in spreadsheets.
- Assist with field inspections, collection of survey data and using surveying techniques.
- Assist with development of engineering plans and details using engineering software.
- Assist with preparing and delivering verbal and written presentations/reports.
- Assist with inspection of construction in accordance with applicable criteria, provide responses to questions raised by contractors, review of construction submittals, and overall support to construction program.
For this internship, you must be a current student majoring in General, Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, or Architecture. These occupations have specific educational requirements for entry and applicants must show evidence that their planned academic program will meet those requirements (i.e. transcript reflecting enrollment in applicable programs). Students who graduate without meeting those requirements may not be converted to the target position and could be separated from federal service.
Education Requirement Links:
Engineering - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/ general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering- positions-0800.pdf
Architect - https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/ general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/architecture-series-0808/
Qualifications:
To qualify for this Student Trainee (Engineering and Architecture) position at the GS-03 level under the Internship program:
INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT:
Positions are open to CURRENT students pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution who are currently enrolled in at least a half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled). NOTE: Short-term training programs (e.g., several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study.
This opportunity follows a standard promotional path:
- Internship selection will be made at the GS-03. This grade level is what typical college students in their second year may qualify at. (If selected at the GS-899-03 can be promoted non-competitively to the GS-0899-04 while in the Intern Program.)
- Within 120 days after completion of Internship requirements, you may be eligible for conversion to the entry-level for the target occupation. Entry level for these positions are typically at the GS-05, GS-07 or GS-09 level.
- The full performance level of this position is GS-12.
- Progression from the entry-level to the full performance level for this occupation will depend on successful completion of all requirements for promotion. Promotions may be considered after a year at each grade level, but are not guaranteed to occur on a specific time schedule.
Program Completion and Conversion:
Interns may be converted to a permanent position within 120 days of successful completion of the program.
To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
- Complete at least 640 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program.
- Complete their degree or certificate requirements.
- Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted.
- Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
- Perform their job successfully.
For the GS-03 Level:
To qualify for a Internship as a GS-03, students must have completed one full academic years of post-high school study.
For qualification purposes, an academic year is computed as follows:
- At the undergraduate level, successfully completed education that has not led to possession of a degree is credited based on its relationship to 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours. For example, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. Additional credit cannot be given for duplicate course work.
- For study at a business or technical school, 36 weeks of study (20+ classroom hours per week) is comparable to 1 academic year above high school.
- An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study. This determination is made based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended.
- When academic credit is expressed in contract months, units, or other terms that differ from conventional semester or quarter hours, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide an interpretation of such credits from the appropriate institution in order to equate them to the semester or quarter hours specified in the standard.
NOTE: If your college, vocational, trade, technical or high schools' definition of "academic year" differs from above, you must submit proof of this difference (e.g., copy of course catalog that defines an academic year). Absent this documentation, you will screened for academic qualifications based on the academic hours as defined in the bullets above.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities needed for this Position:
Communications
Research
Scientific Analysis
Teamwork
Area of Consideration: All eligible for the Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for Post- Secondary Students
This Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) allows qualified candidates to be appointed under this authority to term positions greater than 1 year but not to exceed 4 years in the competitive service.
How to Apply: This is a DHA announcement for Post-Secondary Students for a TERM position greater than 1 year but not to exceed 4 years at the GS-03 grade level with conversion to a permanent position upon completion of the program.
(May be non-competitively promoted to the GS-0899-04 while in the Intern Program.) Anyone wishing consideration for this opportunity must submit the following:
Cover Letter (optional)
Resume
Transcripts (An unofficial copy of current transcripts is acceptable)
Send the above items via email to: Mindy Kincaid mindy.s.kincaid@usace.army.mil
Other Information:
- Relocation assistance is NOT authorized.
- Moving/travel/transportation and housing/lodging expenses are not provided/reimbursed.
- Valid driver’s license is required for this position.
- Business travel is approximately 25% but may be more depending upon duty location.
- Anticipated start date for this position is 23 May 2022.
- Education requirement must be completed by 1 February 2022.
- Must be able and willing to work full-time while not in school.
- Option to work part-time or leave without pay while in school.
Point of Contact:
Rian Yena, Administrative Officer, Construction Division: rian.m.yena@usace.army.mil or (206) 764-6582
Frank Howell, Human Resources Specialist: frank.h.howell@usace.army.mil, or (206) 316-3725