Closing Date: May 24, 2022
Position Title: Student Trainee (Engineering and Architecture) GS-0899-04
Type of Appointment: Post-Secondary Students for a TERM appointment, then may be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment within 120 days of successfully completing the qualifying academic program.
Who May Apply: To be eligible for consideration, you must meet the definition of a Post-Secondary Student defined as a person who, (1) is currently enrolled in, and in good academic standing at, a full-time program at an institution of higher education; and (2) is making satisfactory progress towards receipt of a baccalaureate or graduate degree; and (3) has completed at least one year of the program.
Location: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Seattle, WA.
Duties:
This intern position is designed to prepare a student trainee for employment after graduation as a Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineer in the Cost Engineering field. Interns will be assigned tasks designed to increase familiarity with the target occupation in a real-world work environment.
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Assist with field inspections and contractor inquiries to determine construction methods and gather current price quotes
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Assist with quantity development by reviewing plans and BIM models
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Assist with development of cost estimates using cost engineering software.
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Assist with preparing and delivering verbal and written presentations/reports.
Qualifications:
In order to qualify, you must meet the education requirements described below:
Students must have completed two full academic years of post-high school study or have an associate degree. (Coursework should be related to areas such as civil, mechanical, or electrical engineering or cost engineering. You must provide a copy of your current transcripts at the time of application.)
For qualification purposes, an academic year is computed as follows:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 be screened for academic qualifications based on the academic hours as defined in the bullets above.
Foreign Education:
If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html
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:
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Internship selection will be made at the GS-04. This grade level is what typical college students in their third year may qualify at. (If selected at the GS-899-04 can be promoted non-competitively to the GS-0899-05 while in the Intern Program if qualifications are met.)
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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 is typically at the GS-05, GS-07 or GS-09 level (based on qualifications being met).
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The full performance level of this position is GS-12.
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Progression from the entry-level to the full performance level for this occupation will depend on successful completion of all requirements for promotion. Non-competitive promotion potential to the target grade is based on time-in-grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform the higher graded duties.
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Post-secondary students being considered for initial appointments to positions leading to target positions with positive education requirements should be enrolled in directly-related degree programs in order to meet the OPM qualification requirements for the target position upon completion of their academic program.
Program Completion and Conversion:
Post-secondary students will initially be appointed to a TERM appointment in the competitive service for a period expected to last more than 1 year not to exceed 4 years; they may be non-competitively converted to a career or career-conditional appointment within 120 days of successfully completing the qualifying academic program.
To be eligible for conversion, Interns must:
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Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted.
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Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
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Perform their job successfully.
Additional Information:
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Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.
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Valid driver’s license is required for this position.
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Business travel is approximately 20%.
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A Post-Secondary Student Participant Agreement is required for post-secondary students.
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Eligible for situational telework only, including emergency and OPM prescribed "unscheduled".
How to Apply:
Anyone wishing consideration for this opportunity must submit the following:
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Cover Letter (optional)
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Resume
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Transcripts (An unofficial copy of current transcripts is acceptable)
Send the above items via email to: Ian Pumo, ian.j.pumo@usace.army.mil
Point of Contact: Ian Pumo, ian.j.pumo@usace.army.mil, or (206) 276-2932
Chief, Cost Engineering Section, Engineering Division