U.S. Department of State

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply

Announcement No.:FM-2013-0002
Position Title: Foreign Service Facility Manager
Opening Period: 11/05/2012 – 11/14/2012
Series/Grade: FP-6217-04
Salary: $53,003-$77,837
Promotion Potential: Senior Foreign Service
Duty Locations: MANY Vacancies Throughout the World, WW
For More Information: HR/REE, 202-203-5160, FMVacancy Info@state.gov

Who May Apply

All potential applicants are strongly urged to read this entire Vacancy Announcement 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. They must be at least 21 years of age to be appointed. By law, all career candidates must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month in which they reach age 60.

Applicants are not eligible to reapply until one year after the application date of prior announcements, provided there is a new open Vacancy Announcement at that time.

Duration Appointment

Permanent

Marketing Statement

The Department of State is developing a rank-order list of eligible hires to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Facility Manager vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.

Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-04, $53,003-$77,837

Summary

The U.S. Department of State is the lead foreign affairs agency formulating and implementing the President’s foreign policy and representing U.S. interests throughout the world. A Foreign Service Facility Manager (FSFM) in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations manages the Department of State's real property assets abroad. FSFMs 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. The FSFM is a member of the government's management team who provides a wide range of building-related services, managing physical resources and asset management in a specific country. FSFM's may be assigned as Regional Facility Managers with responsibilities for FM program activities in several countries. FSFM's 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.

The Foreign Service is more than a job – it’s a career. As a member of a diplomatic team, you will not only help to accomplish the mission of the Department of State, but also will be a representative of your country to the people of other nations. A Foreign Service career involves uncommon commitments and occasional hardships, as well as unique rewards and opportunities. A decision to enter this career should be based on extraordinary motivation and a firm dedication to public service.

Many overseas posts are in small or remote countries where harsh climates, health hazards, and other discomforts exist and where American-style amenities and the latest in technological advances often are unavailable. Personal security frequently becomes an area of concern in countries where there is political unrest or terrorist activity. However, careers in the Foreign Service offer special rewards, including the pride and satisfaction of representing the United States and protecting U.S. interests abroad.

The Foreign Service strives to maintain diversity in the representation of gender, geographic region, race and ethnicity within its work force.

Key Requirements

All applicants, in order to be considered for selection, must:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be 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 (except for preference-eligible veterans) must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month in which they reach age 60.
• Be available for worldwide service.
• Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance.
• Be able to obtain an appropriate medical clearance for Foreign Service work.
• Be able to obtain a Suitability Clearance, based on a review of the candidate's record for conduct in accordance with suitability standards defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more details see http://careers.state.gov/specialist/selection-process or http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/regs/fam.

Major Duties

Listed below are typical duties, performed at various grade levels, in the course of a career as a Foreign Service Facility Manager. FSFMs 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.

In Overseas Assignments:

1. Strategic planning - Develops short and long-range plans in order to effectively maintain and operate facilities and equipment by putting together preventative and predictive maintenance plans, tracking post's property inventory, determining and tracking equipment replacement dates, performing annual condition inspections, determining facility condition indexes, developing work orders, preparing inspection documentation, developing annual maintenance work plans for staff, maintaining post's development master plan, and formulating facility budgets. Works closely with Washington to ensure coordination on various reporting requirements, compliance with policies and regulations, and to ensure that funding for essential post projects are requested and received on time.



2. Asset management - Oversees maintenance and repair budgets, serves as the liaison between the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) and post with regard to facility management, reports to post's upper management on facility and property issues, prepares data for briefings, ensures compliance with facility and equipment warranties, drafts statements of work for service contracts and executes service contracts, submits facility maintenance and repair requirements documents and budget requests, uses and manages computerized maintenance management systems, analyzes maintenance data, prepares contingency plans, ensures compliance to regulations, and inspects real property for either U.S. Government leasing or purchasing activities.



3. Facility operation and management - Considered the technical expert at post with regard to facilities, oversees the operation, maintenance, and repair of the physical plant, oversees contractor performance, assists with contract development, schedules and modifies physical plant operations, develops preventative and predictive maintenance schedules, develops maintenance and repair resource estimates, implements maintenance policies and procedures, monitors and improves post energy use, ensures utilities availability, ensures accountability for maintenance equipment, maintains reference library and materials, and approves contractor invoices for payment.



4. Work management - Complies with and implements the Department's ICASS standards (International Cooperative Administrative Support Services) as it relates to facility management, allocates funds, prioritizes work in the Facility Management section, establishes work schedules for staff and contractors, conducts customer surveys, institutes quality control procedures, inspects the work of custodial and grounds maintenance staff, coordinates facility management activities with other agencies at post, ensures the availability of maintenance and repair materials, and manages small construction and renovation projects.



5. Personnel supervision - Supervises post's maintenance staff and other junior FSFMs assigned to the post, hires staff, as needed, sets work requirements for subordinates, sets performance goals and objectives, assigns tasks to staff, monitors staff's performance, prepares employee evaluations, develops and executes training programs, reviews and develops staffing requirements for the Facility Management section at post.

In a Washington Assignment:

1. Performs program and project support tasks, including drafting global maintenance and repair documents, evaluating bids, participating in design and scope of new construction and renovation projects, providing guidance to Area Managers and other bureau offices, coordinating program and project procurement, traveling to post for FM support and program and project oversight, making recommendations to executive management, serving on promotion boards, recruiting activities, organizing meetings, and participating in program and project planning.



2. Performs administrative support tasks, including developing or participating in policy/procedure development, and training programs and/or activities.

Education

Education Requirements:

Foreign Service Facility Managers (FSFM) 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 or Facility Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Construction Engineering or Management
• Civil/Structural Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Architectural Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Architecture
• Project Management

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal job requirements for this position if the applicant can show that foreign education is comparable to education received in the United States. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such evidence when applying for Federal jobs.

Degrees received from non-U.S. colleges or universities will be considered acceptable based on any of the following evidences:

1. 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.
2. The candidate submits an evaluation of completed course work from an organization recognized for accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education, the Council on Post Secondary Accreditation or an accredited U.S. college or university.

GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Grade Level	Annual Salary	Education Requirement	Specialized Experience
FP-04	$53,003 - $77,837	BA or BS Degree	3 years
		MA Degree	2 years
		Ph.D.	1 year
		Facility Engineering or Facility Management	2 Years

Experience

(Experience must have been acquired in the last eight years.)

Specialized Experience Requirements:

Specialized experience should show that applicants have an in-depth knowledge of their field and can be expected to perform facility management and/or facility management duties at Department of State facilities worldwide. Specialized experience obtained through work in the facility management or engineering field on large facilities and large physical plants will be given the most favorable consideration.

Applicants should show that their job-related experience has been at progressively increasing levels of performance and responsibility through such indicators as promotions, raises, increases in duties and responsibilities, expanded project scope, authority, and organizational and employee impact.

Specialized experience requirements will be judged based on past performance of activities in the field of Facility Management/Facility Engineer/Facility Technician or engineering positions disciplines or property management whereby the following work experience applies:

1. Demonstrated experience managing and overseeing the routine and non-routine maintenance and repair of large commercial and residential buildings and/or an inventory of multiple properties to include maintenance of the grounds, HVAC systems, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, elevators, automated voltage regulator systems, uninterrupted power supply equipment, generators, and the structural aspects of buildings.



2. Demonstrated knowledge of architectural and engineering drawings and designs, building information modeling, building codes, fire/life safety detection and suppression systems, environmental management best practices and procedures applicable to facility management, minor renovation and construction projects.



3. Applying quality control and assurance practices to preventative and non-preventative maintenance, minor renovation and construction projects, maintenance scheduling techniques, demonstrated use of computerized maintenance management systems, building automation systems, project management software, and auto cad.



4. Managing financial elements of contracts for maintenance and repair services, minor renovation and construction, equipment replacement projects, reviewing contractor invoices for contract compliance, analyzing and negotiating contractor claims and change order requests, compliance with manufacturers and contractor guaranties and warranties.



5. Developing strategic plans for short and long term preventative and predictive maintenance to include the development of scopes of work, budgeting to include projects and operational budgets.



6. Determine human resource requirements through work order analysis, maintenance staff deficiencies, staff training requirements and out sourcing potential for maximum efficiency and customer satisfaction.



7. Recognizing maintenance and repair problems, developing options for action and recommending solutions to include preparing work orders, cost implications, sustainability awareness and energy savings.



8. Displaying effective leadership and supervision of staff to include positions of project team leader, program and/or project management role, team building and consensus building skills with colleagues, supervisors and subordinates.



9. Demonstrating effective verbal and written communications skills with technical and non-technical personnel, use of standard computer software for presentations, fiscal monitoring and daily communication.

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience:

A master's degree in a facility management, engineering or architecture discipline may be substituted for one year of specialized experience or a doctoral degree in a facility management, engineering or architecture discipline may be substituted for two years experience toward satisfying the three-year minimum requirement for specialized experience. An undergraduate degree in facility management or facility engineering may be substituted for one year of experience toward satisfying the three-year minimum requirement for specialized experience.

Qualifications That Are Desirable But Not Required To Be Considered for Employment:

1. Experience on large construction projects.
2. Fluency in a foreign language.
3. A professional license in the applicant's field of specialty or an Engineer in Training Certificate. (Applicants who are unlicensed architects participating in an Intern Development Program should so state.)
4. An advanced degree in the applicant's field of specialty.
5. Experience with large facilities and large complex physical plants outside the United States.
6. Working knowledge of related engineering fields other than applicant's field of specialty.
7. Certifications such as CPE, CFM, FMP and CFE.

Qualifications

Superior oral and written communication skills: In order to pass the Foreign Service’s thorough and competitive assessment process, successful applicants must consistently meet a high standard for English, both written (overall structure as well as grammar, spelling and punctuation) and spoken (overall structure as well as delivery, clarity and succinctness). Those who fall short of this standard will have little chance of passing through the Foreign Service’s highly competitive assessment process.

Professional-level speaking ability in a foreign language is welcome, but not a requirement for applying. However, the applicant must be willing to be trained by the Department of State in a foreign language to meet a job requirement or expectation. These will be important considerations in the competitive promotion process.

Knowledge, Skill, Ability, and Other Requirements (KSAOs):

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 Foreign Service Facility Manager based on extensive job analysis and department research. Not all of these attributes need be met by a candidate; the attributes will be used as a set to evaluate candidates.

A. Knowledge of facilities management fundamentals, construction methods, machines and tools, architectural and engineering drawings, facility maintenance planning, property inventory methods, facility condition inspection and assessment methods, statements or scopes of work, acquisition and contracting procedures, building codes, computer applications and skills, 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.

B. Skill in communication both oral and written, project management, formulating cost and planning estimates, writing statements or scopes of work, understanding architectural and engineering drawings and schematics, choosing tools and test equipment, trouble shooting techniques, installation practices, leading a multinational workgroup, interpersonal relationships and negotiation abilities and skills.

C. Other requirements such as skill in reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, complex problem solving, monitoring, coordinating, active listening, writing, speaking, instructing, persuading, negotiating, judging and decision making, active learning, managing financial resources, managing personnel resources, managing material resources, social perceptiveness, service orientation, quality control analysis, equipment selection, operations analysis, and systems evaluation and curiosity about peoples and cultures, interest in living abroad, worldwide availability, tolerance of living away from family, tolerance for hardship, isolation and/or possible danger.

D. Ability to see objects that are near, far, in color, or at night, including good depth perception; hear speech or other sounds; speak clearly enough so others will understand; walk moderate distances, climb stairs; access work stations and vehicles; maintain attention for extended periods or work long hours; tolerate physical discomforts such as heat, cold, noise, pollution, etc.; perform movements repeatedly or continually, possibly including standing for extended periods or taking frequent extended trips by plane or car; bend, stretch, stoop, twist, and/or reach; ability to grasp and manipulate objects; and lift, push, pull, carry, climb ladders, or balance.

Evaluations

How Candidates Will Be Evaluated:

Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, technical and writing skills, 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 and most likely to succeed in the Foreign Service.

How to Apply

We are not accepting applications for this position. Please subscribe to receive email updates regarding this vacancy.

To apply, applicants must first register on USAJOBS at www.usajobs.gov and create an online federal resume. Your online resume must be typed, or you may cut and paste an existing resume into the space provided. Once you have completed the registration process, select the "Apply Online" button to the right. That button will transfer you to Gateway to State.

Follow the "Apply Online" instructions at Gateway to State by answering self-assessment questions for the specific job to which you are applying. When completed, the information you provided at USAJOBS and the answers to the Gateway to State questions will become your application. Your registration, resume, and responses to questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this job. In addition, you may need to fax or upload some information to complete your application package.

If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the helpdesk by calling 1-866-656-6830 or by emailing mgshelp@monster.com.

Required Documents

As part of the online application, applicants will be asked to submit the following required documents:

A. Supplementary Questionnaire:

Purpose: The Supplementary Questionnaire inside the application provides an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education and life and work experience that show you have the KSAOs listed above for the job of Facility Manager. Examples can be drawn from any part of your personal experience. The information you give may be used in your oral assessment/interview should you be invited and is an important factor in the competitive evaluation of applicants.

Instructions: During the application process, you will be asked to individually address each of the numbered items listed below, limiting responses to 2,000 characters or less for each item. Examples can be drawn from any part of your personal experience. You should 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.

1. Summarize how your education and work experience have prepared you to become a Facility Manager.
2. Summarize your experience with developing and managing A&E design, construction and maintenance service contracts.
3. Communication skills: Give examples displaying your ability to communicate effectively and persuasively both orally and in writing.

B. A Narrative Autobiography (two-to-three page typed equivalent - no more than 5000 characters) which discusses your:

1. personal background,
2. general comments on your work experience,
3. personal interests, hobbies and travel, and
4. motivation for joining the Foreign Service.

The narrative autobiography is included inside the online application.

C. Fax or Upload College Transcripts:

All applicants with college degrees must submit their college transcripts.

Applicants have the option to upload or fax their transcripts. To submit the transcripts by fax, 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. The transcript must be faxed or uploaded before the closing date of this announcement, which is 11:59pm Washington D.C. time.

Important: Whether you upload or fax, please submit all your documents at the same time. If you must send any additional documents after your first submission, be sure to include your first group of documents along with the additional documents. This is because subsequent submissions erase prior submissions.

For additional information please refer to our website at careers.state.gov/specialist/selection-process.

Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable as part of the application process.

Once you have completed the online questionnaire, you will be prompted to decide either to upload your documents or to print out cover sheets generated within the application that must be used to fax the above required documents.

If faxing, it is extremely important that only these system-generated cover sheets, and the phone number included on them, be used for faxing these documents. The cover sheets are coded to insure that your documents are automatically attached to your online application. Please ensure that each document is faxed separately with the appropriate system generated cover sheet.

These documents must be either faxed or uploaded before the closing date of this announcement, which is 11:59pm Washington D.C. time.

What to Expect Next

All applicants will be notified within several weeks via e-mail of the outcome of their applications. Selected candidates will be invited to come for an oral assessment at the Department of State, Washington, D.C.

Selected candidates: Please note all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with the oral assessment are the responsibility of the candidate.

Benefits

Health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, generous paid leave, and an unprecedented chance to see the world and experience different cultures. Overseas benefits include paid housing or a housing allowance and paid education for dependent children between K-12.

Additional Benefits: Tax free housing overseas, tax free educational allowance, etc. (See Benefits on our website at careers.state.gov/specialist/benefits, for more information.)

Other Information

Initial Salary:

Newly-hired Facility Managers are assigned at the FP-04 level. The specific step (or salary) within that level will be determined at the time a firm offer of employment is made.

Current Federal Civil Service employees (or former employees) will also be assigned at the FP-04 level. Specific step (or salary) within the FP-04 level will be set at the nearest possible salary rate of the current (or previous) grade.

Competitive Promotion and Within-Grade Increases:

Promotions beyond FP-04 are based on annual performance evaluations in competition with other Facility Managers at the same grade level. Available promotions are awarded to those who have best demonstrated the ability and potential to perform at a higher level of responsibility. The Department currently has two mandatory leadership courses that must be taken prior to promotion to FP-03 and FP-02 levels.

Assignment opportunities for Facility Managers range from grade FP-04 entry level positions up to Senior Foreign Service. For upward mobility, the FSFM must be prepared to serve at hardship posts at some time during their career. Assignment to larger posts with larger physical plants and staff would be expected in a normal career progression.

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.

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.

Tenure:

Foreign Service Specialist Career Candidates career candidates are considered for tenure (career status) after they have completed a minimum of two years in the Foreign Service. A Tenuring Board determines suitability based on a number of factors. If tenure is not granted during the first review, a second review will be made one year later. Failure to achieve tenure in the prescribed time frame of four years is grounds for separation.

Career Track:

Upon entry into the Foreign Service and after completion of orientation and familiarization training, a Facility Manager will be assigned to two overseas entry level tours (two years each) as directed by the Department. After the initial two tours, assignments will be for periods of two to four years overseas or in the U.S. and will be based on the Department's needs, career development requirements, and personal preferences.

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It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all of its employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether that discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.

The Department of State 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 at ReasonableAccommodations@state.gov within one week of receiving their invitation. Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.