The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) directs the worldwide overseas building program for the U.S. Department of State. The Program Development, Coordination, and Support Directorate (PDCS) is responsible for the design, coordination, and management of OBO's construction and renovation programs. The Office of Design and Engineering (DE) provides expertise in architecture; landscape architecture; space programming; space planning; interior design; graphic design; sustainability; civil structure, seismic, blast, geotechnical, electrical, and mechanical engineering; energy; telecommunications; and security.  Working with Planning and Real Estate, DE develops and updates the Space Requirements Programs (SRP).  DE directs design coordination of OBO's building program, managing designs from planning through construction.  DE monitors the performance of the architecture-engineering contractors hired to execute OBO's projects.  The office serves as the building code official, confirms the technical adequacy of construction documents, and issues building permits.  The Energy group (NRG) provides multidisciplinary expertise for high performance buildings, planning, design, engineering, construction, utility management, and maintenance of OBO projects.

The contractor is considered a subject matter expert. As a Telecommunications Specialist assigned to the Electrical Engineering Division of OBO/PDCS/DE, the contractor reviews designs, plans, and specifications for telecommunications cabling distribution systems, telecommunications equipment and devices, and audio visual systems including those of major size and complexity requiring significant departures from previous approaches to similar projects, for use in a variety of overseas diplomatic facilities (embassies, consulates, residences, etc.). In furtherance of these responsibilities, the contractor performs tasks and assignments that typically include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Reviews project scopes of work, advises on architectural and engineering (A/E) fee estimates, and assists in the A/E contract negotiations.
• Conducts analyses to establish telecommunications cabling distribution electrical design criteria to be followed by A/E firms commissioned to develop designs.
• Oversees and directs the activities of contract A/E designers and ensures designs conform to American National Standards Institute/Telecommunications Institute of America/Electronic Industries Alliance (ANSI/TIA/EIA) standards 568, 569, 570, 598, 606, 607, and 758; International Organization for Standardization/International Electro technical Commission (ISO/IEC) standard 11801; the National Electrical Code (NEC); and applicable local codes and regulations.
• Assists embassies and OBO construction Project Directors in the development of scopes of work for telecommunications service(s).
• Inspects and advises on designs and construction work for those projects that are initiated and implemented by the various posts.
• Prepares in-house designs and develops contract documents (drawings and specifications) complete for public bidding.
• Analyzes proposals and bids for construction contracts, proposes design changes, and conducts construction site inspections throughout the world.
• Accompanies Diplomatic Security Teams on site security certification surveys and resolves technical telecommunications problems as they arise; and develops systems that both conform to technical and physical security requirements as set forth by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) and are economical and practical.
• Reviews scopes of work for telecommunications cabling testing, and revies independent government estimates (IGE) for negotiation of contract with independent telecommunications cabling test firms.
• Advises on negotiations with host country utilities to obtain commercial telecommunications for new embassy/consulate compounds.

• Provides oral status reports to upper management, prepares special reports, and advises higher level OBO managers on complex telecommunications engineering problems, accomplishments, and objectives.
• Travels abroad to perform on-site surveys, reviews, and in response to emergency situations.
• Travels domestically to advise architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers of matters affecting design, fabrication, and installation of telecommunications cabling systems and telecommunications utilities.
• Provides expert professional advice on-site at various overseas posts to render technical assistance on telecommunications systems problems, including new design work, redesign work, minor improvements, analysis of a wide variety of malfunctioning equipment, and similar professional matters.
• Advises Department officials, the Department’s Office of Acquisition (A/LM/AQM), OBO management, architects, post operating personnel, and various United States Government (USG) agencies such as the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the military services, etc., on telecommunications systems and security problems related to owned or leased facilities abroad.
• Applies continuous research efforts toward resolution of problems associated with the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of telecommunications systems.
• The contractor is responsible for following DOS security standards.
• Therefore, he/she shall:
  • Read the latest version of all security classification documents and shall understand how it protects organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of sensitive and classified material.
  • Report instances of security violations/problems to the appropriate supervisory/management officials assumes full responsibility for safeguarding all classified and sensitive but unclassified material and equipment in assigned areas.
• Assure that new developments or experimental theories are examined that enable DE to solve problems not readily treatable by standard, acceptable methods.

REPORTING AND PROJECT DOCUMENTATION

For each assigned project, the contractor shall:

• Review technical submittals from other contractors and or government agencies.
• Prepare periodic and specified written reports and provide data input in specified formats for such reports.
• Provide input to OBO Statement of Work for design, procurement and installation services for contract Architecture and Engineering firms and construction companies.
• Advise on OBO specifications and design criteria for use on OBO projects.
• Prepare to give briefings to all levels of management.
• Respond to technical questions from OBO field personnel and contract architect and engineering firms.
• Keep the COR and/or Manager informed of all major issues and concerns.
• Assure all telecommunications aspects of projects are adequately documented.
• Travel to assigned overseas posts.
• Perform acceptance testing and/or troubleshooting of installation performed by others for the government.
• Attend meetings to support OBO projects.
• Coordinate with OBO staff in support of OBO projects.
• Provide meeting notes (electronic submission) to the COR.

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and eleven (11) years of related experience
• Required to be a United States citizen.
• Certification as Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) through BICSI is required.
• Mastery of the latest state-of-art telecommunications applications and developments, and the ability to apply this knowledge to the integration of state- of-the-art telecommunications systems into the design and construction of highly sophisticated, secure, advanced-design embassy facilities, sufficient to serve as an expert in the full range of duties concerned with design and layout of telecommunications cabling systems for use in multi-story buildings, residences, and special purpose buildings owned and/or operated by OBO, and to fulfill the specialized telecommunications requirements of overseas diplomatic posts.
• Mastery of applicable consumer statutes and regulations, as well as applicable industry standards.
• Sufficient familiarity with electronic engineering and of a wide range of related engineering principles and practices (civil, structural, and mechanical) and of architecture, to ensure that the telecommunications aspects of projects are designed and constructed to required standards; and the ability to apply such knowledge to a wide range of complex telecommunications design, issues, and problems.
• Advanced knowledge of project management principles, methodology, and processes, including budget and resource control, cost/benefits analysis, risk management, scheduling, metrics development and utilization, project life cycle, and analysis, with the capacity to handle most day-to-day assignments while seeking expert assistance only in particularly difficult or unique situations.
• Extensive knowledge of agency program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key program events and milestones, and the methods of evaluating the worth of program accomplishments.
• Knowledge of the OBO and Federal contracting and procurement processes in both the pre- and post-award environment, sufficient to enable the contractor to participate in contracting activities and oversee actions in various phases of contract administration and closeout.
• Knowledge of design, installation, and integration of audio-visual systems (intercommunications systems, public address, video teleconferencing, etc.) for office and public gathering spaces.
• Ability to advise other technical and related engineering/architectural specialists within and outside the Department, as well as high level managers and decision- makers, on issues of developing, communicating, or enhancing telecommunications program delivery.
• Skill in written and oral communication techniques to present technical briefings to senior management officials on project telecommunications requirements, and to develop requisite policy for contractors and CM personnel.
• Experience and capabilities in the use of AutoCAD 2014, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and Microsoft Project.
• Ability to meet and deal in a professional, tactful, and effective manner with USG management and program officials within and outside of the Department, including overseas post management officials, at all levels, as well as domestic contractor representatives and other professional and technical specialists involved in telecommunications project work, on variety of project management, contracting, and associated technical issues.
• Ability to new developments in the telecommunications field to problems not readily treated by accepted, conventional methods.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.