Foreign Service Construction Engineer

The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Construction Engineering positions. Learn more about Foreign Service careers at https://careers.state.gov. There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.

The following are typical duties, performed at various grade levels, during a career as a Construction Engineer (CE). Overseas Assignments Although specific assignments vary, most overseas assignments include the following major responsibility areas and example tasks: Project Direction and Coordination Establishes and manages the field office. Administers contracts and oversees contractor performance. Negotiates and liaises with host country officials. Coordinates official project visitors and manages relationships with local stakeholders. Serves as liaison between OBO field team and embassy leadership and personnel. Project Management Monitors project activities and project schedules. Ensures effective records management for project documents. Coordinates with Contracting Officer to resolve and process claims. Utilizes information technology to support project management. Reviews and accepts contractor submittals and other required submissions. Identifies and manages project risks and balances competing priorities. Quality Assurance Implements the government's quality assurance program for compliance with contract requirements. Monitors and reports on the contractor's quality control program, including inspections, procurement, and trade qualifications. Hires and supervises quality assurance staff. Financial Management Manages project budgets and financial controls. Reviews contractor schedule of values and progress payment requests. Prepares cost estimates and evaluates the impact of proposed changes. Implements and monitors financial controls to control costs. Safety Monitors and reports on contractor's compliance with contract and federal safety requirements. Security Promotes security awareness and implements protection measures. Coordinates management of security staff and ensures document security. Preconstruction Conducts design and constructability reviews. Evaluates host-country conditions affecting project delivery. Commissioning and Close-Out Coordinates commissioning of systems and project close-out activities. Oversees final inspections. Liaises with commissioning agents and ensures hand-over of spare parts and materials. Coordinates installation schedules and commissioning training. Supports transition from construction to operations. Provides contractor performance ratings to Contracting Officials. Domestic Assignments Although specific assignments vary, most domestic assignments include the following major responsibility areas and example tasks: Project Development Participates in the development of new construction projects as the construction subject matter expert. Develops general construction requirements and participates in project planning. Recommends procurement and execution strategies. Informs project schedule and supports requirements. Advocates for operability and security management concerns. Serves on technical evaluation panels and assists in prequalifying bidders. Project Support Liaises with security personnel. Travels to project sites as needed. Advises contracting officer and prepares progress reports. Provides temporary project supervision when required. Administrative Support May serve as liaison between OBO and senior Department leadership. Performs administrative tasks to support overseas project teams. Manages project data. Participates in recruiting and hiring. Completes required training.

The Department of State's Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), Office of Construction Management, manages a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of overseas construction projects. Construction Engineers (CE) serve as key members of U.S. government teams, ensuring that construction is executed in accordance with all applicable plans, specifications, schedules, and standards. CEs must demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, dependability, attention to detail, teamwork, and cooperation. The position requires flexibility, including frequent travel, overseas assignments, and, when necessary, extended periods away from family. In addition to Education requirements, at the time of application, candidates must possess a minimum of: Three years of Specialized Experience for consideration at FP-04 level; Five years of Specialized Experience for consideration at FP-03 level