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Summary The Assistant Under Secretary for Construction & Facilities Management (“Assistant Under Secretary”) is based in the Office of the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration (OUSFA) and serves as a principal advisor to the Under Secretary for Finance & Administration/CFO (“Under Secretary”) on the entire lifecycle of Smithsonian facilities management, including master planning, design, engineering, construction, maintenance, finance, budget, and operations. Responsibilities The Assistant Under Secretary provides direct supervision and oversight of OUSFA organizations involved in Smithsonian facilities planning, new construction, renovations, and building maintenance operations, including capital programming, design, construction, facilities maintenance, real property and lease administration, gardens and landscape, and all related safety programs that support the operation’s mission. Serving as a key advisor to the Under Secretary, this role holds executive decision-making authority over planning, operations, and oversight of all Smithsonian engineering, design, construction, and facilities management functions. It is responsible for approving and directing the annual Capital and Maintenance budgets to ensure strategic alignment with the Institution’s mission. Additionally, the position authorizes the development and implementation of strategic plans, policies, performance metrics, and reporting mechanisms, upholding the Smithsonian’s standard of excellence in design, construction, and facilities management. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Approves and oversees the operational performance of planning, design, construction, and facilities maintenance, ensuring alignment with strategic, operational, and financial goals, as well as customer service expectations. Authorizes and evaluates policies, programs, and operations to uphold quality, consistency, and continuous improvement. Engages regularly with unit directors and administrative leadership across the Smithsonian to foster relationships, solicit feedback, and resolve challenges proactively. Approves and oversees the development and management of annual and multi-year financial plans for Smithsonian facilities master planning, design, construction, and maintenance. Establishes, approves, and enforces new business processes and financial controls to enhance efficiency and reduce risk to the Institution. Reviews, approves, and leads the development of annual financial and operational reports. Participates in high-level meetings to shape long-term planning and strategic direction for facilities projects across the Institution. Exercises approval authority with direct oversight for projects exceeding $20 million, ensuring strategic alignment, operational execution, and fiscal responsibility. Authorizes and performs a full range of supervisory duties, including recruitment, performance management, discipline, leave approval, and travel authorization. Requirements Conditions of Employment Pass Pre-Employment Background Investigation Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer Meet the basic qualifications and specialized experience as listed below: Qualifications BASIC QUALIFICATIONS A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor’s degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1. Professional registration or licensure-- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) 2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses-- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE In addition, applicants must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-15 level. Specialized experience is defined as the demonstrated knowledge and skills to provide leadership, vision, strategic direction and coordination of planning, engineering, design, construction and building management for a large organization. The applications that meet the basic qualifications will be evaluated further against the following criteria: 1. Demonstrated leadership in managing a comprehensive facilities function that includes experience in design, construction, and building maintenance that adhere to industry best practices. 2. Knowledge and skill in executive level program planning, budgetary process, and resource management including developing program/project performance tracking and upward reporting systems and establishing results-based performance measures. 3. Experience that demonstrates your interpersonal and communication skills in building cooperative relationship and negotiating solutions that address varied and complex, and occasionally opposing interests among varied audiences. 4. Skill in leading, supervising, and managing a multi-disciplined and talented workforce, including fostering teamwork and high morale as well as attracting, retaining and motivating employees. Education Additional Information SUPERVISORY CONTROLS The incumbent reports to the Under Secretary for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer. Within broad policy guidelines expressed by the Under Secretary/CFO, the incumbent independently exercises full authority and responsibility to achieve the technical, administrative, financial, and operational goals and objectives of the Institution. Keeps the Under Secretary/CFO and his / her senior management team apprised of major policy and program decisions and especially critical or sensitive problems or issues. Performance is evaluated primarily in terms of overall effectiveness in attaining program goals and objectives. SECURITY LEVEL This position has been reviewed to determine the level of POSITION SENSITIVITY. Based on the nature of the work, the position has been determined to be Public Trust / High Risk. This designation will require (1) a pre-employment Security Agency Check (SAC) for the prospective incumbent; and (2) a subsequent comprehensive background investigation and clearance in order to continue in the position. EEO The Smithsonian Institution does not discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors. REASONABLE ACCOMODATION The Smithsonian provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the contact person listed in this announcement. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. RELOCATION Relocation expenses will not be paid.