Historic Preservation Specialist

Greetings:

Below you will find the job description and the links for the DEU job announcement and the MP job announcement. These links will take you directly to USAJOBS. You must apply for this position in USAJOBS. Should you have any questions, please contact me at zwalters@cfa.gov or send a message on this platform. Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts!

Duties

At the full performance level of GS-13, the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates incoming concept and permit submissions to the CFA pertaining to private construction, alteration, or demolition projects pursuant to the Old Georgetown Act.
2. Reviews, analyzes, researches, and evaluates incoming concept and final submissions to CFA for Federal and District of Columbia government projects within the Old Georgetown Act area.
3. Determines merits of proposals and adequacy of submission and presentation materials; researches property histories and precedents; coordinates with applicants and D.C. government agencies.
4. Performs project reviews at a range of levels, from broad consideration of master plans, to initial concept level review of site designs, building massing, and exterior design and material character, to detailed reviews of construction drawings and other submitted materials, in order to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of design proposals for projects in the Old Georgetown Act area.
5. Assists in the presentation of submissions to the Commission and Old Georgetown Board at scheduled public meetings; writes and edits correspondence related to project reviews; creates and maintains record files of submissions.
6. Consults with prospective applicants in meetings and via phone and email; assists applicants in the interpretation of Commission and Old Georgetown Board actions and the development of alternative design solutions that arise as a result of the review process.
7. Provides historic preservation expertise for the agency and shares knowledge of urban and landscape design and architecture.
8. Coordinates with the D.C. government on issues of historic preservation review policies and procedures and participates as agency representative on regulatory historic preservation consultation matters.

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and that the employee may be allowed to telework situationally with supervisor approval.

Salary Information:

GS-13: $121,785 - $158,322 per annum

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

This vacancy is also announced as CFA-83000-26-CR-002(MP) for those applicants who wish to apply and be considered under Merit Promotion procedures.

Conditions of employment

1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Specialized Experience:

To qualify for the GS-13, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

1) Applying a wide range of theories, principles, concepts, practices, and methodology of the art and science of historic preservation relevant to the design, alteration, preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive use of existing historic and non-historic buildings in a historic district and to the design of new buildings in a historic district; AND

2) Analyzing and evaluating proposed architectural, landscape architecture, and urban designs for public and private building and landscape projects in a historic district and making recommendations, reports, and presentations on the findings, including in a permitting context; AND

3) Serving as a liaison with Federal and local government agencies to coordinate and facilitate projects reviews and their submissions; AND

4) Preparing for an organization's monthly meetings and developing and coordinating the meeting agenda and consent calendars.

Must meet all.

DEU -

Job Announcement Number: CFA-83000-26-CR-001(DEU)

Control Number: 864451100

USAJOBS URL:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/864451100?_gl=1*1r5i1wp*_ga*MzMyMzk1Mzc3LjE3NzU0Nzc1MjQ.*_ga_5222X8D281*czE3NzU2Nzc0MDckbzgkZzEkdDE3NzU2Nzg0NDkkajQyJGwwJGgw

MP –

Job Announcement Number: CFA-83000-26-CR-002(MP)

Control Number: 864451700

USAJOBS URL: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/864451700?_gl=1*tv0y1x*_ga*MzMyMzk1Mzc3LjE3NzU0Nzc1MjQ.*_ga_5222X8D281*czE3NzU2Nzc0MDckbzgkZzEkdDE3NzU2Nzg1OTQkajMxJGwwJGgw

Additionally, this vacancy will be open from Thursday, April 9, 2026 to Wednesday, April 22, 2026. This job announcement will close when we have received 75 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Again, thank you for your interest in the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts!