Summary This position is located in the Office of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response, Office of Chief of Staff, Maritime Administration (MARAD). Serves as the Department of Transportation's principal coordinator for maritime domain awareness matters, and acts as a key liaison between the maritime industry and government agencies in the area of maritime security and safety. Responsibilities As a Director of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response, you will: Serves as MARAD's expert authority on matters pertaining to vessel security and port. Provides information, insight, and expert advice to Chief of Staff and the MARAD Administrator on current and future maritime security and safety challenges and solutions. Maintains frequent direct communication with the maritime industry on maritime security and safety matters involving port infrastructure, vessels, the maritime workforce, and cargoes. He/she interfaces with industry trade associations, classification societies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders on issues relating to global transportation security. Regularly interfaces with, and represents MARAD to, political appointees, SES, flag level, and working level employees of numerous federal agencies, in particular the Departments of Homeland Security, War, State, and Justice, and their subordinate agencies in particular the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Navy, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Maintains awareness of current intelligence reports on the global maritime transportation system. Disseminates Maritime Alerts and Advisories to U.S. flag vessels. Coordinates with the global MOTR Coordination Center, and disseminates Regularly consults with government and industry entities engaged in maritime security or safety issues, to develop and recommend national policies, objectives, and plans for promoting and implementing effective maritime security and safety measures. Identifies and leads resolution of unique or novel issues where no policy exists, taking innovative action to address emergent challenges. The ideal candidate will serve as Director for the office, supporting the U.S. merchant marine by advancing the development and implementation of practical, effective regulations, policies, procedures, and practices. This role focuses on protecting U.S.-flag vessels from a wide range of maritime security threats while also promoting maritime safety regulations that help sustain and strengthen sealift capabilities. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. You must meet specialized experience to qualify. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience in maritime security and safety, providing authoritative guidance and strategic solutions to the Maritime Administrator on current and emerging maritime challenges. Experience performing in-depth, complex analyses of merchant shipping issues tied to national defense and security, delivering insights to support senior agency decision-makers. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Security and Safety; expert knowledge in federal maritime security and safety legislation and regulations, including the administration and enforcement of these requirements across the United States. Communication; Skilled in preparing position papers, analyses, talking points, and briefings on maritime security and safety matters. Represents MARAD and make presentations on maritime security and safety issues to Congressional staff and at governmental and non-governmental meetings, workshops, conferences, and symposia. External outreach; Ability to interface regularly with all maritime security and safety stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, law enforcement agencies, port security officers, ship operating company security officers and the general public. The employee represents the Department in interagency committees and working groups with high-ranking government and flag level officials. For all @types of consideration, experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application. These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages. Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week, and position titles. If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level. The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience. PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.). Additional Information The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, FairChanceAct@dot.gov. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.
