Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Summary This position is located in the Office of Lock Operations, the Ship Inspector serves as a marine expert in requirements for vessels transiting the Seaway such as investigations of marine incidents/accidents, reviewing salvage methods, and verifying marine engineering issues.  *PLEASE NOTE: Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after the first 30 days of the vacancy opening. Then after, applications will be reviewed on an as needed basis.  Learn more about this agency Duties As a Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector), you will: Serve as the Agency liaison with external maritime agencies such as the Canadian Seaway, United States Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, Shipping Owners, and Agents.  Review regulatory policy changes to ensure Seaway system requirements are in compliance. Conduct onboard ship inspections on foreign flagged vessels entering the St. Lawrence Seaway to verify compliance with Seaway system regulations and ensures ships comply with United States Coast Guard transit regulations. Conduct ship incident/accident investigations such as groundings, spills, strikes, and equipment failures that occur within Seaway system. Evaluate damage to ships or Agency facilities and make recommendations for corrective action. Require on-call availability on a rotating basis with other inspectors during the 10-month Seaway navigation season. Serve as a Corporation marine advisor or representative at industry meetings. Position is typically scheduled on a first 40-hour tour of duty with frequent schedule changes and travel to Canada during the 10-month navigation season. The ideal candidate is a technical expert in marine inspections and casualty investigations for ocean-going vessels that can work independently within a team environment.  The candidate will have experience evaluating vessel compliance with marine regulations and standards to ensure the proper documentation and certification of safety management systems, operating systems, machinery, and structures. 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. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will 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. 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. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year 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. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). Qualifications To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience requirements for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include: Technical experience conducting marine regulatory reviews, inspections, surveys, audits, vetting, clearances, or incident investigations of ship structures, control systems, propulsion systems, safety systems, or machinery as a marine surveyor, inspector, engineer, auditor, advisor; shipboard engineer officer, deck (navigational) officer, or similar in the public or private sector. To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include: Technical experience conducting marine regulatory reviews, inspections, surveys, audits, vetting, clearances, and incident investigations of ship structures, control systems, propulsion systems, safety systems, or machinery as a senior level marine surveyor, inspector, engineer, auditor, advisor; senior shipboard captain, senior shipboard engineer, senior deck (navigational) officer, or similar.  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: Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job. Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations. Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior. Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. 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/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, nautical science, marine affairs, marine engineering, marine transportation, or other fields related to the position. For Marine Transportation Specialist positions, education obtained in a Federal, State, or other accredited Merchant Marine Academy is qualifying. 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, [email protected]. 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. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.