Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector)

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. Serves 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.

Qualifications:

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications.

To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Private or public sector 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, captain, deck 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

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.

Responsibilities:

The Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector):

• Conducts 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.
• Conducts ship incident/accident investigations such as groundings, spills, strikes, and equipment failures that occur within Seaway system. Evaluates damage to ships or Agency facilities and makes recommendations for corrective action.
• Serves as the Agency liaison with external maritime agencies such as the Canadian Seaway, US Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, Shipping Owners, and Agents.  Reviews regulatory policy changes to ensure Seaway system requirements are in compliance.
• Requires on-call availability on a rotating basis with other inspectors during the 10-month Seaway navigation season.  Occasionally serves as a relief Lock Operations supervisor when needed.

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.  This person has 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.

PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (6 month) vacancy announcement. Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after the first 30 days of the vacancy opening for early consideration. Then after, applications will be reviewed on an as needed basis.