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Recruitment Specialist (General) - SME

Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration

Summary

This is a full-time, permanent position in the Office of Admissions at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

*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.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
10/17/2025 to 04/17/2026
Salary
$87,133 to - $113,268 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Kings Point, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.
Travel Required
25% or less - Some travel will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MARAD.MMA-2026-0002
Control number
848217800

Duties

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As a Recruitment Specialist (General), you will:

  • Develop a national recruitment network with organizations to ensure accomplishment of recruitment strategies, policies, and procedures of those program objectives that are in accordance with regulations. Develop networks with educational and professional organizations to build awareness about opportunities for students at the USMMA.
  • Work closely with congressional staff, midshipmen, alumni, counselors, parents, etc. to recruit candidates for admission. Represent the Academy at high school programs, college fairs, career days, and other similar functions.
  • Interpret and explain academic programs, admissions standards, and admissions procedures. Provide information pertaining to the maritime industry, the Merchant Marine, and military career opportunities.
  • Conduct pre-screening of applications from prospective students. Review applications for completeness and ensure that applicants meet academic requirements prior to submission to the Candidate Evaluation Board. Review and evaluate candidates based on their academic records, extracurricular participation, personal qualities, leadership ability, potential for success at the Academy, and motivation for a maritime/military career. Maintain emails, texts, telephonic and virtual communication with applicants throughout the admissions process. Provide advice and mentorship to improve their competitiveness for appointment to the Academy.

The ideal candidate for this position will be a professional with relevant experience in a college or university setting, experience mentoring and advising high school students or recruiting experience.

Requirements

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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 either the education or specialized experience requirements.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Experienceyou must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include:

  • Experience conducting small and large-scale group presentations.
  • Experience applying policies and procedures related to college or university admissions, recruitment or outreach efforts.
  • Experience reviewing and screening documents, such as transcripts, essays or resumes.
  • Experience collaborating with stakeholders (such as educational institutions, community organizations or government entities) to support recruitment and outreach efforts.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:

  • 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
  • You can also qualify based on a combination of higher-level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.

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:

  1. Program Knowledge: Give recruitment presentations at selected high schools and other forums to stimulate interest in the academy.
  2. Communication: Utilize the latest marketing and recruitment techniques to execute a nationwide recruitment program and deliver effective presentations at educational institutions.
  3. Program Development: Develop networks with educational and professional organizations to facilitate information about opportunities for students at USMMA.
  4. Interpersonal Skills: Maintain virtual communication with applicants throughout the admissions process and provide advice and mentorship to improve their competitiveness for appointment to the Academy.


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

Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.

Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

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.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level. 

All applicants:  Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process.  Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed.  Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME).


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