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Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector)

Department of Transportation
Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Located in the Office of Lock Operations, the Marine Transportation Specialist serves as expert in marine requirements for vessels transiting the Seaway, investigation of marine incidents/accidents, salvage methods, naval architecture and marine engineering related items, etc. Serves as Corporation Marine Advisor at industry meetings. Position is typically on a first 40-hour tour of duty, and is subject to frequent schedule changes and travel to Canada. Ship inspections may be performed 24/7.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/27/2023 to 10/04/2023
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$98,496 to - $128,043 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Massena, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - Extensive travel will be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
GLS.LO-2023-0002
Control number
733975400

Duties

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The Marine Transportation Specialist (Ship Inspector):

  • Duties are shared/rotated among 3 Inspectors at least one of which will be on call 24/7, 10 months of the year, to conduct onboard ship inspections on foreign flagged vessels entering the St. Lawrence Seaway upon their arrival to verify compliance with Seaway transit regulations as well as ensuring vessels are in compliance with United States Coast Guard transit regulations in conjunction with the Canadian Seaway Representative.
  • Duties are shared/rotated among 3 Inspectors, at least one of which will be on shift 24/7, 10 months of the year, for ship incident/accident investigations such as groundings, oil spills, allisions, and equipment failures which occur with the Seaway and have the ability to block or restrict maritime commerce. Evaluates damage to ships or Corporation facilities and makes recommendations for corrective action; acts as onboard Seaway Representative.
  • Serves as the Corporation liaison with external maritime agencies (US Coast Guard, Shipping Owners and Agents, Canadian Seaway Authorities); reviews regulatory policy and changes ensuring Seaway requirements are inline or not impeded; recommends changes.
  • May be required to occasionally serve as a relief for Lock Operations Supervisors who are responsible for lock crews on 12 hour rotating shifts

Ideal Candidate: This position is perfect for someone who has provided technical expertise independently, and/or as a team leader, on marine inspections of a variety of vessels. Someone who has determined compliance with laws, regulations, and standards, while verifying the existence of proper vessel documentation and the certification of safe and proper operating order of systems (navigation, communication, alarm, lifesaving, firefighting, and pollution prevention systems) and machinery, and the soundness and acceptable parameters of vessel structures and hulls.

PLEASE NOTE: This announcement establishes an open continuous (3 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. 

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:

  • 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.
  • DRUG TEST: This position has been determined to be a critical safety/security position as defined in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Order, DOT 3910.1D entitled "Drug and Alcohol-Free Departmental Workplace." Therefore, if selected for the position you will be required to submit to a pre-employment/pre-appointment drug test, you will also be subject to Random Drug Testing.
  • DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT:  You must also be able to obtain and maintain a driver’s license equivalent to New York State Level 5.
  • TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Due to the location of our agency and the duties of this position, you must be able to enter Canada in accordance with Canadian law and re-enter the United States.
  • 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 qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

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:

  • Experience inspecting ship equipment (bridge and/or engine room) and investigating ship casualties where you served as the technical expert. Qualifying experience would have been gained in any of the following positions: USCG Marine Inspector, Captain with unlimited license, Chief Engineer with unlimited license, or Surveyor for a Classification Society.

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.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

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. 

To compete with U.S. Citizens:  If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.

Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment. Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position.

All applicants:  Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position. The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package.  If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official. Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating.


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