Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens. Subject position(s) will be filled through Direct Hire Authority: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/ All applicants who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the Selecting Official for further consideration. The "Rule of Three", Category Rating, Veterans Preference, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

This position serves as a Supervisory Division Chief and a Federal Maritime Surgeon (FMS) for the Coast Guard at the Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC) and is responsible for determining the medical suitability of approximately 220,000 active U.S. merchant mariners. This position is located in the Medical Evaluation Division (NMC-6) of the NMC. The NMC manages the Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) and is responsible for implementing policies related to one or more missions of the United States Coast Guard. 

• Providing direction and guidance to staff of contract medical support personnel from Physician Assistants to clerks concerning the medical evaluation of merchant mariner applications, denials, reconsiderations, and other related activities described elsewhere in this document. Planning, scheduling and directing the workload and is held accountable for the quality, quantity and timeliness of the work of subordinates; and directs or provides on-the-job training as needed.
• Performing short and/or long-range program planning at the NMC. Developing, analyzing, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of work methods and procedures, organizations, budget, manpower utilization, distribution of work assignments, and management controls pertaining to mariner physical and medical suitability of MMC applicants as well as the entire application process. Developing NMC policy and implementing national program policy, providing innovative methods, new approaches, and is a medical subject matter expert for the agency. May delegate decision making authority to a subordinate medical officer to perform the following duties: Applicant evaluations; denials; reconsiderations; Congressional and other public inquiries; quality assurance; credential suspension and revocation actions; and joint efforts with safety and security on determinations regarding substance abuse related diagnoses.
• Overseeing the implementation of rules, regulations, guidance and policy relative to the medical evaluation of merchant mariners. Using medical judgment to decide applicability of these guidelines and the reasonableness of such guidelines to individual circumstances and to unique or rare medical conditions. Where there are gaps in these guidelines, or where risk stratification can be applied, makes determinations based on sound application of professional experience, technical expertise and related precedents. Reconciles contradictions, conflicts, and inconsistencies in submitted documentation. Using prudence to decide the applicability of regulatory guidelines and the reasonableness of such guidelines to individual circumstances. The incumbent must be thoroughly conversant in specialized terminology and understand and accept the gravity of decisions on the livelihood of applicants. Employs a thorough knowledge of the Coast Guard's Commercial Vessel Safety Program as-well as the maritime industry as a whole.
• Overseeing the implementation of rules, regulations, guidance and policy relative to the medical evaluation of merchant mariners. Using medical judgment to decide applicability of these guidelines and the reasonableness of such guidelines to individual circumstances and to unique or rare medical conditions. Reconciles contradictions, conflicts, and inconsistencies in submitted documentation. Uses prudence to decide the applicability of regulatory guidelines and the reasonableness of such guidelines to individual circumstances. Employs a thorough knowledge of the Coast Guard's Commercial Vessel Safety Program as well as the maritime industry as a whole. Providing consultative services to providers and occupational medicine physicians conducting merchant mariner physical examinations. Participates and serves as subject matter expert regarding NMC activities at Federal Advisory Committee meetings and other professional groups (maritime pilots, maritime medical examiners, attorneys, scientists, etc) and presents detailed briefings on the medical certification.
• Serving as the senior medical officer of the National Maritime Center and is responsible for determining the medical suitability of approximately 335,000 active U.S. merchant mariners. Planning and directing fitness for certification occupational health evaluations for the population of all merchant mariners. The mariner population represents a large variety of health hazards and problems that may present a safety risk to the marine transportation system. The variety of duties performed by merchant mariners requires a substantial and exceptional range and depth of occupational medicine determinations. As the senior medical officer, the incumbent ensures consistency of agency medical evaluations conducted by the Division medical evaluation personnel.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• The position requires a valid state driver's license.
• Requires a license to practice medicine in the geographical area.
• You will be required to undergo random drug testing.
• This position requires a National Agency Check with Inquiries (NACI).
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• A final offer of employment is contingent upon a negative drug test result.
• Unofficial transcripts are required at the time of application

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

Degree: Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine or equivalent from a school in the United States or Canada.  This degree must have been accredited by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association (external link); Association of American Medical Colleges (external link); Liaison Committee on Medical Education (external link); Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation of the American Osteopathic Association (external link), or an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (external link) at the time the degree was obtained.

Degree from Foreign Medical School: A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school must provide education and medical knowledge equivalent to accredited schools in the United States.  Evidence of equivalency to accredited schools in the United States is demonstrated by permanent certification by the  Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (external link), a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country, or successful completion of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination.

Licensure

For all grade levels and positions, applicants must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a Physician from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees.  If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

How you will be evaluated

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

We will review your résumé and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be referred for consideration. The following competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed to perform this job:

1. The position presents a relatively unique occupational medicine challenge. Whereas the field of occupational medicine is primarily focused on how the workplace environment affects worker health, the incumbent's primary focus is the way mariner health conditions impact maritime and public safety
2. Ability to interact with the public at all levels. Understanding of national marine safety investigations and interactions between and within agencies related to these investigations. Must exercise exceptional tact and diplomacy and be sensitive to the obligations of a public servant in interactions with the Legislative and Congressional Hearing process.
3. Thorough knowledge of medical terminology, and physiology consistent with the expected standards for an occupational health practitioner and a licensed mid-level clinical practitioner, and ability to communicate this knowledge orally and in writing with the medical staff and the applicant's medical representatives concerning the medical condition of the mariner or the need for additional information on the medical condition
4. Through knowledge of a wide variety of medical disorders and the normal course of diseases, anticipated complications, and therapeutic interventions, consistent with the expected standards for an occupational health practitioner and a licensed mid-level clinical practitioner.
5. Ability to acquire knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of merchant mariners. Knowledge will be used to oversee evaluations of the mariner's medical standing and its potential effect on applicant's ability to perform those duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Coast Guard's mariner medical standard.