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Marine Transportation Supervisor (Vessel Master) - SME

Department of Transportation
Great Lakes Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Lock Operations and Marine Services, Marine Services Division, Massena, NY. You will serve as a working supervisor of the Marine Services Division with major responsibilities for the Corporation’s marine vessels, floating plants, aids to navigation, and hydrographic surveys.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/25/2026 to 08/24/2026
Salary
$125,776 to - $163,514 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Massena, NY
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - Some travel will be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
GLS.LO-2026-0001
Control number
858760400

Duties

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As a Marine Transportation Supervisor (Vessel Master), you will:

  • Administer the waterway channel maintenance program and the navigational aids program. Responsible for maintaining preventive maintenance and repairs of all navigational aids and vessels. Prepare short and long-range preventive maintenance plans for the Marine Division.
  • Exercise technical and administrative supervision over marine crews. Identify and initiate employee development as needed. Prepare and deliver performance evaluations. Manage personnel issues in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
  • Communicate on a regular basis on behalf of the agency with various external entities and binational stakeholders in relation to the activities of the Marine Division. Draft budget requests for the division. Develop new or modifies existing operating procedures and training programs.
  • Pilot vessels and supervises activities of marine crews and vessel operations. Provide strong leadership and support to the agency's safety and occupational health program. Provide technical expertise for emergency response exercises and training.

The ideal candidate for this position will have the appropriate USCG Master's License and have the appropriate knowledge and work experience gained by specifically working on the St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes or like waterway.

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.

  • USCG License Requirement - You must have a current USCG Merchant Marine Credential endorsed as Master of Steam or Motor Vessels of 1600 gross registered tons (GRT) upon the Great Lakes and inland waters or superseding routes. You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials, or your application will be considered incomplete.
  • Towing Endorsement - You must have a current USCG License/Credential that qualifies as Master of Towing Vessels upon the Great Lakes and inland waters or superseding routes.
  • 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.
  • SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
  • PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • 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).
  • DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT:  You must also be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.
  • 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.
  • 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. 

Qualifications

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

To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include:

  • Experience as Vessel Master operating and maintaining vessels, in addition to overseeing shipping channel maintenance, maintaining aids to navigation, responding to emergencies on the water, conducting ship inspections, or investigating vessel incidents/accidents.
  • Experience with various maritime operational practices, procedures, regulations, and policies such as American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) rules and guidelines, or similar, sufficient to assist others on the requirements.
  • Experience operating “Z-drive,” or similar azimuthons drive propulsion systems for towing vessels.

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. Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
  2. Computer Skills - Use computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
  3. Information Management - Identify a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organize and maintain information or information management systems.
  4. Teamwork - Encourage and facilitate cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; foster commitment and team spirit; work 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. You MUST UPLOAD your USCG Credentials, or you will be rated ineligible.  Failure to meet this Screen Out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

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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