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Recruitment Specialist (General)

Department of Transportation
Maritime Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

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

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
05/30/2025 to 09/26/2025
Salary
$87,133 to - $113,268 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy 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 required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
11
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
MARAD.MMA-2025-0021
Control number
837773600

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.

*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.
  • BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
  • 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.

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.

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 three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and 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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