Senior Marine Accident Investigator (Nautical) - Direct Hire

National Transportation Safety Board

Office of Marine Safety (OMS)

Summary

This position is a Senior Marine Accident Investigator (Nautical) located in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Office of Marine Safety (OMS). OMS investigates major marine casualties to determine the probable cause and identify safety recommendations that will prevent similar events in the future.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. Citizen. Direct-Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veteran's preference and category rating of applicants does not apply to this vacancy. This is a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) solicitation utilizing the DHA for Direct Hire Authority for Shortage Category/Critical need positions to recruit and appoint qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service.

Duties

As a Senior Marine Accident Investigator (Nautical) - Direct Hire, GS-1801-14, you will perform the following major duties:

As investigator in charger (IIC) on NTSB led accident investigations, leads all aspects of the investigation including close cooperation with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) investigating officer, management of the NTSB investigative team and parties to the investigation, setting and maintaining the schedule and budget including on scene work, follow-up visits and team overtime. Keeps management informed of progress and developments in the investigation.
Responsible for the investigation of factors affecting vessel operators and persons involved in the operation and management of marine transportation systems.
Organize, manage, and coordinate the nautical/operational aspects of investigations for major marine casualties and developing and presenting factual and analytical reports with safety recommendations for adoption by the Board.
Analyze evidence gathered to reconstruct the events before, during, and after the accident by applying the principles of scientific methodology, logic, statistics, and other fields related to the operations of vessels.
Write and complete factual reports, exhibits, outlines, and analytical reports. Present as IIC or Group Chairperson the technical views/facts before the full Board for acceptance, rejection, modification, or further study.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

U.S. Citizenship
If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be regi or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
Resume and supporting documents (see "How to Apply" section.)
Suitability for Federal employment
Financial Interest in transportation enterprises will be evaluated on a case by case basis
Bargaining Unit Position: YES - Bargaining unit represented by NTSB-AFGE Local 2211.
Direct Deposit is required.
This position is subject to a one-year probationary period unless the appointee has previously met the requirements as described in 5 CFR Part 315.
THIS POSITION IS NOT ELIGIBILE FOR REMOTE TELEWORK.
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
You may be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, upon entering the position and annually.
A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
Two-Page Resume Limit: Resumes must not be more than two standard single-sided pages (or one page if submitting a front and back, hard-copy).
This position is eligible for ad-hoc/situational telework as determined by the agency policy.
Moving expenses associated with permanent change of station (PCS) ARE NOT authorized for this position. A Relocation or Recruitment Incentive may be offered to highly qualified candidates.
Multiple and subsequent vacancies may be filled from this announcement.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the federal service. Specialized experience is defined as: Serving as a chief mate or master operating/navigating on a commercial vessel over 1600 gross tons; overseeing shipboard emergency drills and/or actual emergency situations at sea in a leadership role; operating under and determining compliance with maritime laws, regulations, and applicable standards; ensuring proper vessel documentation and the certification and safe and proper operating condition of systems (navigation, stability, communication, lifesaving, firefighting, and pollution prevention) and machinery, and the soundness and acceptable parameters of vessel structures and hulls including maintaining vessel stability; providing technical expertise and training to junior marine officers and crew; leading operational activities aboard commercial seagoing vessels related to vessel and crew member safety; operational experience working within and/or directly auditing a commercial safety management system in accordance with International Safety Management (ISM) Code and providing feedback or developing new procedures for continuous improvement of that system. For more information see link: General Inspection Investigation Enforcement and Compliance Series 1801

NOTE: IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience and competencies related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the education, specialized experience and/or competencies will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

Education

EDUCATION is not applicable at the GS-14.

Additional information

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and various benefits as well as work life amenities such as alternate work schedules, telework, flextime, fitness and transit benefits.
If you left Federal Employment and received a buy out and you are selected for this position, you may be required to repay the full amount of the payment.
Career Transition Assistance Programs: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) meet the basic qualification standards (including minimum educational and experience requirements; (3) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of 80 and above on the rating criteria for this position; and, (4) submit the appropriate documentation ( to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp
Note: ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications.
NTSB uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
The National Transportation Safety Board provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the National Transportation Safety Board directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

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

This position will be filled through the Direct Hire Authority. Under this authority, competitive rating, ranking, and veterans' preference procedures do not apply. Your application will be considered based on education, training, and quality of your experience. For more information on Direct-Hire Authority visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/direct-hire-authority/

Your application must include your resume and required supporting documents. Please be sure that your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications for this position; failure to provide sufficient evidence in your resume may result in a "not qualified" determination.

Referral: Applicants who meet the qualification requirements may be referred to a selecting official for consideration. Candidates may be required to participate in a selection interview (telephonic and/or in person) at the discretion of the Selecting Official in accordance with hiring practices.

Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume/application. If any are included, you will be deemed INELIGIBLE for consideration.

Classified or government sensitive information
Social Security Number (SSN)
Photos of yourself
Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12991238.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for a COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE:

A Complete Two-Page Resume is required: Your resume must show relevant experience, job title, duties and accomplishments. Your resume must show complete information for each job entry to support minimum qualifications. The following information MUST be provided in your resume: employer's name, starting and end dates (Mo/Yr), hours per week, and pay plan, series and grade level (e.g. GS-0201-09) for relevant federal experience. Please see OPM's video on Resume Writing Tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk
Responses to the questionnaire.

You are required to provide documentation that supports the eligibility and qualification claims made in your resume and assessment questionnaire. You must submit the applicable documents listed here and those listed with the eligibilities you select in the announcement questionnaire with your application package. Applicants who do not provide supporting documentation that fully support their claims will not be referred to the hiring manager. Cover letter is optional.

Failure to submit required documents will result in you being considered as "ineligible" for this position.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:

Click the Apply Online button.
Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside about two (2) hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.

Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us.

To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.

NOTE: If you have any additional questions, comments or concerns prior to the closing date please send those emails to include the vacancy announcement number, position title and your reason for contacting us to recruitment@ntsb.gov at least 1 business day before the closing date.

Agency contact information

Human Resources Division

Email: recruitment@ntsb.gov

Address: Office of Marine Safety
490 L'Enfant Plaza East SW
Washington, DC 20594
US

Next steps

Once the announcement has closed, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you meet the qualifications listed in the announcement. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Senior Marine Accident Investigator (Nautical) - Direct Hire Job in Washington, DC