Supervisory Enforcement Manager Job in Silver Spring, MD

Vacancy No. NMFS OLE-26-12908996-ST Department National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Salary $169,279.00 to $197,200.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/19/2026 Close Date 3/25/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Silver Spring, MD


Summary

This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Headquarters, with 1 vacancy in Silver Spring, MD.

This position is also announced under vacancy number NMFS OLE-26-12908997-DE, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.

This job is open to

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

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

Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Military spouses

Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Family of overseas employees

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency

Open to current or former Federal employees w/permanent competitive status; OR those eligible under a non-competitive appointing authority (e.g. Indiv. w/Disabilities, Pathways Interns & Recent Grads who are eligible for conversion, etc.); NOAA Corps; OR current or former employees who are serving, or previously served on temp or term appmt in land mgmt agency; OR veterans w/preference or those separated from armed forces under honorable conditions after 3+ yrs of continuous service.

Duties

As a Supervisory Enforcement Manager, you will perform the following duties:

  • Enforce domestic laws, regulations, and international treaties regarding conservation and protection of living marine resources, marine protected areas, and endangered species of fish and wildlife. Plan and execute initiatives to counter Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
  • Perform budget and financial management oversight and serve as an advisor to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) managers and stakeholders. Responsible for division of human, financial, and material resources.
  • Serve as a Headquarters Assistant Director managing law enforcement officers, special agents, investigative analysts, and foreign affairs personnel involved in enforcement of domestic laws, international treaties, and obligations dedicated to protecting wildlife and their natural habitat at the national level. Serve as a supervisor and manager responsible for all technical and administrative responsibilities or functions, including planning and distributing work; setting and adjusting short- and long-term priorities; evaluating the work performance of subordinates; interviewing candidates for subordinate roles; identifying developmental and training needs.
  • Develop policies, procedures, and strategies to support the enforcement of domestic laws, regulations, trade and seafood fraud, and international treaties regarding conservation and protection of living marine resources, marine protected areas, and endangered species and wildlife. Interpret guidance on program planning, execution, and evaluation. Provide insight and input to management developing directives, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), memoranda, policy statements, proposals, and other written guidelines.


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip and knee joints is required; arms, hands, legs and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily.
  • Distant vision must be 20/20 (Snellen) in each eye corrected and no worse than 20/200 (Snellen) uncorrected. Near vision must be normal. Color vision must be sufficient to distinguish basic colors.
  • Hearing must be at 30 db HL RE: ANSI 1969 or better in each ear at 500, 1000, and 2000Hz. At 3000 Hz, hearing must be at 40 db HL or better. Applicants are not permitted to use hearing aids for screening.


POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

  • This position requires the operation of a Federal motor vehicle. Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid state driver's license to operate a government vehicle daily i.e. make site visits, etc.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.

The ZA-5 is equivalent to the GS-15.

Key Requirements:

  • Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation.
  • More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information.
  • Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov)
  • Qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • If you are a Federal employee applying for a promotion (under merit promotion procedures) you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Additional Considerations:

  • One year probationary period may be required.
  • A one year supervisory probationary period may be required (probationary period can be served concurrently)
  • Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized.
  • Payment of relocation incentives OR recruitment incentives may be authorized. Note: Relocation incentives are for current federal employees only.
  • Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

  • Your performance and conduct;
  • Needs and interests of the agency;
  • Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system.

Qualifications

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) pay: These positions may receive administratively uncontrollable overtime pay as a percentage of the employee's annual rate for work, which requires substantial amounts of irregular or overtime hours in excess of the normal 8-hour workday and cannot be controlled administratively.
  • Training Requirements: Applicants who have satisfactorily completed the Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP) or the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) provided by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, or an equivalent training program which provided instruction in the laws of arrest, search and seizure as they relate to investigating offenses against the United States, should provide a copy of your certification during the hiring process. Selectees who do not possess such certification will be required to successfully complete the course after entrance on duty. Selectee may be required to successfully complete basic enforcement officer training and any other agency-specific training required by the agency. Must complete requisite training/ security requirements in order to be issued law enforcement credentials (Commerce DAO 207-11).
  • Drug Testing Requirement: This position is subject to random and pre-employment drug testing. This is a drug testing designated position (TDP).
  • Firearms Requirement: You will be required to carry a firearm while performing duties of this position. Maintaining firearm proficiency is also mandatory.
  • Security Clearance: The incumbent of this critical sensitive position will be subject to a Tier 5 background investigation and maintain eligibility for a Top-Secret clearance, but local security access will be limited to Secret level only. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) access to attend many of these meetings and briefings. NMFS is engaged with the National Security Council on multiple interagency initiatives and associated meetings pertaining to countering IUU fishing around the globe as a national security initiative and threat country-specific related topics typically held on secure video teleconferencing at the TS/SCI level.
  • Lautenberg Amendment: This position is covered by the 1996 Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968. A person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime of domestic violence are not eligible for the position. False or fraudulent information provided by candidates is criminally punishable by fine or imprisonment (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001).
  • Mobility Agreement: This position may require the incumbent to be reassigned to a different geographic location. Accordingly, the incumbent will be required to sign a mobility agreement, which will remain in effect while assigned to this position as an enforcement officer.
  • Inclement Weather: The duties of this position require exposure to inclement weather.
  • Medical Requirements: Applicants must pass a pre-employment medical/physical examination and psychological examination, then, maintain medical, psychological and comprehensive physical requirements as evidenced by successful completion of annual physicals. The duties of positions in this series require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and physical stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself or others may be disqualifying.
  • Maximum Entry Age: This position is a covered primary law enforcement position under Title 5 U.S.C 3307 Maximum Entry Age, the special retirement provisions for Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). Candidates without previous LEO service must be under age 37. Those with current or prior federal LEO coverage will be considered only if they can demonstrate that they will have completed 20 years of covered service by mandatory retirement age of 57. The maximum entry age requirement is waived for Veteran's Preference Eligible applicants; please click here for more information. Your application materials must clearly demonstrate this experience. Failure to do so will result in your application being marked as ineligible.
  • Incumbent must maintain requirements to qualify for LEO retirement coverage (5 USC 8336(c) and 5 USC 8412(d).
  • Special Retirement Coverage: This position is a secondary law enforcement position and, as such, provides for the continuation of law enforcement retirement coverage for those currently encumbering a covered position. Provisions for continued law enforcement retirement coverage include:
  • Applicants currently covered by the Civil Service Retirement System who are in a primary or secondary position under 5 USC 8336(c) must transfer to this secondary law enforcement position without a break in service exceeding 3 days, in order to maintain their law enforcement retirement coverage. Applicants currently covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System in a rigorous position under 5 USC 8412 (d) must have been in that position for at least 3 years before transferring directly, without a break in service exceeding 3 days, to this secondary position. All candidates currently covered by Federal law enforcement retirement coverage as cited in this notice are subject to mandatory separation age requirements in accordance with applicable statutes. In order to be covered under special retirement, must have completed 3 years in a rigorous position; moved directly from rigorous to secondary position; been continuously employed in secondary since transferring from a rigorous position.
  • If you have current or prior Federal Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) coverage you must submit appropriate SF-50s that shows period of coverage. Failure to provide proof of Federal LEO coverage may result in removal from consideration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/

EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government.

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.

To qualify at the ZA-5 or GS-15 level:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-4 or GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

  • Performing various tasks supporting law enforcement operations as a supervisor or manager;
  • Establishing short and long-range strategic planning related to law enforcement; and
  • Supervising or managing law enforcement personnel, policy development and executive functions.

Education

Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.

Additional information

During the application process you will have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Salary for selectee's pay may be set at any point within the pay band except for intervals 4 and 5 ($197,200) which is reserved for supervisory performance or for current supervisors within CAPS who already have a salary within intervals 4 and 5.

ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition.

ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;
  2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;
  3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.

CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:

  1. Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).
  2. Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;
  3. Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and
  4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.
Non-Competitive Reinstatement to a Higher Grade/Band than Previously Held MUST submit the following documents:
  1. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action": You must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series, and highest grade level held on a permanent basis for your previous position, AND the SF-50 that verifies your separation date; AND
  2. Performance Appraisal: Most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable.

NOAA participates in e-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire and/or evaluation through a manual assessment process, and your responses to any additional assessments (i.e. USAHire) required for this position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and a Job Knowledge Test. The Job Knowledge Test is designed to assess technical and professional expertise directly relevant to the requirements of this announcement. This assessment measures the specialized knowledge and skills accumulated over time, which are critical for successful performance in this position. The best-qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

Criminal Investigation, Financial Management, Managing Human Resources, and Planning and Evaluating

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12908996

Required Documents

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (may be: (1) uploaded directly from your desktop; or (2) uploaded directly from your USAJOBS stored attachments):

1. Resume:

  • Your resume must be no more than 2 pages. Applicants with resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Please review the USAJobs Help Center for additional requirements.
  • You are encouraged to make your resume and profile searchable https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/profile/searchable.
  • You are highly encouraged to use USAJOBS Resume Builder to ensure all required information is included in your Resume.
  • If you use your own resume or curriculum vitae, for each work experience at a minimum, your resume should include; job title(s) (including job series and grade, if Federal); description of duties or work performed; starting and ending dates (month and year).
  • Part-Time work must be clearly identified and include the number of hours per week; if not identified, then work will be assumed to be Full-Time. (NOTE: A full-time work schedule requires most employees to work 33-40 hours during the work week. A part-time schedule requires an employee to work less than full-time, typically 16-32 hours per week.)
2. SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action: If you are a current or former Federal employee, you must provide the most current Notification of Personnel Action (Form SF-50) that verifies career/career-conditional status, title, series and grade (do not submit an Award SF-50). Also provide the SF-50 that reflects the highest grade level held on a permanent basis or the full performance level of your current position, whichever is higher. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating.

3. Veteran's documentation: If you are requesting consideration under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) you must submit a copy of your Member 4, DD Form 214 stating disposition of discharge or character of service or other valid proof of eligibility (i.e., statement of service that shows service dates AND character of service) and/or any other required supporting documents (VA letter, SF-15, etc). For more information, please click here.
  • Active Duty Service Members: You must submit a statement of discharge/certification of release or an official written document from the armed forces that certifies you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions no later than 120 days from the date the announcement closes. Enlisted Record Briefs and military identification do NOT qualify as official documentation. If the appropriate information is not submitted to confirm the discharge status, dates of service, etc., you will not be considered for this job opportunity under Veteran Preference procedures. To gain access to your DD-214 online please visit.
4. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation (see "Additional Information" section)

5. Documentation supporting eligibility for non-competitive appointment: Includes Individuals with Disabilities, 30% Veterans, certain Military Spouses, etc.

6. Documentation supporting NOAA Commissioned Corps: NOAA Form 56-16 or other documentation supporting active duty in NOAA Corps.

7. Maximum entry age exception documentation, if applicable (See Maximum Entry Age description in Qualifications section)

OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS:
  • Performance Appraisals
  • Incentive Awards
In accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3), due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and incentive awards during the selection process.

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:

  1. Click the blue "Apply Online" button.
  2. If you are not a registered USAJOBS user, please create a new account and follow the instructions to complete your application process. If you are a registered user, login to access your existing USAJOBS profile.
  3. As a registered user, select a stored resume and select one or more of your stored documents to attach to your application.
  4. Check the "Certification" box and click the "Apply for this position now!" button located at the bottom of the screen.
  5. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
  6. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
  7. If you experience technical difficulties during the online application process, please contact the USAJOBS helpdesk


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.

Agency contact information

Applicant Inquiries
Email
noaa.applicantinquiries@noaa.gov
Address
NOAA Office of Human Capital Services OHCS
1315 East West Hwy
SSMC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910
US

Next steps

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other equivalent positions throughout the Federal government. The position must be alike (e.g.: within the same geographic locations, equivalent grade/band and requires the same qualifications and specialized experience as indicated in this vacancy announcement).

Salary ranges will vary based on the location. Please visit: OPM Salary Charts for specific salary information related to a specific location.

You will be notified of your application status through USAJOBS at four points during the hiring process, as applicable. You can check the status of your application by accessing the USAJOBS website and clicking on "Track Your Online Application." The four points of notification are:

  1. Application Received
  2. Application assessed for qualification;
  3. Referred or Not Referred; and
  4. Selected or Not Selected.

By submitting your application, you are certifying the accuracy of the information contained in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be terminated after you begin work; or, you may be fined or jailed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will be required to submit official documentation prior to appointment. The agency will then verify the information provided on your application (i.e., degree, Veterans' Preference, proof of disability, etc.).