Transportation Operations Specialist (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Clarification from the agency

Open to current and former Federal employees with competitive status, VEOA Applicants, AND All U.S. Citizens.

As a Transportation Operations Specialist, you will:

• Provide review, analysis, and recommendations of options on operations and policy matters relative to program vessels. Independently resolves day-to-day operations and program issues within the limits of authority delegated by the Ship Operations Supervisor.
• Draft and deliver high-level program and operations briefings to internal and external stakeholders regarding vessel operational status, mission capabilities, and resource requirements. Serve as the primary agency representative and technical point of contact for fleet-related programmatic issues, including cost analysis and contract and regulatory compliance.
• Stand watch as the MARAD Duty Officer on a rotational basis to support MARAD agency and fleet operations.
• Engage with Department of War and key sealift stakeholders to align vessel capabilities with military mission requirements and advises operationally on achieving the mission-critical objectives. Track and report on current operational and readiness status of MARAD vessels.
• Conduct daily analysis of classified correspondence to identify and brief leadership on information pertinent to the agency’s operational readiness and strategic interests. Ensure strict adherence to federal classified information and Communications Security (COMSEC) protocols regarding the custody and safeguarding of sensitive assets.

The ideal candidate has an extensive and expert-level background in marine transportation, underscored by professional experience as a USCG Licensed Deck Officer. The ideal candidate possesses experience engaging with the Department of War (DoW) and other federal agencies to advance cross-organizational priorities. The candidate will demonstrate exceptional experience in cross-functional transportation operations, the discipline of standing watch in demanding operational environments, and the ability to synthesize complex data into clear briefings and evaluations. Proficiency in standardized operations and a commitment to continuous process improvement are essential.

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:

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which 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;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance the organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the 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.

• 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.
• PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT:  Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required.
• BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: You may be required to complete a background/security investigation and meet preliminary requirements prior to onboarding.
• 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

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR). Check the Education section for other ways to meet the IOR for this series. 

IOR for Marine Transportation positions, experience in:

Planning, directing, and supervising cargo or bulk petroleum movements such as:

• Embarkation and debarkation, cargo loading and discharge.
• Formulating marine transportation itineraries and routings according to commercial cost factors and tariffs.
• Formulating marine transportation traffic plans for personnel and cargo.
• Scheduling ships.
• Developing, analyzing, or evaluating cargo lift capabilities.
• Preparing statistics for planning operations of ships, or formulating budgetary estimates of cargo transportation costs.
• Serving as a licensed merchant marine deck or engine officer or naval deck or engine officer.

Ship chartering negotiation or administration, such as:

• Chartering commercial ships and space.
• Reviewing and approving ship operating and damage expenses and marine insurance premiums.
• Investigating ocean carrier claims for ship damage.
• Reviewing and recommending action on cargo shortage and damage claims.
• Analyzing and applying appropriate precedents and regulations.
• Establishing rates with commercial carriers for special cargoes according to market conditions.
• Analyzing statements of ship operating costs, and preparing estimates to adjust rates or determine the most economical method of transportation.

In addition to meeting the IOR, you must also meet the following specialized experience for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the Grade 13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include:

• Experience planning, directing, and supervising cargo movements and vessel operations, formulating ship schedules, analyzing and evaluating cargo lift capabilities, and advising on or formulating budgetary estimates.
• Experience serving as a merchant marine deck officer, working within a safety management system or equivalent procedural structure, overseeing vessel operations, working in a classified operations center, handling classified material, and working with a variety of knowledge management tools, such as AI and other software or programs.

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. Transportation – Knowledge of principles and methods and regulations for moving people or goods by sea including costs and limits.
2. Technical Competence – Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one’s  job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
3. Organizational Awareness – Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
4. Communications Security Management – Knowledge of the principles, policies, and procedures involved in ensuring the security of communications services and data, and in maintaining the communications environment on which it resides.

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.

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).

RESUME: In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application.  These should be legible and in a readable font size. A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages. 

Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time, or average number of hours worked per week,  and position titles.  If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level.  The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.

TRANSCRIPTS are REQUIRED if there is a stated education requirement for the series OR if you are substituting education for experience. The transcripts need not be official, but must show that you meet the stated education requirements, including specific major or class requirements. 

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS/INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, performance appraisals and/or Incentive award documentation may be submitted and forwarded to the selecting official in consideration of your application. To receive credit, submit a recent performance appraisal (dated within 18 months) showing the official rating of record, signed by a supervisor, or statement why the performance appraisal is unavailable (do not submit a performance plan) and/or incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months (i.e. performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increases, etc.).

VETERANS: Your last DD214 (member 4 copy), Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, that shows the type of discharge and all dates of active duty is required to verify your eligibility.  

• If applying to a vacancy opened to all US Citizens under category rating and wish to be considered as a preference eligible, you need to submit a copy of your DD214 (member-4 copy).
• If claiming preference eligibility as a disabled veteran, you must submit proof of entitlement of this preference which is normally a valid letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs certifying to the present existence of the service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of your disability.  An SF-15 is desired, but not required.
• If applying to a vacancy opened Status and you are requesting consideration under Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) (https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shav/#veoa), you need to provide a copy of your last DD214 (member-4 copy), which verifies your military service dates, reason for separation, OR certification of separation that shows a discharge date within 120 days of the closing of this announcement, and eligibility for consideration under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act.

FEDERAL APPLICANTS: You must submit SF-50(s) that verify your highest competitive grade, full performance level, and eligibility as a federal applicant.  DO NOT submit an award SF-50 as these often do not verify grade or eligibility. For consideration for a promotion, Box 4 of the SF-50 must show a date that is at least 52 weeks prior to the job announcement closing. We recommend submitting your last promotion SF-50 or within-grade increase SF-50.  Pay adjustment raise SF-50s for the current year will not support the 52 weeks’ time-in-grade requirements. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/service/sf-50

NON COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS: If requesting concurrent consideration for Non-competitive (NC) appointment eligibility, you must provide the appropriate SPECIAL APPOINTING AUTHORITY DOCUMENTS, such as PCS orders (military spouse) describing move & marriage certificate; letter from VA or DD214 describing 100% disability of spouse; letter from State Vocational Office certifying disability (schedule A), etc. For more information, visit military spouse NC appointments or Persons with Disabilities NC appointments.

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the well qualified standards for this vacancy (meeting minimum requirements for position and scoring at least an 80) and provide all of the following documents:  

• your most recent performance appraisal,
• the proof of eligibility letter from the Agency, and
• your most current SF-50, displaying current series and grade.

Displaced employees may be eligible for ICTAP or CTAP priority consideration. For more information, please review the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the required documents by the closing date of the vacancy will result in your removal from consideration for this position. Please review your application prior to final submission and ensure you have submitted all appropriate documents. Uploading documents to USAJobs does NOT ensure inclusion with your application to our system.  You must verify that the documents are in the system with your application prior to final submission.

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