This position is in the Office of Cargo and Commercial Sealift (OCCS), Office of the Deputy Associate Administrator for Commercial Sealift, Office of the Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, Maritime Administration (MARAD).
To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet either the education or experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. 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 coordinating and implementing programs and projects designed to increase the overall U.S. flag Merchant Marine participation in the carriage of U.S. Ocean borne foreign and domestic trade. Experience with providing guidance on federal rules and regulations issued under the Cargo Preference Act (CPA) of 1954 as amended and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) or the CPA of 1904, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the Jones Act, and any other laws or regulations as applicable, are appropriate and being met. 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: 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. Compliance - Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance Manages and Organizes Information - Identifies a need; gathers, organizes, and maintains information; determines its importance and accuracy, and communicates methods. 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.
As a Supervisory Trade Specialist, you will: Interpret the cargo preference laws and regulations, and their application to agencies' current programs as well as future and modified programs, including addressing federal agency and public questions regarding operational and logistical issues with international waterborne transportation. Establish and maintain monitoring systems that ensure each shipper reports bill of lading information for each ocean shipment subject to cargo preference laws and which generate periodic cargo preference cargo reports detailing these ocean shipments. Determine compliance of cargo preference programs and promotes the use of U.S. flag ships beyond the legal minimum and explain objectives for maintaining a strong U.S. merchant marine to affected Federal agencies. Exercise delegated responsibility for position management; selection and assignment of team members; performance evaluation; employee training and development; employee recognition; management-employee communications; constructive discipline; leave administration; and safety. Establish personal liaison with government agencies and vendors generating preference cargo and shippers through training, conference and meeting participation, and speaking events to ensure agency instructions and regulations, as prescribed by cargo preference laws, are being followed. The ideal candidate for this position has commercial maritime industry employment experience with a U.S.-flag carrier, vessel broker, freight forwarder or other Ocean Transportation Intermediaries (OTI), that involves complying with cargo preference laws and regulations. The candidate will have knowledge of and experience with cargo preference laws, regulations, and other relevant policy determinations to include Comptroller General and judicial decisions. Previous supervisory experience is preferred, but not required.