Director of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response - SME

Director of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response - SME

Department: Department of Transportation

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $169279 - $197200 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is located in the Office of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response, Office of Chief of Staff, Maritime Administration (MARAD). Serves as the Department of Transportation's principal coordinator for maritime domain awareness matters, and acts as a key liaison between the maritime industry and government agencies in the area of maritime security and safety.

Major Duties:

• As a Director of Maritime Security, Safety, and Emergency Response, you will: Serves as MARAD's expert authority on matters pertaining to vessel security and port. Provides information, insight, and expert advice to Chief of Staff and the MARAD Administrator on current and future maritime security and safety challenges and solutions. Maintains frequent direct communication with the maritime industry on maritime security and safety matters involving port infrastructure, vessels, the maritime workforce, and cargoes. He/she interfaces with industry trade associations, classification societies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders on issues relating to global transportation security. Regularly interfaces with, and represents MARAD to, political appointees, SES, flag level, and working level employees of numerous federal agencies, in particular the Departments of Homeland Security, War, State, and Justice, and their subordinate agencies in particular the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Navy, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Maintains awareness of current intelligence reports on the global maritime transportation system. Disseminates Maritime Alerts and Advisories to U.S. flag vessels. Coordinates with the global MOTR Coordination Center, and disseminates Regularly consults with government and industry entities engaged in maritime security or safety issues, to develop and recommend national policies, objectives, and plans for promoting and implementing effective maritime security and safety measures. Identifies and leads resolution of unique or novel issues where no policy exists, taking innovative action to address emergent challenges. The ideal candidate will serve as Director for the office, supporting the U.S. merchant marine by advancing the development and implementation of practical, effective regulations, policies, procedures, and practices. This role focuses on protecting U.S.-flag vessels from a wide range of maritime security threats while also promoting maritime safety regulations that help sustain and strengthen sealift capabilities.

Qualifications: To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience in maritime security and safety, providing authoritative guidance and strategic solutions to the Maritime Administrator on current and emerging maritime challenges. Experience performing in-depth, complex analyses of merchant shipping issues tied to national defense and security, delivering insights to support senior agency decision-makers. 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: Security and Safety; expert knowledge in federal maritime security and safety legislation and regulations, including the administration and enforcement of these requirements across the United States. Communication; Skilled in preparing position papers, analyses, talking points, and briefings on maritime security and safety matters. Represents MARAD and make presentations on maritime security and safety issues to Congressional staff and at governmental and non-governmental meetings, workshops, conferences, and symposia. External outreach; Ability to interface regularly with all maritime security and safety stakeholders, including regulatory agencies, law enforcement agencies, port security officers, ship operating company security officers and the general public. The employee represents the Department in interagency committees and working groups with high-ranking government and flag level officials. 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 to Apply: You must submit a complete application package (including resume, vacancy questions and supporting documents) no later than 11:59 pm (EST) on the closing date of the announcement. To begin, click the "Apply Online" button on the job announcement posting. Follow the directions to register, submit all required documents and complete the assessment questionnaire. You may review your saved application(s) at https://help.usajobs.gov/ If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: Transjobs@dot.gov

Application Deadline: 2026-05-01