Job Description

Summary

This is a Full-Time, Permanent position in the Office of Admissions at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

NOTE: All applications received by April 20, 2026 will receive early consideration. We will do monthly reviews and referrals of applications on an as needed basis with the final review occurring after June 19, 2026 (closing date). You must meet all eligible requirements at the time of consideration.

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. Due to the potential of a high volume of applicants, not all applicants may receive consideration. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. The 'Rule of Three', Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

The Recruitment Specialist:

• Develops a national recruitment network with organizations to ensure accomplishment of recruitment strategies, policies, and procedures of those program objectives that are in accordance with regulations. Develops networks with educational and professional organizations to build awareness about opportunities for students at the USMMA.
• Works closely with congressional staff, midshipmen, alumni, counselors, parents, etc. to recruit candidates for admission. Represents the Academy at high school programs, college fairs, career days, and other similar functions.
• Interprets and explains academic programs, admissions standards, and admissions procedures. Provides information pertaining to the maritime industry, the Merchant Marine, and military career opportunities.
• Conducts pre-screening of applications from prospective students. Reviews applications for completeness and ensures that applicants meet academic requirements prior to submission to the Candidate Evaluation Board. Reviews and evaluates candidates based on their academic records, extracurricular participation, personal qualities, leadership ability, potential for success at the Academy, and motivation for a maritime/military career. Maintains email, text, telephonic and virtual communication with applicants throughout the admissions process.
• Provides advice and mentorship to improve their competitiveness for appointment to the Academy.

The ideal candidate for this position will be a professional with relevant experience in a college or university setting, experience mentoring and advising high school students, or recruiting experience.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen & meet specialized experience to qualify
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position

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.
• PROBATIONARY PERIOD: Applicants may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet either the education or specialized experience requirements.



To qualify for the GS-11 on Experience, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-09 it must include:

• Experience conducting small and large-scale group presentations.
• Experience applying policies and procedures related to college or university admissions, recruitment or, outreach efforts.
• Experience reviewing and screening documents, such as transcripts, essays, or resumes.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders (such as educational institutions, community organizations, or government entities) to support recruitment and outreach efforts.

To qualify for the GS-11 on Education alone, you must have:
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
You can also qualify based on a combination of higher level graduate education and experience. This must be fully supported by your resume and transcripts, provided with your application.



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:

• Program Knowledge: Gives recruitment presentations at selected high schools and other forums to stimulate interest in the academy.
• Communication: Utilizes the latest marketing and recruitment techniques to execute a nationwide recruitment program and deliver effective presentations at educational institutions.
• Program Development: Develops networks with educational and professional organizations to facilitate information about opportunities for students at USMMA.
• Interpersonal Skills: Maintains virtual communication with applicants throughout the admissions process, and provides advice and mentorship to improve their competitiveness for appointment to the Academy.

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:


Students enrolled in a qualifying degree program can apply if the anticipated graduation date is within six months of closing date of the announcement. Graduation transcript must be received before start date.


Other applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, [email protected]. To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.

Qualified CTAP/ICTAP candidates receive priority and will be referred to the hiring manager.

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.

Benefits

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.

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: For this announcement, applicants may be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational requirements. Applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications may be referred to the selecting official.

Applicants will not be rated or ranked. Veteran’s Preference does NOT apply.

Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

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. For assistance with the resume builder, please visit :

DISPLACED EMPLOYEES: If requesting consideration under the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency CTAP program (ICTAP), you must meet the standards for this vacancy 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 USA Jobs 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.

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

If you are having difficulty applying online, please contact the DOT Automated Staffing Office via email at: [email protected]

Agency contact information

Automated Staffing Office

Phone

000-000-0000

Fax

000-000-0000

Email

[email protected]

Address

DOT, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Submit Application and Documents Online
1200 New Jersey Ave SE / HAHR - 50
Washington, District of Columbia 20590
United States

Next steps

You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com (Select "My USAJobs" and click "Applications". Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist may evaluate your application. If evaluated, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.

Overview

Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

03/20/2026 to 06/19/2026

Salary

$85,447 to - $111,087 per year

Pay scale & grade

GS 11

Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

Kings Point, NY

Remote job

No

Telework eligible

Yes—This position may be eligible for situational telework. Telework approval will be determined by your immediate supervisor or manager following the agency’s telework policy and guidance. If participating in the telework program, you will be required to sign a telework agreement detailing agency telework policy requirements, working conditions, and expectations for the position.

Travel Required

25% or less - Some travel will be required.

Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time - Full Time

Service

Competitive

Promotion potential

11

Job family (Series)

• 0301 Miscellaneous Administration And Program

Supervisory status

No

Security clearance

Other

Drug test

No

Position sensitivity and risk

Moderate Risk (MR)

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

No

Bargaining unit status

No

Announcement number

MARAD.MMA-2026-0031

Control number

861737900

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Part time, Work at office, Immediate start, Remote work, Relocation

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