Small Craft Operator (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

About the role

This position is in the Office of Lock Operations & Marine Services, Marine Division. You will operate workboats, perform inspections, service and maintain navigation aids. You will also perform a variety of tasks involved with the maintenance and repair of vessels, equipment operations, emergency response and other related maintenance activities.

What you will do

• Operates a variety of workboats on surveys, buoy runs, inspections, service calls, emergency response, maintenance and engineering projects, and to transport personnel and supplies, etc. Keeps boats in operating condition by making routine repairs.
• Performs inspection and maintenance of navigation aids which consists of buoys, and fixed lights.
• Visits/services each navigation aid that is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway within the territorial waters of the United States.
• Corrects malfunctions of lights and buoys upon receipt of notice from Supervisor or Director of Lock Operations and Marine Services, or their designee.
• When assisting Engineering personnel and/or performing Marine Division work, operates surveying instruments and equipment both on land and water.
• Receives assistance from and provides direction to laborers or marine helpers.
• The ideal candidate must possess the appropriate, current, and valid U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), endorsement(s), USCG Medical Certificate, and a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• They must have demonstrated knowledge and experience as a marine vessel operator (Master or Mate) on the St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes, or similar in the performance of the following without direct supervision: Safely operating marine vessels as Master or Mate Operating deck machinery and equipment.
• Maintaining marine vessels to established standards.
• Servicing or maintaining aids to navigation (e.g., buoys, lights) or other marine related devices Supporting a variety of marine operations. *PLEASE NOTE: Given our continuing need for top professionals in this field, we will review applications after the first 30 days of the vacancy opening.
• Then after, applications will be reviewed on an as needed basis

Requirements

• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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.
• PHYSICAL EXAM REQUIRED: This position has strenuous physical requirements.
• You will be required to successfully complete a physical exam and a functional capacity test, at the expense of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway, before being placed in the position.
• You may be assigned to duties requiring the use of a respirator.
• You will be fit tested for a respirator upon entering the position.
• You will be required to be clean-shaven for the initial fit-testing, and for any future assignments requiring the wearing of the respirator.
• REQUIRED TRAINING/LICENSE for WG-08 level: Applicant must be eligible for a Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Certificate, and USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as NATIONAL OPERATOR OF UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS (OUPV) upon the Great Lakes and the above must be obtained within 1 year and must remain current and valid.
• Failure to successfully complete the training and obtain the required documentation outlined above may result in being separated from employment with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway.
• REQUIRED LICENSE for WG-10 level: You must have a current and valid Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Medical Certificate, and USCG Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as NATIONAL OPERATOR OF UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS (OUPV) or greater upon the Great Lakes or superseding routes and must remain current and valid with further upgrades to 50/100 Ton Master with associated endorsements depending on vessel types and overall USCG requirements.
• PLEASE SEE THE "OTHER INFORMATION" SECTION FOR ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

How you will be evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience.

You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume.

To compete with U.S. Citizens: If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of two categories: Qualified and Well Qualified which is based upon your responses to the vacancy questions.

Within these categories, applicants eligible for veteran's preference that have provided supporting documents will receive selection priority over non-veterans. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

To compete with other competitive status government employees: Federal Wage System (FWS) positions require the use of a Screen-Out Element. Points will be based on experience and training which are documented by your responses to the questionnaire.

To be qualified, applicants must receive at least 2 points on the Screen-Out Element and an average of 2 points on all the elements in order to be considered minimally qualified for the position. Applicants who do not receive 2 points on the Screen-Out Element will be eliminated from further consideration.

If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be scored based upon your responses to the vacancy questions. The top rated applications will be reviewed for the quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review. Eligible Federal employees also seeking consideration for noncompetitive reassignment for this position must indicate interest in the assessment.

Noncompetitive federal candidates must have competitive status on a SF-50, meet minimum qualifications, have served at the same grade or higher, and held or exceeded the promotion potential of this position. All applicants: Your application will be rated on the extent and quality of your experience, education and training relevant to the position.

The answers you select in the on-line process must be substantiated in your application package. If upon review, it is determined that your described work history, competencies, and/or supporting documents do not support your answer choices, your application may be updated on your behalf or you may not be referred to the selecting official.

Please ensure that your work history provides enough details to support your answers. The Automated Staffing Office is ultimately responsible for determining your final rating. You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• 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.
• 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) (***), 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. *** 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.

What to expect next

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 will evaluate your application.

Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. Qualified candidates will be assigned a category, not including points that may be assigned for veterans' preference. If the vacancy is advertised under status, your application will be scored on a scale between 70 - 100.

The most highly qualified candidates are then referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. If the vacancy was advertised under category rating, then the appropriate veteran's preference will be applied. 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.

Additional information

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 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.

DRUG TESTING: This position is designated as safety sensitive under the provisions of DOT regulations. You will be subject to a pre-employment drug test and be subject to periodic random testing for illegal drugs. DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENT: You must have and be able to maintain a Class D Driver's License.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed).

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Due to the location of our agency and the duties of this position, you must be able to enter Canada in accordance with Canadian law and re-enter the United States. PHYSICAL EFFORT: You will occasionally lift and carry parts and equipment weighing 80 to 100 pounds. Moderate effort is required during general maintenance work.

Perception of distance and motion and coordination of hands and eyes are necessary when operating controls to maneuver the boat. The operator must stand at the controls for long periods of time and climb narrow, steep stairways and ladders.

Must walk over rough uneven terrain, climb buoys and towers up to 80' high, and board craft from docks or shoreline areas, or other vessels while in motion. WORKING CONDITIONS: Works in shop areas, pilot house, on deck or in engine compartments of vessels.

Outside work may be in inclement weather, extreme heat, under direct sunlight or extreme cold on open decks, to include wet or windy areas. May be required to board vessels in all conditions. Must travel, during season, on river, lakes, and various other inland waterways requiring staying overnight, both on shore and off shore.

Is exposed to burns, shocks, noise, bruises, broken bones, cuts, and drowning. The equipment, tools, and tasks involved with this position require that you constantly apply safe work methods and special care as to avoid serious injuries to self and other workers.

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, ***.

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.