Position OverviewOur company is recruiting a Top-Level Deck Mariner Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) National Maritime Center (NMC) Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) under a professional services task order. The NMC issues Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs) to U.S. merchant mariners and approves the maritime training courses mariners must complete to qualify for those credentials.
In this role, you will evaluate mariner training course curricula, training sites, and instructor qualifications, and make recommendations to the Coast Guard on whether proposed and existing courses conform to federal training and assessment regulations. You will draft technical response letters - including any updates or corrections required by government reviewers - addressing the conformance of course approval requests to 46 CFR Parts 10, 11, and 12; Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-26 and other applicable NVICs; the Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III; and current maritime industry best practice, all in accordance with NMC Mission Management System (MMS) documentation.
As a Top-Level Deck Mariner SME, you will focus on deck-side training courses and curricula - the higher-tier courses and endorsements that fall outside the scope of Basic-Level review - drawing on your own credentialed deck experience to evaluate course content, assessment rigor, and instructor competency.
Key Responsibilities- Review submitted course curricula, lesson plans, assessment methods, facilities, equipment, and instructor credentials against applicable federal regulations and Coast Guard policy.
- Draft clear, technically sound recommendation letters and correspondence to course providers, incorporating any corrections requested during government review.
- Track and manage an assigned caseload of course approval submissions to meet required monthly volume and quality standards.
- Maintain positive control of assigned files and be able to locate and produce them promptly upon request.
- Stay current on changes to 46 CFR Parts 10-12, NVIC 01-26 and related NVICs, and the Marine Safety Manual, Volume III, and apply updates consistently.
- Participate in required team meetings and on-the-job training to maintain proficiency and support quality control across the program.
- Coordinate with the NMC Course Approval team, the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and government subject matter experts as needed.
- Evaluate deck-focused training courses and curricula assigned to the Top-Level SME review queue, maintaining a minimum throughput of 20 course approvals per month.
- Apply first-hand deck operations and watchstanding experience to assess whether course content and assessments reasonably prepare mariners for the credential(s) sought.
Required Qualifications- Current or prior U.S. Coast Guard-issued Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) endorsed as Master of Unlimited Tonnage upon Oceans (Master of vessels of any gross tons upon oceans), OR
- Current or prior U.S. Coast Guard-issued MMC endorsed as Chief Mate of Unlimited Tonnage upon Oceans.
- A minimum of 5 years of sailing experience under the qualifying credential.
- Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, technically accurate correspondence.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience writing or developing maritime training courses or curricula.
- Familiarity with 46 CFR Parts 10-12, NVIC 01-26, or the USCG Marine Safety Manual, Volume III.
Eligibility - Must be able to obtain and maintain any government facility access, systems access, and/or suitability determination required to perform this work.
- Will be required to safeguard Privacy Act-protected and proprietary information in accordance with law and government policy, and to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
- As a designated Key Personnel role, any change in the individual filling this position requires advance notice to and approval from the Contracting Officer.
Pay Range: $115,000 - $125,000 per year
