Marine Cargo Specialist

Summary

About the Position: Serves as a Marine Cargo Specialist, working with higher graded specialists, in planning and coordinating vessel operation plan and contract specifications for loading and/or discharging of Department of Defense-sponsored cargo through commercial ocean terminals.

Duties

• Formulate vessel stow plans utilizing specialized software to ensure safe cargo placement and ship stability.
• Coordinate terminal staging plans across truck, rail, and water networks to maintain efficient cargo flow.
• Monitor contractor stevedoring performance during vessel loading to verify compliance with contract terms.
• Certify hazardous materials shipping documents to ensure regulatory compliance and safe cargo segregation.
• Document daily terminal activities and contractor performance metrics in official port cargo logs.
• Resolve staging bottlenecks and cargo discrepancies directly with stevedore supervisors to prevent delays.
• Analyze shipping manifests and terminal space allocations to optimize overall vessel space utilization.
• Provide technical logistics assistance during planning conferences to coordinate scheduled cargo movements.
• Enforce safety rules and physical security protocols across active terminal and vessel work zones.
• Execute computerized database entries to maintain real-time tracking of cargo and port inventory.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities. If you are a current Army employee with competitive status and would like to be considered for a TERM Appointment NTE 13 months, please apply under Announcement MCGT-27-13107247-MP- R8. Current Department of Army Civilian Employees Applying on Time-Limited Assignments In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes: (1) preparing preliminary cargo stowage plans, and/or (2) overseeing loading, stowage, and discharge operations to make certain that they conform to preliminary plans or authorizing necessary changes and preparing final plans. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the second lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). This experience must have involved vessels of at least 5,000 dead-weight tons. It must also clearly show a comprehensive knowledge of marine rules and regulations and the ability to plan, direct, organize, and coordinate cargo handling activities; to interpret and apply policies; to investigate operations and practices and resolve problems; and to establish and maintain effective work relationships. Experience in layout planning, ship-loading, and cargo handling may have been gained during such seagoing and marine terminal assignments as service in the U.S. Navy as a cargo officer, similar service in the Merchant Marines, or employment by commercial steamship lines. OR Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D. in a field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position, such as: accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, or other fields related to the position. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total graduate semester hours minus 18) by 18. Add the two percentages. You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Compliance Contracting/Procurement Hazardous Materials Safety Engineering Transportation Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-07).

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.