You will serve as the Watercraft Safety Program Manager with the U.S. Geological Survey. You will provide policy direction and technical leadership involving watercraft operation, watercraft trailering, hazardous materials storage/transport aboard craft, emergency planning and PPE, training, and first aid/CPR administration in support of varied scientific over-the-water operations.
The duty station of this position must be at a USGS office location that is agreed upon by the selecting official and the selectee. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses are not authorized.
At the full performance level (GS-13), some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Develops, issues, and maintains national standards, policies, guidance, training, and procedures for all USGS watercraft activities, including specialized environments where existing guidelines are inapplicable.
Designs/hosts national workshops; authors specialized SOPs (e.g., contaminated-water operations; epidemic/pandemic decontamination protocols) for bureau adoption; integrates curricula with USGS. Provides authoritative advice to bureau/region/center leadership and assists in establishing new or experimental watercraft safety initiatives where precedent is limited.
Plans and executes the annual Watercraft Safety Program budget; oversees procurement and lifecycle management of safety-critical assets. Establishes program performance goals and metrics; prepares annual action plans and accomplishments reports. Plans/conducts comprehensive inspections and program reviews; leads investigations of serious incidents and near-misses; issues root-cause determinations and bureau-wide corrective actions.
Manages the Bureau Inspection and Abatement System (IAS) record for watercraft findings; directs abatement tracking and closure across Regions/Science Centers; leads external audits when cross-jurisdictional issues arise. Represents USGS on DOI/interagency boards/working groups (USCG, State boating authorities, cooperative partners) to develop procedures, policies, and to enable safe joint operations, and to support federal efforts outside of USGS's mission.
Negotiates workable agreements to correct systemic safety problems beyond direct operations; resolves conflicts among entities with overlapping/inconsistent requirements. Conducts Motorboat Operator certification and advanced modules; ensures training currency; provides expert technical assistance for complex operations (fast water, low visibility, hazardous cargo, tow operations).
Responds to field questions, concerns, incidents and suggestions and provides sound and actionable technical assistance to sometimes novel and emerging, and complex issues. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
This position is with Geological Survey, Department of the Interior.
The posted pay range is $89508 – $172980/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
Applications close on 2026-11-02.
This is a You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work. position.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-27 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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