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Posted: January 8, 2026 (6 days ago)

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Regional Exam Center Chief

U.S. Coast Guard

Department of Homeland Security

Fresh

Salary

$89,508 - $116,362

per year

Closes

January 18, 2026

Job Description

Summary

This job involves leading a regional center that handles credentialing for merchant mariners, including managing staff, processing applications, and ensuring everything follows Coast Guard rules.

You'll oversee daily operations, provide customer service, and work with stakeholders to improve processes and resolve issues.

It's a great fit for someone with strong leadership experience in government or regulatory programs, especially in maritime or credentialing fields, who enjoys supervising teams and ensuring compliance.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11 level in managing office operations and supervising employees, including hiring, assignments, and evaluations
  • Knowledge of regulations, policies, and procedures for national, state, or local credentialing programs
  • Experience establishing and maintaining public relationships through customer service and outreach
  • Ability to oversee merchant mariner credentialing, application processing, fee collection, and examinations for compliance
  • Skills in communicating with stakeholders, interpreting laws, and recommending policy updates
  • Commitment to implementing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and ensuring fairness in personnel actions
  • No substitution of education for experience at GS-12 level; volunteer or paid experience in related fields counts

Full Job Description

This vacancy is for a GS-1801-12, Regional Exam Center Chief located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, REGIONAL EXAM CENTER-NEW ORLEANS in MANDEVILLE, Louisiana.

To qualify at the GS-12 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level in the federal sector.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work.

Examples of specialized experience include performing the following types of tasks on a regular and recurring basis.

Managing an office setting and carrying out supervisory responsibilities for the workforce including hiring employees, issuing work assignments, and completing periodic employee evaluations Applying sound technical knowledge and seasoned judgement in administering regulations, program policies, and procedures associated with a national, state or local credentialing program or application system Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with the public through customer service and outreach activities NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or related applicable assessment) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.

National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): 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. Major Duties:

You will serve as a Regional Exam Center Chief and be responsible for managing the operations and functions of one of seventeen Regional Examination Centers (RECs), providing technical advisory services and administration for the merchant mariner credentialing program.

Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team.

Typical work assignments include: Supervises civilian employees, including teams responsible for fee collection, merchant mariner application processing, customer service, and examinations Oversees the merchant marine credentialing program to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and improve policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency Oversees the review of credential applications for local limited licenses as well as pilotage Maintains effective communication with relevant stakeholders to support Coast Guard credentialing policies, resolve recurring issues, and interpret applicable laws and regulations Monitors the impact of regulations and provides recommendations for updates based on industry and Coast Guard needs Implements Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies, ensures fairness in personnel actions, supports EEO initiatives, and collaborates with EEO officials on policies affecting staff

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/8/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/9/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 26-12862765-SE-DB-ST