Boat Maintenance Advisor (Ecuador)

Boat Maintenance Advisor

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

The INL Section at U.S. Consulate Guayaquil is charged with developing strategies and programs to achieve international narcotics control, law enforcement, and maritime sector foreign policy objectives. This includes a special focus on all Ecuadorian waterways to include the littoral and international waterways, rivers, mangroves, lakes and tributaries.

INL Guayaquil and the Ecuadorian Navy (ECUNAV), Coast Guard (COGUAR), and Marines require the services of a Boat Maintenance Advisor (BMA) to assist in building Ecuador's capacity to minimize the impact of international crime on the United States and its citizens by providing effective foreign assistance and fostering global cooperation. The program is a collaborative effort between the United States Government and the Government of Ecuador (GOE) designed to improve capacity to prevent, mitigate, interdict, investigate, prosecute, and punish narcotrafficking and related transnational organized crimes.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

USGI is seeking a Boat Maintenance Advisor to work directly with the ECUNAV/COGAUR/Marines and the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Special Counter-Narcotics Riverine Group (GEMA), providing specialized expertise to include strategic planning, training program development, technical advice on equipment needs, coordination with other institutions, and implementation of INL foreign assistance programming. The BMA will provide boat maintenance advice to senior Ecuadorian officials, INL Guayaquil Maritime Program Team, Consulate Guayaquil senior leadership and Law Enforcement Working Group (LEWG), and INL/Western Hemisphere Programs (WHP). The BMA will be embedded at the COGAUR Headquarters full time to provide expert advice on boat maintenance, technical training, and institutional development to improve maritime forces operational and managerial capacity. The BMA will assist the INL Maritime Program Team in establishing, initiating, managing, and sustaining of INL programs.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Utilizes subject matter expertise, aids in drafting a variety of technical, programmatic, funding and informational memoranda and letters; provides input to the Team Lead as a subject matter expert regarding Congressional testimony or responses to questions, press guidance and interagency, bilateral and multilateral agreements in accordance with Department policies and regulations and relevant legislation
• Conducts research and makes recommendations to Team Lead regarding the management of programs
• Reviews and analyzes policy and programmatic documents and makes recommendations based on findings
• Aids in conducting program reviews and assessments of new and ongoing programs and makes recommendations based on findings
• Assists in strategic planning for programs
• Aids in reviewing budgets and providing program estimates; evaluates program effectiveness in relation to the funding expended; aids in assessing USG law enforcement assistance activities to determine funding requirements and whether funding is warranted and available
• Supports liaison efforts within the organization, other government agencies, and non-governmental organizations
• Advises and assists INL-Guayaquil's Maritime Security Team and Ecuadorian maritime unit leadership in the development and management of maritime fleet/boat maintenance programs
• Advises and assists Ecuadorian maritime units in schedule and unscheduled maintenance activities on all marine systems including structural, electrical power generation and distribution, hydraulic, communication/navigation, propulsion, and all auxiliary systems
• Advises and assists on the development and management of a technical publication and engineering drawing library for INL-supported vessels
• Advises and assists in establishing Ecuadorian maritime quality control/assurance programs
• Advises and assists maritime units in logistics management to maintain an on-hand parts and consumables inventory and order replacements as required to meet operational requirements
• Assists and advises on maintenance and calibration of all specialized tools and support equipment
• Provides technical training to Ecuador maritime unit personnel on all aspects of interceptor vessel maintenance, to include outboard motor maintenance
• Advises and assists Ecuador maritime units in establishing and managing boat technician training program
• Advises INL Maritime Security Advisor and Ecuadorian maritime unit leadership on maintenance organizational structure, staffing levels, position classifications, and individual skills training requirements
• Coordinates with US Navy/Coast Guard and Colombian Navy (USCAP Program) Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) to enhance Ecuadorian maritime unit maintenance capacity
• Provides advice and assistance to INL Maritime Program Team in the preparation of procurement/contracting documentation such as market research, IGCE, source-origin waivers, statements of work, and acquisition plans
• Provides recommendations to the COR to ensure satisfactory delivery of contracted goods and services
• Assists INL in the end-use monitoring of INL-donated maritime assets
• Conducts site visits throughout Ecuador in support of INL Maritime Security Programs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S., Third Country National (TCN), or Local National (LN)
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (if allowable per GSA schedule, years of experience maybe substituted)
• Six to ten years' experience in relevant field: technical maintenance and maintenance management of interceptor class vessels in a military or national police organization
• Demonstrated knowledge of specific country issues, including specialized knowledge of international narcotics and law enforcement, or similar type programs sufficient to ensure project work is in compliance with management policies and procedures and in conformance with the Foreign Assistance Act and other regulatory procedures and guidelines
• Proven knowledge of Federal policies and procedures including methods of providing assistance and the Federal budget process
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of players
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation with regard to the interpretation and application of analysis
• Demonstrated experience drafting US government reports and documents, such as the INCSR, embassy cables, and other documents
• Demonstrated organizational skills, specifically in maintaining maritime fleet maintenance records, inventories, warranties and service schedules
• A minimum of six (6) years experience maintaining large (250 hp and 300 hp) Yamaha outboard engines, to include transmissions, electrical systems, turbo-changers, intercoolers, and hydraulic systems
• Demonstrated working knowledge of oral and written Spanish proficiency (3/3)
• Demonstrated limited working proficiency in English proficiency (2/2)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory management position
• A minimum of two (2) years of service in a senior enlisted, non-commissioned officer, warrant officer, commissioned officer, or equivalent leadership position within a U.S. or Latin American military, coast guard, maritime law enforcement, or national police force (e.g., U.S. E-7 or above, warrant officer, commissioned officer, or equivalent)
• A minimum of five (5) years' experience maintaining and repairing all components of Eduardono interceptors
• A minimum of five (5) years' experience related to counter narcotics investigations and/or interdiction
• A minimum of six (6) years experience maintaining large (250 hp and 300 hp) Mercury outboard engines, to include transmissions, electrical systems, turbo-changers, intercoolers, and hydraulic systems
• Demonstrated experience working in Latin America or on Latin America issues
• Demonstrated experience working directly with the Department of State or INL in a capacity building role
• Demonstrated experience working and/or coordinating with other relevant foreign military and/or national police forces, as well as with U.S. government agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, DEA, CBP, INL) and/or international organizations

REPORTING AND RELATIONSHIPS

The contractor will report to his/her contracting company and will receive direction from the CO, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and/or Government Technical Monitor (GTM).

LEVEL OF EFFORT

Hours for this full-time position will be the official work hours of the U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week.

TELEWORK

If applicable, telework is authorized only with prior INL Office Director, Contracting Officer, and Contracting Officer's Representative approval, in accordance with Department of State and INL policies.

SUPPLEMENTAL HOURS

Supplemental hours for this position are NOT authorized in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

POSITION LOCATION

The physical work location is located at COGUAR Fleet Headquarters in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

The COGUAR will provide office space with an internet connection. INL Guayaquil will provide a laptop computer, cellphone, and other required equipment and supplies necessary to complete all job requirements. The U.S. Department of State will own and maintain all government furnished property.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT

A Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) is required for U.S. Citizens or Third Country Nationals (TCN). The contractor may begin work with an interim MRPT. If the incumbent is a Local National, they will be required to meet security access requirements for the U.S. Consulate RSO local vetting. If applicable, badge issuance will be in compliance with Regional Security Office guidance.

TRAVEL

Travel is authorized for this position in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

TRAINING

This BPA Call provides for mandatory training for DOS-specific equipment, systems, and processes (reference 13 FAM 300 Agency Mandated Training), which shall be completed promptly and in accordance with Department policy. These trainings do not require INL Contracting Officer (CO) approval.

Travel-related mandatory training (e.g., FACT CT420, FACT CT650 Training) may be required at the discretion of the on-site supervisor and Regional Security Officer (RSO) at the OCONUS location traveling to and needs INL Contracting Officer approval.

TPCs are strongly encouraged to take orientation training to best integrate with INL and effectively contribute to the mission. Depending on their role they should attend either INL SOAR (Staff Orientation and Readiness) or PREP (Pre-deployment program) training. SOAR is for TPCs whose position is primarily to work with INL staff in support of INL programs and projects. PREP is for TPCs whose position is primarily to work with host government or foreign counterparts to train or advise them, or to support other TPCs in that work. TPCs are encouraged to take other INL-delivered trainings, and State-specific training through FSI in coordination with the program office, and with CO approval.

USGI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.