Maritime Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the whole-of-government strategy to strengthen the institutional capability of Panama’s deep water, coastal, and riverine forces involved in maritime law enforcement and the disruption of transnational criminal networks in the maritime environment – including the security of the Panama Canal waterway.
• Works with colleagues and counterparts in the U.S. Government and the Government of Panama (GOP) to foster maritime security law enforcement cooperation throughout Panamanian security forces.
• Participates in working groups regarding the implementation of the bilateral maritime and riverine agreements and programs in Panama.
• Exercises expert judgment in providing advice to the Maritime Security Program Manager (MSPM) or other INL Panama program managers regarding ideas for actions relating to initiating projects and executing new programs under the day-to-day direction of the MSPM or their designee.
• Works most closely with the US Embassy INL/Panama Director and Deputy Director, the MSPM, the Contracting Officer (CO), and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).
• Maintains professional, open, timely, and effective communication and coordination with the INL/Panama team, other INL stakeholders, and, as appropriate, with the INL/WHP Director and Deputy Director on issues falling under the scope of work, resulting in a relationship that proactively addresses potential problems with flexible, workable solutions.
• Serves as the primary advisor on maritime and riverine law enforcement and interdiction projects, offering guidance on project execution an compliance with government regulations to support INL initiatives with Panamanian maritime law enforcement agencies.
•  Assists and advises in implementing INL approved maritime and riverine technical activities to strengthen Panama’s efforts to enhance their maritime/aerial interdiction and law enforcement capabilities.   
• Assists and advises INL Panama program managers and other USG entities regarding the enhancement of the maritime, aerial, coastal, and riverine interdiction and law enforcement capabilities in Panama.
• Advises and assists in working with USG and Panamanian Partners to design and implement programs including, but not limited to, expansion of the Panamanian maritime fleet, refurbishment of current assets, new systems for maintenance and quality assurance, improving preventative maintenance, and enhancements of existing bases for improved lifecycle sustainment and operational readiness.
• Provides reporting, as requested, to the assigned MSPM or other program managers as assigned.
• Assists INL in coordinating interagency maritime security efforts with relevant USG interagency partners, other embassies, and GOP partners.
• Assists INL in the preparation of background materials and reports to be used by U.S. Government officials in preparing speeches, and briefings.
• Creates and prepares maritime security project roadmaps and justifications for INL leadership and INL Washington review processes.
• Serves a primary point of contact for INL in coordinating and facilitating formal donation requests for the maritime security program from the GOP, including ensuring commitment for ongoing support or transition to local procurement of services as appropriate.
•  Provides guidance and oversight on vessel acquisition, refurbishment and associates projects, including maintenance, planning, operational readiness programs and resource allocation, working closely with GOP partners to develop and implement plans that ensure effective use and long-term sustainability of the assets.
• Supports INL in collaborating with the GOP partners to establish an integrated logistics, preventative maintenance and inventory program, a critical component of the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and Panama’s overall operational readiness.
• Assists INL in coordinating with civilian and military Mobil Training Teams (MTTs) as well as interagency partners, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), CBP and DEA, to support and facilitate specialized instruction – covering outboard motor maintenance, engineering programs, interdiction operations, and intelligence operations – enhancing the technical expertise, operational readiness, and mission effectiveness of partner national personnel.
•  Advises and supports partner national counterparts in developing and implementing training calendars, programs and platforms that build sustained maritime interdiction and security capabilities, with a focus on engagement that advances the USG’s safer, stronger and more prosperous policy goals by strengthening partner capabilities.
• Assist in the development of project activity maps and work plans;
• Assists in drafting requests for proposals (RFP) from non-government organizations (NGO) for the potential implementation of grants or cooperative agreements.
•  Assists in drafting International Organization Letters of Agreements (IO-LOA); and/or Interagency Agreements (IAA).
•  May be tasked to provide operational assistance to other U.S. agencies supporting Panama in areas such as tracking of maritime assets.
•  Assists INL in arranging travel for selected Panamanian officials to the U.S. and abroad to engage in operational meetings, conferences, and joint initiatives based on project priorities and operational relevance.
• Provides INL advice and assistance in end-use monitoring (EUM) of U.S. government-supplied commodities and services, preparing input for the annual EUM report to the U.S. Congress.
• Supports the success of the organization by providing clarity on how programs are achieving bureau, mission and office goals and objectives established by key stakeholders.
• Provides opportunity for mid-course correction if a program is not achieving its stated goals and objectives.
•  Enhance INL’s ability to respond efficiently to shifting priorities by improving internal processes, streamlining workflows, and strengthening coordination.
• Communicates the results of INL programs to justify budget requests.
• Keeps the INL Director, Deputy Director, MSPM and INL/Panama Program Officers informed on all matters relating to the Maritime Advisor’s activities.
• This position requires a work plan.
• The position is located in Panama City, Panama.
• Travel throughout Panama and some international destinations is required.
• Provides weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports of relevant program activity, progress toward desired impacts, recommendations for advancing program and U.S. objectives, project highlights, and other relevant significant information including metrics, milestones achieved, and other relevant statistical data related to the Maritime Security Portfolio projects and initiatives. Reports on scheduled upcoming meetings, trainings, conferences, and other activities.  

Minimum Qualifications

• US Citizen
• This position requires a SECRET level security clearance.
• Post graduate degree in international relations, business, law, maritime law, project management, public policy, sociology, or related field.
• Fifteen (15) years of experience project management, process management/development, curriculum development, program design, project implementation, quality assurance or related field of specialty,
• FSI level 4/4 Spanish, FSI level 3/3 English,
• Three (3) years of experience working overseas in an Embassy environment, or five years of military/U.S. Government/corporate sector employment overseas,
• Two (2) years specialized experience in Organizational Development and/or Project Management.
• Experience briefing in Spanish and English.
• Must be physically fit enough to travel to remote locations.
• Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication in both Spanish and English including writing reports, assessments, and general correspondence.

About ATSG

Application Requirements

• All applications must be submitted in .pdf, .doc, or .docx format.
• Applications and resumes for this position are only accepted via electronic submission through ATSG Corporation’s Consolidated Applicant Tracking System (CATS).
• Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and resumes will not be accepted.
• The decision to interview an applicant is based solely on the information received for this position from their electronic application and/or resume.