Specialist Advisor IV - Maritime Counter Narcotics Operations Advisor

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the whole-of-government strategy to strengthen the institutional capacity of Panama’s open-ocean, coastal patrol, interceptor, and riverine forces by enhancing maritime interdiction operations, surveillance, and operational readiness to disrupt transnational criminal organizations engaged in maritime narcotics trafficking; 
• Maintains effective coordination and communication with INL, U.S. Government agencies, Government of Panama (GOP) counterparts, regional partners, and international stakeholders to support counter-narcotics maritime interdiction initiatives, strengthen institutional capacity, and advance Panama’s role as a regional security partner; 
• Participates in bilateral and interagency working groups related to maritime interdiction, counternarcotics operations, intelligence sharing, and regional security cooperation programs in Panama; 
• Exercises expert judgment in advising the Maritime Security Program Manager (MSPM), Maritime Security Project Advisor (MSPA), and other INL program managers on the development, implementation, and evaluation of maritime interdiction, counter-narcotics, and maritime security assistance programs;  
• Assists INL in the development of integrated maritime interdiction operational frameworks, including coordination mechanisms, intelligence fusion support, and deployment concepts that support the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) and regional counter-narcotics objectives; 
• Closely assists and advises INL and other U.S. Government entities regarding the enhancement of Panama’s maritime surveillance, interdiction, boarding, and operational coordination capabilities for coastal, riverine, open-ocean, and canal zone law enforcement operations; 
• Serves as INL’s subject matter expert (SME) on maritime counternarcotics operations strategy, maritime domain awareness (MDA), operational coordination, intelligence integration, and interdiction planning, advising INL, U.S. Government partners, Panama’s maritime security institutions, and Joint Maritime Force elements on the design, development, and execution of maritime interdiction and counter-narcotics operations to improve operational effectiveness and disruption of illicit trafficking networks – including within the confines of the Panama Canal; 
• Advises INL on the optimal use of limited INL and interagency resources to maximize maritime interdiction effectiveness, operational reach, intelligence integration, with Panama’s maritime law enforcement entities; 
• Coordinates and supports capability development, standardization, and interoperability initiatives with the Coordinating Office of the Joint Maritime Force (CO-JMF) to ensure alignment of maritime interdiction doctrine, training, operational procedures, and capability requirements across all GOP maritime interdiction units, strengthening unified planning frameworks, improving force-wide integration, and supporting the development of standardized operational capabilities in accordance with U.S. counter-narcotics objectives;  
• Coordinates and supports operational doctrine development, Statement of Work (SOW) implementation, and capability enhancement initiatives with Panama’s Centro Regional Aero Naval (CROAN) to strengthen maritime surface operational integration and overall mission effectiveness in the maritime domain; 
• Coordinates and supports interagency counter-narcotics capability-building initiatives and program development efforts with U.S. Government partners, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), and Department of War (DoW) counter-narcotics programs, to enhance GOP institutional capacity in alignment with U.S. counter-narcotics objectives and priorities, in support of the development, sustainment, and maturation of Panama’s maritime interdiction capabilities – including case package development and “follow the money” investigations;   
• Serves as a liaison for maritime interdiction training and operational capacity-building initiatives, including Mobile Training Team (MTT) engagements, to facilitate the identification, development, and availability of appropriate counter-narcotics and maritime interdiction training opportunities aligned with operational requirements, including but not limited to programs provided through the U.S. Colombia Action Plan (USCAP), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of War (DoW), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), private institutions, and third-country partners, and supports the inclusion of Panamanian personnel in advanced maritime interdiction and counter-narcotics training programs in the United States and partner nations; 
• Develops and maintains maritime interdiction doctrine, tactical procedures, operational planning guides, standard operating procedures, mission planning tools, performance reports, and comprehensive operational documentation for Panama’s maritime security institutions, including concepts of operations (CONOPS), mission plans, timelines, resource requirements, success metrics, risk assessments, lessons learned, and other supporting documentation necessary to support maritime interdiction planning, execution, institutionalization, knowledge retention, and long-term operational effectiveness in support of INL and U.S. security cooperation objectives;
• May be tasked to provide technical advisory support to other U.S. Government agencies supporting Panama, including maritime interdiction planning, operational assessments, intelligence coordination, and mission effectiveness evaluations; 
• Assists in drafting requests for proposals (RFPs) and supporting documentation for grants, cooperative agreements, and contractor-supported maritime interdiction and counter-narcotics initiatives; 
• Monitors and evaluates maritime interdiction program performance against established bureau, mission, and office objectives; identifies operational risks, capability gaps, and opportunities for improvement; and recommends corrective actions to enhance interdiction effectiveness and alignment with U.S. counter-narcotics strategic priorities; 
• Supports INL end-use monitoring (EUM) responsibilities for U.S. Government-provided maritime security assets and services by assessing operational utilization, mission effectiveness, and compliance with intended counter-narcotics and interdiction objectives, and contributing to annual EUM reporting requirements; 
• Prepares weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reports detailing maritime interdiction activities, operational outcomes, seizure statistics, mission performance metrics, training activities, intelligence trends, operational highlights, and recommendations for advancing U.S. counter-narcotics and maritime security objectives; and
• Keeps the INL Director, Deputy Director, MSPM, MSPA, and other designated U.S. personnel informed on matters related to maritime interdiction activities, operational status, emerging threats, and program developments; 
• Performs other related duties assigned in support of INL maritime security, counter-narcotics, and interdiction objectives.
• 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. Reports on scheduled upcoming meetings, training, and other activities.  

Minimum Qualifications

• US Citizen 
• This position requires a SECRET level security clearance. 
• Fifteen (15) years of experience in maritime security, counternarcotics operations, interdiction capability development, and interagency security programs; 
• Five (5) years of experience in operational support planning, doctrine development, training program design, and institutional capability enhancement for maritime, military, or border security forces; 
• Three (3) years of experience working overseas in an Embassy environment, or international program management environment, or U.S. Military / Government interagency overseas assignments; 
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: counter-narcotics operations support, intelligence analysis or fusion support, maritime interdiction planning, transnational organized crime disruption, interagency coordination (e.g., DEA, JIATF-South, DoD), or law enforcement institutional capacity building. 
• Demonstrated experience supporting or advising on maritime interdiction frameworks, intelligence integration, interagency coordination, and operational readiness enhancement for law enforcement or security forces, including engagement with U.S. or partner nation security institutions.
• NFATC Level 3/3 Spanish and NFATC Level 3/3 English proficiency.
• Experience briefing in Spanish and English. 
• Must be physically fit enough to travel into remote locations in undeveloped vehicles such as dugout canoes or over rough waves in basic motorboats. 
• 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.