Policy Analyst

Ocean Associates, Inc.; Silver Spring (MD); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Associates, Inc. seeks Policy Analysis Support to assist NOAA NOS OCM in Silver Spring, MD. The position is contingent upon award of contract and offers full-time employment with competitive hourly pay.

Responsibilities include maintaining federal records, drafting technical summaries, developing rollout plans, and coordinating interagency reviews, hearings, and FOIA responses to support NOAA staff. Applicants should have a Bachelor's in marine science or related field and at least 3 years

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in marine science, oceanography, environmental policy, or closely related discipline.
• 3 years of professional experience drafting technical communications to support federal or Congressional inquiries, synthesizing public comments, and analyzing statutory criteria for regulatory applications.
• Proficiency in reviewing statutory frameworks to provide technical reports to federal staff.

Responsibilities

• Assist with maintaining federal records and files under the Government’s direction.
• Draft technical summaries to support federal staff in responding to NOAA, Department of Commerce, or Congressional requests.
• Develop rollout plans to communicate major decisions or activities.
• Manage information – generating customized, accurate, and up-to-date responses to inquiries.
• Review incoming DSHMRA exploration license and permit applications for alignment with criteria; provide sufficiency reports.
• Develop Federal Register Notices and coordinate virtual public hearings.
• Synthesize and format public comments for independent evaluation and final regulatory response.
• Support FOIA record collections.
• Coordinate planning meetings, workshops, and interagency groups.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, and slides for review prior to external meetings.
• Document meeting minutes, summaries, and action items; deliver to COR.

Skills

Policy Analysis

Technical Writing

Regulatory Compliance

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Marine Science or Related Field

Job description

NOTE: We are seeking applicants for these positions prospectively, which are dependent on award of contract.

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact Ocean Associates at 703-388-9548 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking applicants to provide Policy Analysis Support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM) in Silver Spring, MD. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

Background

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service

(NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM) is responsible for ensuring that activities within the U.S. coastal zone and deep-sea environments are managed sustainably and in compliance with federal environmental laws. The Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980 (DSHMRA), 30 U.S.C. §§ 1401 et seq., assigns NOAA the responsibility for regulating deep seabed exploration and commercial recovery activities by U.S. nationals beyond national jurisdiction (i.e., beyond the U.S. continental shelf). DSHMRA charges NOAA with the responsibility for issuing to U.S. companies licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper from the deep seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction. On April 24, 2025, the President signed Executive Order (E.O.) 14285, "Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources," establishing policies to advance U.S. leadership in seabed mineral exploration and responsible commercial recovery.

Under DSHMRA, NOAA must review incoming applications to ensure the applicant has included information that is responsive to the regulatory and statutory requirements and initiate interagency consultation, where appropriate, to evaluate eligibility requirements. Geospatial data and information are critical in making informed decisions in complex coastal environments and communities. As part of the application review process, NOAA must ensure that the proposed exploration area does not create a conflict with international boundaries or with existing license or permit applications from other companies.

This regulatory regime ensures protection of threatened and endangered marine mammal species, opportunity for public comment, and other considerations through environmental impact reviews. The issuance of any license or permit requires development of an environmental impact statement to characterize the potential environmental impacts of the proposed activity and potential alternatives. The applicant must furnish information on physical, chemical, biological, and potential use conflict in the exploration area to be incorporated into the preparation of NOAA’s environmental impact statement.

As interest in deep-sea mining grows, NOAA must expand its capacity to develop and assess Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and ensure that all mining-related requests meet rigorous regulatory standards. These efforts require deep policy and regulatory analysis across a range of statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Tasks

• Assist with maintaining federal records and files under the Government’s direction.
• Gather data and draft technical summaries to support federal staff in responding to NOAA, Department of Commerce, or Congressional requests and ensure OCM, NOS, and NOAA have access to high quality information and talking points regarding OCM activities and partnership.
• Assist with the development and implementation of rollout plans to communicate major decisions or activities.
• Manage information – generating customized, accurate, and up-to-date responses to inquiries relative to actions and expenditures associated with OCM programs.
• Review incoming DSHMRA exploration license and commercial recovery permit applications to analyze alignment with technical, statutory, and regulatory criteria, providing sufficiency reports to federal staff.
• Develop draft Federal Register Notices and assist coordination of virtual public hearings, asneeded, to gather public comment.
• Synthesize, sort, and format public comments to support independent evaluation and final regulatory response by NOAA federal staff and General Counsel.
• Support the review and collection of responsive records for incoming FOIA requests.
• Provide coordination for planning meetings, technical workshops, interagency working groups, and virtual public hearings.
• Prepare draft agendas, briefing materials, and presentation slides for review by OCM project leads at least five business days prior to significant external meetings or public hearings.
• Document comprehensive meeting minutes, technical summaries, and action item logs, delivering final drafts to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) within two business days post-meeting.

Start Date

Contingent upon award of contract.

Location

Silver Spring, Maryland. NOAA Silver Spring Metro Center (SSMC) Campus, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Occasional telework is a possibility

Travel

Limited travel is anticipated.

Salary and Benefits

These are full-time positions with benefits. Salary, commensurate with experience, between $30.00 - $50.00 per hour.

Requirements

Applicants must have the following minimum requirements:

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited institution in marine science, oceanography, environmental policy, or a closely related discipline.
• 3 years of professional experience drafting technical communications to support federal or Congressional inquiries, synthesizing public comments, and analyzing statutory criteria for regulatory applications.
• Preferred demonstrated proficiency in reviewing complex statutory frameworks to provide technical reports to federal staff.
• Working knowledge of managing the coordination of virtual public hearings, formatting and sorting public comments for independent federal review, and supporting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) record collections.
• Experience drafting high-quality Federal Register Notices, media talking points, and technical summaries for Congressional or federal requests.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. OAI does not discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law.

OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to voluntarily self-identify their disability status and veteran status. OAI's online application includes check boxes to either voluntarily self identify or decline to self identify. While the information is collected through your application, it is collected anonymously and is not connected to your application. OAI uses the information it collects to track its disability and veteran hiring progress, and to meet its obligations under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and under VEVRAA.