Policy Analyst

Ocean Associates Incorporated•Silver Spring, MD

9d•$30 - $50•Onsite

About The Position

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. This role involves supporting the regulatory framework for deep seabed exploration and commercial recovery activities, ensuring compliance with federal environmental laws. The position requires analyzing applications, evaluating eligibility, and contributing to environmental impact assessments. 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).

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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, as needed, 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.