Curriculum Instructor Jobs in Columbia, MD (NOW HIRING)

*US Citizenship Required

*International Travel Required

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

Position Overview

Think Tank Inc. is seeking an experienced Training Instructors to support the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) in delivering counter Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) training. NOAA is continuing this work with the Department of State (DOS) through a new interagency agreement, focused on sharing best fisheries law enforcement practices and providing policy and legal support to fisheries inspectors and other authorized law enforcement personnel from foreign government agencies globally.

OLE requires a contractor to teach an already developed NOAA curriculum on the Port State Measures Agreement for up to six (6) separate trainings with a classroom capacity of up to 40 trainees each. The contractor shall provide up to two instructors per training. These are Key Personnel positions. Instructors do not need to speak additional languages, as there will be interpretation services provided.

This is a project-based engagement. The government estimates the duration of each training to be 6 days. The contractor shall estimate a total of 9.5 days of labor for each training. Three (3) base trainings are planned July 13 – September 30, 2026, with up to three (3) optional additional trainings through July 12, 2027. Anticipated first training start date: July 13, 2026.

Training Schedule & Scope

Base Trainings (Funded)

• Primary three (3) planned training events in Southeast Asia between July 13 and September 30, 2026.
• Specific locations to be determined - possibilities are Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Senegal, or Latin America.
• Exchanges are in the form of 6 days of training with a classroom capacity of up to 40 trainees each.
• The contractor shall estimate a total of 9.5 days of labor for each training. The contractor shall estimate three (3) international trips for the Base Trainings.

Optional Trainings (Exercisable)

• Up to three (3) additional training events between October 1, 2026 and July 12, 2027, pending additional funds.
• Locations in Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America (TBD).

Key Responsibilities

Task #1 – In-Person Instruction

• The main goal of this task is to teach an already developed NOAA curriculum on the implementation of PSMA or countering IUU fishing to foreign government counterparts in a multi-day training.
• The instructors must be prepared to teach the material before arriving in the training country. NOAA shall provide all the PowerPoint training presentations, interactive activities, tabletop exercises, and boarding exercises.
• PowerPoint training presentations: This training is jointly presented with the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement personnel. The Contractor is responsible for presenting half of the curriculum; the Office of Law Enforcement will present the other half. The first Contractor Instructor will be responsible for approximately four PowerPoint presentations. The second Contractor Instructor will be responsible for the other approximately four PowerPoint presentations.
• Tabletop and Interactive Exercises: The Contractor instructors will be responsible for co-teaching the interactive exercises (approximately two) with the two NOAA Enforcement Officers/Special Agents that will be at the training.
• Boarding Exercises: The Contractor instructors will be responsible for co-leading PSMA vessel boarding exercises for trainees (two boardings) with the two NOAA Enforcement Officers/Special Agents.
• Instructors should follow the advice of the Embassy Regional Security Officer (RSO) to determine travel risk and safety.
• Contractor will be required to remain at in-country meeting locations on Saturday and Sunday, without returning back to their homes, in the middle of trainings (usual training days are Wednesday – Friday and Monday – Thursday (half day)).

Task #2 – Pre and Post-Training Meetings (Virtual)

The NOAA provided curriculum includes: Four (4) PowerPoint presentations; Two (2) tabletop exercises; Two (2) interactive exercises; and Three (3) boarding exercises. The contractor shall ensure the instructors join (virtually) all pre-training meetings in preparation for the training, as follows:

• 5 hour initial meeting.
• Curriculum training for the instructor: 1.5 hour meeting to go over content and how to present the PowerPoint presentations; 1.5 hour meeting to go over content and how to present the tabletop exercises; 1.5 hour meeting to go over content and how to present the boarding exercises; 1 hour meeting to go over content and how to present the interactive exercises.
• Pre and Post-training meetings: 1 hour final meeting prior to leaving the United States for international travel to go over any final questions or details; 1 hour post training debrief meeting.

Task #3 – Professional Representation

The contractor instructors must prepare and deliver the following expectations before, during, and after training:

Preparation and participation:

• Complete any pre-reading materials prior to arrival in-country.
• Participate in pre-travel briefings and, as needed, post-travel debriefing as detailed in Task #2.
• Be prepared and able to deliver PowerPoint presentations and practical exercises upon arrival at the workshop or training. Presentations should incorporate your tactical experiences. Instructors should avoid reading directly from the slide whenever possible.
• Be available to work for short periods of time as needed outside of training session hours while at training or workshop (Task #2 requirements).
• Wear professional attire.

Professional behavior during the training:

• All team members are expected to treat team members, course participants, and others encountered during travel with respect and dignity.
• Actively participate when not presenting. The training and workshops involve questions and discussion from participants and the team is expected to contribute relevant knowledge and experience at all times.
• Prioritize building relationships with the workshop or course participants. Sideline and casual conversations are often where we learn the most about fisheries enforcement. Some methods to increase engagement are: greet participants each morning and ensure the team spaces out within the classroom at separate tables, requesting an interpreter's assistance if needed.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. Maintain a safe environment for instructors and participants, especially in off-site locations.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity while working with colleagues and course trainees.

Qualifications (Required)

• Prior experience working with NOAA OLE or other federal law enforcement agency.
• On the ground experience conducting Port State Measures Agreement inspections.
• Experience as instructors and/or with capacity building for foreign governments.
• Excellent verbal skills.
• Experience providing services comparable to those requested herein, including provisioning of technical experts to trainings in countries outside of the United States.
• Experience as a professional trainer delivering training to law enforcement personnel.

Additional Requirements

• All contractor travel must be approved by the COR prior to the actual travel, using the NMFS Travel Authorization Form. Any travel conducted prior to the receipt of proper written authorization from the COR will be done at the Contractor's own risk and expense.
• Service contractors are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all subjects and materials and will be required to sign and adhere to a Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA).
• All documents, analyses, files (digital or other), reports, notes and photos are to be used only by personnel assigned to this award. Documents, files, and other data are to be stored exclusively on Government-owned equipment and at no point should be saved or archived on personal drives or devices. Copies are not to be disseminated to anyone outside of NOAA OLE or to any other contractor personnel without explicit release from NOAA OLE.
• Assigned risk level and IT security designation: Low risk.