Marine Standards Development Associate

Help shape the standards behind safer boating

Our client is seeking an organized, knowledgeable, and collaborative Standards Development Associate to support the development and ongoing review of the safety standards used throughout the recreational marine industry.

Our client is a nonprofit membership organization and the essential source of technical information for the international marine industry. Its voluntary standards help guide the design, construction, maintenance, and repair of recreational boats—and approximately 90% of boats on the water are built to the standards. They are developed through a consensus-based process involving more than 400 marine professionals serving on 16 Project Technical Committees.

This position plays an important role in keeping that process organized, productive, and moving forward. You will work alongside the standards team, committee members, and marine-industry experts to coordinate meetings, prepare technical materials, track proposed changes, and help translate complex discussions into clear, accurate documentation.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who understands boats and marine systems but may be ready to move beyond a traditional service, manufacturing, or field-based role. You do not need to arrive as a standards expert—but you must bring marine knowledge, curiosity, strong organizational skills, and the ability to learn.

Requirements

What you’ll do

• Support the Project Technical Committees and subcommittees throughout the standards-development and review process.
  
• Coordinate committee meetings, including scheduling, invitations, agendas, supporting documents, presentations, and follow-up materials.
  
• Review meeting packets and technical documents to ensure materials are complete, accurate, and ready for committee consideration.
  
• Participate in virtual and in-person committee meetings, capture key decisions, and maintain clear records of proposed revisions and next steps.
  
• Edit standards documents during meetings and incorporate approved changes accurately.
  
• Communicate with committee members, marine professionals, regulators, and other industry stakeholders.
  
• Respond to questions about the Standards and connect callers with the appropriate technical resources when needed.
  
• Support webinars, presentations, email communications, and other standards-related programs.
  
• Assist with events and committee activities
  
• Maintain organized records within the association-management and internal standards-development systems.
  
• Collaborate closely with the standards team and contribute wherever needed in a small, mission-focused organization.
  

A typical day may include

• Reviewing messages from committee members, subcommittees, and industry stakeholders.
  
• Preparing documents and presentations for an upcoming committee meeting.
  
• Participating in a virtual meeting and updating standards language as the group works through proposed changes.
  
• Answering questions from members or marine professionals seeking guidance on a standard.
  
• Scheduling a webinar, coordinating meeting logistics, or following up on committee action items.
  
• Working with colleagues to keep several standards and committee timelines moving at once.
  

What you’ll bring

• Practical knowledge of boats, marine systems, boatbuilding, service, repair, surveying, or another area of the recreational marine industry.
  
• A strong ability and willingness to learn new technical information.
  
• Confidence working with groups of professionals who may bring different—and sometimes strongly held—perspectives.
  
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple meetings, documents, deadlines, and priorities.
  
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Comfort facilitating discussions, presenting information, and speaking in front of groups.
  
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when reviewing and editing technical documents.
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with Adobe applications and virtual meeting platforms.
  
• Comfort learning association-management and proprietary software.
  
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  
• A genuine interest in making boating safer.
  

Especially valuable

• An ABYC certification or familiarity with ABYC Standards.
  
• Previous experience working with a professional association, membership organization, technical committee, or standards-development organization.
  
• Experience coordinating committees, boards, working groups, or consensus-based projects.
  
• Familiarity with marine-industry events, education, certification, or regulatory organizations.
  
• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
  

Work environment and travel

The Standards Development Associate will initially work from the headquarters in Annapolis to learn the organization, systems, standards process, and team. A hybrid arrangement may be considered after the employee is fully established in the role.

Most committee meetings are conducted virtually, generally on a monthly schedule. The position also supports several key events throughout the year, including an in-person Standards Week featuring multiple committee meetings. Some travel will be required.

Benefits

Compensation and benefits

• An annual salary of $55,000–$65,000, based on experience
  
• Health insurance
  
• Dental insurance
  
• Vision insurance
  
• 401(k)
  
• Paid time off
  
• Potential year-end bonus based on organizational performance; bonuses are not guaranteed
  
• Professional development and the opportunity to build relationships across the recreational marine industry