Building an Elite Force of Spill Responders in a World with Few Spill Response Opportunities

As the performance of Industry improves and spills decrease, SMTs, OSROs, Regulators, and Oil and Gas Operators are all facing a lack of direct experience and knowledge when it comes to spill response. The recruiting and grooming of elite Responders for a large response organization is further challenged by a tight labor market that is increasingly occupied by a generation that demands accelerated advancement and growth. The Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) is taking a new approach to identify, develop and retain Responder competencies and proficiencies, and to offer a career/development path in the absence of actual incidents. The first element of this program provides a clear path for professional growth to satisfy the growing desire for advancement by replacing a time-based promotion system with one that is focused on performance. The second element requires a consistent methodology and framework of evaluation to ensure employees in a nationwide organization are measured and evaluated using the same standards. Replacing the focus on hard skills with soft skills during talent acquisition “fit factor” when hiring new Responders sets the tone for growth. The hard skills are easier to teach and develop, while soft skills like learning curiosity, collaboration, effective communication, problem solving, and decision making are the differentiators that shape an elite Responder. Removing the emphasis on spill experience and replacing it with well-defined competency models that define abilities which can be demonstrated outside of spill incidents is essential to fostering professional growth in a Responder. These competencies include the technical skills that are required by each position and emphasize leadership abilities, teamwork, and commitment. Metrics and expectations must be defined at the right level of detail to provide Responders with the opportunity during steady state operations to demonstrate abilities in a variety of scenarios that mirror those needed in spill response.