Training Specialist

Summary

Responsible for all education and training throughout the organization to include New Employee Orientation, annual mandatory trainings, library services, the Talent Management System (TMS), leadership and development programs, coaching and mentoring programs, simulation, Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support education, and other trainings required by the facility, VISN10 or VA Central Office

Duties

• Major duties of the position include but are not limited to: Performs work in the development of courses for instructional training programs on the TMS Platform. Participates substantially in coursework development or modification, and develops complete, full-length courses in well-established areas of a subject matter field. Develop or adapt new or revised training or testing materials for formal course use. Conducts studies and perform analyses on course-related subjects and/or coordinates activities involving programs of instruction. Performs work involving modification (changes/updates) of course materials on TMS platform and plans for specific audiences. Determines the need for additional subject-matter information and meetings with representatives within or outside the organization to obtain it. Develop new training or testing materials for formal course use. Produces complete, self-contained training products (courses, aids, methods, training plans, etc.) based on analyses and studies. Determines learning objectives, analyzes learning problems, selects teaching strategies using appropriate models, develops course plans, and creates assessment tools. Instructs courses in a Program of Instruction. Responsible for courses covering both standard, pre-structured, and advanced technical systems or subject matter areas. Responsible for overall maintenance of assigned courses and determines the need for and initiates changes/updates in course content. Adapts or revises courses, as needed, because of subject matter or student problems.. Create, update, and evaluate training courses and materials, determining learning objectives, designing instructional strategies, developing assessments, and instructing courses when required. Adapt or revise materials due to changes in subject matter, student needs, or instructional methodologies. Plans, promotes, and develops educational programs and projects by stimulating activity and providing direction. Designs a program for the area of assignment by analyzing the need for personnel, facilities, supplies, and materials, prepares a program plan, and provides ongoing advice and assistance in the program's implementation. Plans and develops educational programs and/or projects where the program is of moderate size and complexity, with occasional complex problems or issues. Coordinates education program/project activities such as meetings, conferences, information gathering, and conducting negotiations for various aspects of the program/project. These programs are both within and outside the agency. Develops and maintains the Education SharePoint. Provides technical consultation and guidance for Education staff regarding the development, maintenance, and improvement of the service SharePoint site.. Functions as a facility domain manager for the TMS educational package. This system houses each employee's official education and training record, as well as serving as the mechanism for providing computer-based training for employees. As a resident TMS authority, the Program Specialist will assist in identifying issues and problems associated with these programs and systems, and using initiative, will implement alternative solutions based on expert knowledge. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring proper implementation of updates and changes in the package. Fields calls from all levels of TMS users requiring assistance and provides solutions to problem issues. Provides technical assistance to those who are developing computer and software training material for targeted audiences that may vary from highly targeted audiences to those that may be mandatory for all employees. Assistance may include determining that material is presented at appropriate educational levels to be pertinent to the target audience, and that a variety of training modes are considered to maximize training effectiveness. Performs work associated with the evaluation of courses and programs in training areas. Develop recommendations for course revisions. Performs duties involving the instruction of training course or the modification of course content and/or materials. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Schedule may be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency. Telework: This position may be authorized for some ad-hoc (short term or episodic) telework only per Agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Training Specialist/PD944260 and PD944250 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/14/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): The 1712 occupational series requires specific education or experience to be met in order to be appointed into a position of this series. This IOR is set by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and one of the following must be met: IOR Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study in Education or a subject area related to the position to be filled. OR, IOR Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge of the subject area of the position and of the methods and techniques of instruction. Examples of qualifying IOR Specialized Experience includes: Teaching or instructing in an adult education program, secondary school, college, military installation, or industrial establishment in the appropriate field(s) Supervising or administering a training program Development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc., and evaluation of training results Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others on a regular basis In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements, you must meet the experience and/or education as described below: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Experience/Education: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge and understanding of the full range of training support functions and operations such as: performance evaluation, updating required training, maintaining accurate records, training plan development etc. OR, Education: 2 (two) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a masters degree or masters or equivalent graduate degree. Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university meets the requirements for positions at GS-7 through GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond one (1) year of graduate education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first year of graduate education). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify; GS-11 Experience/Education: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge and understanding of the full range of training support functions and operations such as: performance evaluation, updating required training, maintaining accurate records, training plan development etc. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three (3) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Education at the graduate level in an accredited college or university in the amounts shown in the table meets the requirements for positions at GS-11. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two (2) years of graduate education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first year of graduate education). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position is primarily sedentary, but may require potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Work also involves some carrying and transporting of books, library materials, files and/or office supplies, driving an automobile, etc. Fieldwork may involve traveling to outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), meetings and sources of information. Transferring objects, supplies and program materials throughout the Medical Center may be required. Work is usually performed sitting at a desk, in conferences and meetings. Some light physical exertion is necessary. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on program needs. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. Your official or unofficial transcript must reflect: name of the college or university, full address of the college or university, your name, class title(s) with the number of credits earned/completed, the degree received, if applicable, and date degree conferred. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcript and they will not be used in the qualifying process. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13055277. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 09/14/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit