Training Specialist

Job Details

Position Overview

Duties

• Designs, develops, and implements training programs. These programs may be developed in-house, through contractor support, or by Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and utilize all appropriate media (classroom, interactive television, videotape productions, computer based and web-based training).
• Identifies training needs using performance needs analysis tools, including but not limited to, surveys, focus groups and task analysis that provide feedback and priorities from employees, managers, supervisors, stakeholders and program participant.
• Analyzes training needs for VA Insurance programs (for employees, program participants and stakeholders) and plans projects to meet these needs.
• Analyzes the results of needs assessments and makes plans for training to meet identified needs.
• Reviews completed lesson plans and time requirements with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from other teams in order to assure that scope of course content will meet the customers' needs and overall time allowances are compatible with individual lesson plans.
• Conducts and participates in conferences, workshops, and briefings for internal and external stakeholders to inform, obtain information and develop goals and programs relating to claims processors, Insurance Call Center personnel, and all other various Insurance Service personnel.
• Plans and directs program area reviews and studies, ranging in complexity from specific operational functions and problems to program-wide applications.
• Plans and coordinates related training aid development activities to ensure that component parts of major items and quantities specified will meet program requirements for training classes.
• Evaluates training program effectiveness by review of reports, direct observation, discussion with team members and consultation with customers.

Qualifications & Requirements

• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• If you are a current VBA employee outside of the commuting area seeking reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS-11 (or higher) and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-12.

• Within grade increases (WGI) at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date that occurred more than one year from the closing date of the job opportunity announcement; or
• Most recent appointment.

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience which is equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09 level) in the normal line of progression for the position. Specialized Experience is defined as experience below.
• Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others.
• Administering a training program.

• Education

• Combination of Specialized Experience and Education

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience which is equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11 level) in the normal line of progression for the position. Specialized Experience is defined as experience in three or more of the following:
• Development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc., and evaluation of training results.
• Experience analyzing and evaluating reports.
• Administering a training program.
• Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others.
• Effective communication skills across various audiences.

Education

Requirements

• 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.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period
• 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 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.

Evaluations

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

• Education and Training: Knowledge of the concepts, principles, and theories of instructional methods such as teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, and testing.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and analyzes problems; uses sound reasoning to arrive at conclusions; finds alternative solutions to complex problems; distinguishes between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical judgements.
• Organizational Awareness: Knows how social, political, organizational, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them. This includes the policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the work unit or organization.
• Project Management: Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Required Documents

• Resume, limited to 2-pages, detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position
  • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
• Veterans: Member-4 DD-214 and disability rating letter (if applicable)
  • If you are currently on active duty to be released within 120 days, you may submit an armed forces certification in lieu of a Member-4 DD-214.
• Current Federal Employees: A copy of your most recent NON-AWARD SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status (for example, you are a career or career-conditional employee) and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
  • To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
• Current VBA Employees: If you are outside the commuting area and seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade, you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.
• Military Spouse of Active-Duty Military Member: A copy of your marriage license AND your spouse's active duty orders
• Military Spouse of Separated Veteran: A copy of your marriage license, Member-4 DD-214 AND either your spouse's 1) 100% disability rating, or 2) documentation of death during active duty.
• Other Status Candidates: Evidence of eligibility to apply (e.g. Peace Corps verification letter, Schedule A letter, PS-50, etc.).

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing 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
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as 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. The application process is as follows:

1. Click the Apply Online button.
2. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.
3. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date.
4. 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.
5. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
6. 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.
7. Set aside about two (2) hours o 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.
8. 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.

• 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

• USA Jobs Help Center - Resume Page Limit
• Applicant Guidance on the Two-Page Resume Limit