Instructional Systems Specialist.

About the role

Designs, develops, and implements training programs utilizing all appropriate media, including classroom, interactive television, videotape productions, computer-based, and web-based training. Provides guidance to instructors and subject matter experts, and oversees day-to-day training integration and coordination activities.

Responsibilities

• Identifies training needs using performance needs analysis tools such as surveys, focus groups, and task analysis to gather feedback from employees, managers, supervisors, and program participants.
• Develops, reviews, and revises instructional materials, including lesson plans, training texts, presentations, guides, and other instruction-related materials aligned with specific learning objectives.
• Analyzes, designs, and develops training curricula for various position types in Insurance Service Central Office and field operations; implements training delivery and evaluates learning outcomes.
• Determines learning objectives, task-learning relationships, clusters learning events, organizes course content, and develops instructional design plans.
• Creates and drafts training aids for new systems and components; reviews charts and drawings for technical accuracy and assesses the impact of modifications on existing training materials.
• Revises training aids and courses, and prepares instructions for subject matter experts (SMEs) to implement updates.
• Plans and coordinates training and development activities to ensure program requirements for training classes are met.
• Leads teams to develop educational design strategies for programs, events, and products; evaluates program effectiveness through reports, direct observation, and customer consultation.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary or 2-year trial period; continued employment is contingent on certification that it advances the public interest.
• Subject to background/security investigation and must complete an online onboarding process.
• Must provide acceptable forms of identification; effective May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID compliant identification will not be accepted.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 08/25/2026.

Time-in-Grade Requirement

• For GS-12: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• For GS-13: Must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level.
• Current VBA employees requesting reassignment or change to a lower grade must currently hold GS-13 (or higher) with promotion potential to GS-13.

Basic Requirements

Degree that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in at least four of the following five areas:

• Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology.
• Instructional design practices.
• Educational evaluation.
• Instructional product development.
• Computers in education and training.

Unofficial college transcripts must be submitted with the application; official transcripts will be required if selected.

Specialized Experience

GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, including:

• Designing, developing, or reviewing training curricula, course materials, instructional aids, and learning tools, and evaluating training effectiveness.
• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting training-related data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Administering or managing components of a training or learning program.

GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, including:

• Designing, developing, or reviewing training curricula, course materials, instructional aids, and learning tools, and evaluating training effectiveness.
• Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting training-related data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
• Administering or managing components of a training or learning program.
• Experience in the occupation or subject-matter field requiring training or instructing others.
• Effective communication skills across various audiences.

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday through Friday.
• Compressed/Flexible schedule available (6:00 AM – 6:00 PM).
• Eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only; must report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized.
• This is not a virtual position.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily sedentary but may require some physical effort. The incumbent may sit for extended periods and must possess the maturity and judgment to handle stressful situations. Some standing and walking are necessary.