Training Specialist

The primary purpose of the Training Specialist is to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate the Insurance Service training programs. The incumbent provides advice, guidance and operational support to the Supervisory Program Specialist for Human Resources, Development, and Training staff. The position provides guidance and advice on issues associated with technical training. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:08/24/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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. Examples of appropriate SF-50s to include which show TIG requirements have been met include: 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. NOTE: Do not submit Award or General Adjustment SF-50s, as they do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying TIG. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-11 Grade Level: 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. OR Education Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-11 level. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level: Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and PH.D. graduate education. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. GS-12 Grade Level: 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. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some physical effort may be required to perform the duties of the position. The incumbent may sit to do much of the work. The nature of the work will place the incumbent often in a stressful situation and the incumbent must possess the maturity, and judgment to complete the work assignments. Some standing and walking is necessary. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Specific duties include: 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. 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. The grade progression for this position is GS-12. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available (6:00am - 6:00pm) Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Training Specialist; PD42242A and PD42241A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: 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. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications. You may submit unofficial transcripts when applying. However, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to provide an official transcript or a statement from the institution (e.g., from the registrar, dean, or other appropriate official) or equivalent documentation prior to the start date.