Training Specialist or Canine Training Specialist

Summary

You will serve as either a Training Specialist at USDA's Center for Agricultural Safeguarding Training, in Frederick, MD, or a Canine Training Specialist at the National Detector Dog Training Center, in Newnan, GA, depending on the location you choose. Responsibilities will include designing, developing, delivering and evaluating training and materials for agency programs and other stakeholders. Please Note: Additional position information is shown in the "additional information" section.

Duties

• The duties described are for the full-performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity.
• The duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Develops written materials in a clear, convincing and organized manner that meets established format and style standards and is appropriate for the intended audience.
• Conducts analysis, designs, develops, delivers, and evaluates specific course content(s) or materials related to the training programs.
• Facilitates internal and external meetings to help groups work effectively towards solving problems, making group decisions, and accomplishing goals.
• Review and edit course materials to ensure alignment with learning objectives.
• Partner with subject matter experts and specialists in the field to conduct task analyses, as well as to analyze the performance, skill, and knowledge levels of the learning audience.
• Serves as a consultant and troubleshooter for specific course content(s) or materials.
• Delivers instruction on all facets (supervisory, trainer, handler) of detector dog team training to internal and external customers. (Only required for Canine Training Specialist)
• Performs maintenance, cleaning and sanitization of canine training and holding areas. (Only required for Canine Training Specialist)
• Teaches detector dog program personnel to “read” and understand canine’s responses to assist them in their detection efforts. (Only required for Canine Training Specialist)

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. TIME-IN-GRADE: Current federal employees applying for a promotion opportunity must meet time-in-grade (TIG) requirement of 52 weeks of service at the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the position being filled. FOR THE GS-11 LEVEL: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-9 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors which demonstrates: Experience with analysis, design, development, delivery, or evaluation of training or educational material, courses, or curricula related to work tasks, formal education, performance improvement, or career development programs Experience with training revision processes, including training, feedback, or results analysis, client consultation, subject matter expert collaboration, updating outdated training, repurposing training, improving training, or modernizing training. Experience applying principles of canine conditioning to conduct initial detection-canine training, shaping foundational behaviors through odor imprinting, search pattern development, final response reinforcement, and progressive exposure to varied training environments. (Only required for Canine Training Specialist) Experience instructing canine handlers across all aspects of detector dog operations, including canine handling, detection training, learning theory, behavioral assessment, reward timing, leash handling, search techniques, and long-term maintenance training. (Only required for Canine Training Specialist) OR 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 relatedEquivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level. TRANSCRIPTS are required if: You are qualifying for the position based on education. You are qualifying for this position based on a combination of experience and education. This education must have been successfully completed and obtained from an accredited school, college, or university. COMBINATION OF EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE AT THE GS-11 GRADE LEVEL: Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. 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, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Please see above for education qualification requirement information. How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated based on your qualifications for this position as evidenced by the experience, education, and training you described in your application package, as well as the responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine the degree to which you possess the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies listed below: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Your application, including the online Assessment Questionnaire, will be reviewed to determine if you meet (a) minimum qualification requirements and (b) the resume supports the answers provided to the job-specific questions. Your resume must clearly support your responses to all the questions addressing experience and education relevant to this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are determined to be among the best qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Noncompetitive candidates and applicants under some special hiring authorities need only meet minimum qualifications to be referred. Note: If after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service. To preview the application questionnaire, please visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13075961 Other Information

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): Visit the OPM website for information on how to apply as a CTAP, RPL, or ICTAP eligible. To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors. CTAP/ICTAP candidates must be rated and determined to be well qualified (or above) based on an evaluation of the competencies listed in the How You Will Be Evaluated section. When assessed through a score-based category rating method, CTAP/ICTAP applicants must receive a rating of at least 85 out of a possible 100. Veterans who are preference eligible or who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after three years or more of continuous active service are eligible for consideration under the Veteran's Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA). For more information on applying under special hiring authorities such as the Veteran's Recruitment Act (VRA), 30 percent disabled veterans, Schedule A Disabled, etc., explore the different Hiring Paths on the USAJOBS website. Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Employees: Permanent County employees without prior Federal tenure who are selected for a Civil Service position under Public Law 105-277 will be given a career-conditional appointment and must serve a 1-year probationary period. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) provides current or former temporary or term employees of federal land management agencies opportunity to compete for permanent competitive service positions. Individuals must have more than 24 months of service without a break between appointments of two or more years. Service must be in the competitive service and have been at a successful level of performance or better. Refer to PUBLIC LAW 114-47-AUG. 7, 2015 for more information. First time hires to the federal government normally start at the lowest rate of the salary range for the grade selected. Locality pay will vary based upon the selectee's duty location. A final salary determination will be made upon selection. Promotion Potential: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied nor guaranteed. Multiple positions/locations are being filled through this vacancy. The position titles and locations for this announcement are as follows: Training Specialist 5 vacancies in Frederick, MD This is a non-canine training position. The work requires long periods of standing or sitting in front of the classroom when delivering in-person training. Canine Training Specialist 3 vacancies in Newnan, GA This position requires daily handling and movement of canines across uneven terrain. Frequently, the use of equipment and agricultural products require extensive standing, walking, bending and lifting of objects that weigh an average of 75 lbs. Physical stamina is needed to be successful in the position.