Training Specialist

Summary The Simulation Operations Specialist (SOS) serves within the Anesthesia Service (112A) Simulation Department at a Complexity Level A-1 VA Medical Center - the highest designation within VHA, reflecting the facility's broad scope of tertiary and quaternary care, active teaching programs, and multi-specialty clinical services. Responsibilities The SOS serves as the primary simulator operator and educator, independently planning, executing, and evaluating simulation-based learning events of significant complexity and clinical impact. The incumbent designs and facilitates scenarios across the full spectrum of simulation modalities - from basic task training to advanced, multi-disciplinary procedural simulations - and leads structured debriefs using evidence-based frameworks (e.g., Debriefing with Good Judgment, PEARLS, (TeamSTEPPS). This includes direct operational support for advanced surgical procedure simulations, including training programs for complex minimally invasive procedures such as Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration (LCBDE). The SOS designs, configures, and operates simulation environments that replicate the surgical field with a level of fidelity sufficient to prepare surgeons to perform these procedures on Veteran patients - directly contributing to measurable improvements in surgical outcomes, reductions in bed days of care, and decreased post-procedural complications. The SOS supports simulation activities involving AI-integrated surgical robotics, including pre-implementation training and workflow gap analysis for systems such as the Da Vinci Surgical System. This includes designing simulation-based previewing exercises that allow surgical teams to evaluate new robotic equipment, assess operational processes, identify training gaps, and develop clinical proficiency prior to live patient procedures. Additional duties include: - Operating and troubleshooting A/V systems, simulator control software, VR platforms, and AI-integrated simulation tools during live events - Applying advanced moulage techniques and constructing high-realism props and environmental elements to support immersive, clinically authentic training environments - Developing contingency plans for equipment issues or schedule disruptions to ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical training programs - Supporting advanced simulation certification requirements for the simulation center, including preparation for and maintenance of Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) accreditation or equivalent program recognition. - Collaborating with clinicians, faculty, surgeons, and trainees across multiple specialty services to refine scenario content and assessment criteria at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels Developing and maintaining simulation scenarios, learning modules, and competency assessment tools that reflect current clinical standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based simulation practices - Designing curricula that support advanced simulation certification requirements, including competency-based credentialing, privileging support, and skills validation programs aligned with specialty-specific standards - Integrating virtual reality and artificial intelligence modalities into the simulation curriculum as part of the facility's ongoing expansion of high-fidelity, immersive training capabilities; evaluating emerging VR and AI-enabled tools for clinical applicability and educational effectiveness - Managing training schedules, event calendars, and room reservations; proactively forecasting and communicating scheduling changes to multi-disciplinary stakeholder groups - Organizing and proctoring competency-based learning exercises; documenting all training events in accordance with VHA, JC, AHA, and REdI requirements - Mentoring faculty, clinical staff, and adjunct instructors on debriefing techniques, curriculum design, simulation operations, and learning platform utilization? ?????? - Resolving scheduling conflicts and coordinating logistics across multiple simultaneous programs involving diverse stakeholder groups including community partners and military collaborators Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:30 am to 3:00 pm or 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework. Ad hoc telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Training Specialist/PD11554A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/05/2026. 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-09 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. 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-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience which is equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07 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-09 master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., 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-09 level: Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related. 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. 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; religious; 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/. Education Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related 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://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. The Ralph H Johnson Dept of VA Medical Center & its CBOC's are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and individuals who demonstrate a diversity, equity, and inclusion-related mindset and behaviors. We are strongly seeking candidates who represent the full range of cultural and identity factors, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity and expression, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion, spiritual practices, geographic region, and other characteristics The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/