Instructional Systems Specialist

Clarification from the agency

All US Citizens

Serving as a Instructional Systems Specialist GS-1750-9 makes you a valuable member of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) team and mission. This position is located in the Office of the Associate Director for Training Ops, Training Management Operations Directorate, eLearning and Training Analytics Division, eLearning and Evaluation Branch, located in Glynco, Georgia.

The primary purpose of this position is to assist in the development and evaluation of instructional design, course content and training programs.

Typical duties include:

• Assisting in the development and revision of portions of courses or short training modules based on established guidelines.
• Assisting other Instructional Systems Specialists with conducting basic needs analysis to determine training requirements
• Applying adult learning theories, methods, strategies, bests practices, techniques of instructional curriculum development, including evaluation to assist in developing and delivering training.
• Verifying online training programs comply with applicable rules, directives, instructions, requirements, and procedures.
• Assisting with the development of curricula for courses in assigned subject fields, ensuring compliance with established guidelines and addressing complicating factors such as outdated materials or emerging technologies.

View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation.
• This is a non-bargaining unit position.
• You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state issued driver's license to conduct official government business.
• This position is eligible for telework based on agency policy.
• Occasional travel is required.
• Overtime may be required.

Qualifications

A resume must be no more than two pages. If an applicant's resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted. For additional assistance, please visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Update your resume now so it meets new resume requirements

You qualify at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one of the following:

• One year of specialized experience, equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in Federal service, that demonstrates duties that fall under the following competencies:
  • Education and Training: Assisting in the development and evaluation of instructional design, course content, and training programs; applying basic knowledge of adult learning theories, methods, strategies, best practices, and techniques of instructional curriculum development, including evaluation.
  • Learning: Using efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills; leveraging training, feedback, or other opportunities for self-learning and development to contribute to the development and delivery of instructional programs.
  • Technology Management: Utilizing e-learning content authoring software, such as Adobe Captivate or Articulate, to assist in developing instructional materials; deploying eLearning products on Learning Management Systems (LMS) or other delivery platform;

-OR-

• A 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

-OR-

• A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application.

NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first year may be used to qualify for the GS-09 level.

All requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

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.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not ICTAP eligible. View information about ICTAP eligibilityon OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered eligible under ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement.

Re-employed annuitants' annual salaries will be reduced by the amount of their retirement annuity and by further cost of living increases. FERS retirees receiving a FERS annuity supplement must also be aware that, like social security benefits, their FERS annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test and may be reduced if the salary earned is more than the social security exempt amount of earnings. Additional information is available on OPM's website or by contacting OPM.

Pursuant to Executive Order 12564 and FLETC policy, FLETC is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and, therefore, conducts random and other drug testing of its employees in order to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Headquarters personnel in safety- or security-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing and all applicants tentatively selected for employment at FLETC are subject to drug testing resulting in a negative test result.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A resume must be no more than two pages. If the resume exceeds two pages, the USAJOBS database will not allow the application to be submitted.

To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps, including the application, structured resume review, and writing sample.

Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. SMEs will review ONLY two (2) pages of your resume, starting at your work experience. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened). Applicants passing the resume review will move on to the next phase.

Writing Sample: You must submit a writing sample with your application package. Please see Required Documents for topic and requirements. The sample must be authentically written/prepared by the applicant. Plagiarized material and use of AI tools such as ChatGPT will be grounds for immediate disqualification and removal from further consideration.

We will review your resume and supporting documentation to ensure you meet the minimum requirements. If met, multiple assessments will place you in one of three categories based on your education, training, and experience.

If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories:

1. Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF), and appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis.
2. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPF's and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.
3. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs and appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis.

If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration and may be called for an interview. Preview the job questionnaire https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015109

If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be removed from consideration or your score may be lowered.

Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position isconsidered scientific/professional.). Other 10-point preference eligibles and veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility and qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans' preference.

1. Your resume (click the link for information on what to include). If you are a current or former Federal employee, your resume must indicate the GS or pay band level for each position held. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
2. Your responses to the job questionnaire. https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13015109
3. Writing Sample: Please submit formal recommendation for consideration by management. Your recommendation will be routed to senior staff through your chain-of-command. Write for senior officials familiar with training operations.
   • Prompt: A new initiative seeks to expand virtual, asynchronous learning to relieve logistics bottlenecks in onsite training programs that blend classroom instruction with practical exercises in high-fidelity but finite venues. Central to this initiative is eFLETC, a Learning Management System managed by your division. You have access to subject-matter experts, a generic asset library, and a team able to create multimedia assets. Write a recommendation describing how e-learning concepts can be integrated into existing traditional law enforcement training while maintaining realism, engagement, and high training quality. Address design, delivery, assessment, and evaluation, and include considerations specific to law enforcement training (e.g., scenario realism, psychomotor skill practice, safety).
   • Length: 800-1000 words
   • Format: Submit a typed response as a .docx or .pdf. Use clear headings as needed. Do not include classified or sensitive operational details.
   • Confidentiality: Do not include SPII, PCII, CVI, or other restricted information. Use only general, non-sensitive operational descriptions.
   • Original Work: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot) or AI-assisted writing/editing is prohibited. Submissions suspected of AI generation may be disqualified.
4. Is education required for this position? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution listing the college/university, degree confirmation date(s) and applicable courses. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.
5. Are you a veteran? You must provide acceptable documentation of your preference or appointment eligibility. The member 4 copy of your DD214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," is preferable. If claiming 10 point preference, you will need to submit a Standard Form (SF-15), "Application for 10-point Veterans' Preference." If applying based on eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces that you will be discharged or released from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. This must indicate your dates of service, your rank, and confirm that you will be separated under honorable conditions. View more veterans' information.
6. Are you claiming special priority selection rights under the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP)? Submit the following:
   • A copy of your agency notice,
   • A copy of your most recent performance rating, and
   • A copy of your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, noting your current position, grade level, and duty location.
7. Are you a current or former political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee? Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment:
   • Position title,
   • Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee), Agency,
   • Beginning and ending dates of appointment.

Next steps