Instructional Systems Specialist

About the company

This position is part of the Department of War, War Media Agency (WMA). The incumbent will be responsible for providing educational technology guidance and implementation resources to faculty, staff, and other users in coordination with the Faculty Training and Development Office and other responsible offices.

Your tasks

As a Instructional Systems Specialist at the GS-1750-12 some of your typical work assignments may include: Leads educational technology and digital learning modernization projects using instructional systems design principles to develop, implement, and improve accessible resident, online, distributed, and blended learning solutions. Analyzes instructional and functional requirements for learning management systems, student information systems, and emerging educational technologies. Coordinates with academic, IT, cybersecurity, acquisition, and contractor stakeholders to support technology evaluation, integration, implementation, and sustainment. Evaluates educational technologies and digital learning solutions using learner data, performance measures, research, and pilot activities to assess instructional effectiveness, accessibility, and usability. Provides technical recommendations to support continuous improvement and institutional goals.

Requirements

You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service: Applying instructional systems design principles and adult learning theory to analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate technology-enabled learning solutions for resident, online, distributed, or blended learning environments.
• Analyzing instructional and functional requirements for educational technologies, including learning management systems, digital learning platforms, or emerging technologies, and evaluating solutions for instructional effectiveness, accessibility, usability, and alignment with learning objectives.
• Planning and coordinating instructional technology or digital learning projects, including establishing milestones, collaborating with stakeholders, monitoring progress, and recommending solutions to implementation challenges.
• Evaluating educational technologies and digital learning solutions using learner performance data, user feedback, and other assessment methods to identify improvements and provide technical recommendations to organizational leadership.
• 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.
• In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 1750 series.
• Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours appropriate to the work of the position to be filled.
• The course work must have included study in at least four of the following five areas:
• 1. Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology: Study of learning theories as they relate to the systematic design, development, and validation of instructional material.
• 2. Instructional design practices: Study of the principles and techniques used in designing training programs, developing design strategy and models, and applying design methods to the improvement of instructional effectiveness.
• 3. Educational evaluation: Study of the techniques for evaluating the effectiveness of instructional/educational programs, including developing written and performance tests and survey instruments, and determining reliability and validity of evaluation instruments.
• 4. Instructional product development: Study of the techniques appropriate for developing training materials, including identifying learner characteristics, specifying objectives, applying training strategy, validating training materials, and evaluating training.
• 5. Computers in education and training: Study of the application of computers in education and training, including selecting appropriate computer software.

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

How to apply

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses. Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable. When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities. For further information, visit: Foreign Education Education: This position has a positive educational requirement. The incumbent must possess a degree that includes, or is supplemented by, at least 24 semester hours appropriate to the work of the position. Coursework must include study in at least four of the following five areas: Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology; Instructional design practices; Educational evaluation; Instructional product development; and Computers in education and training. Certification: This position requires Trusted Tester Certification for Section 508 Standards. The incumbent must achieve certification within six months of employment. Instructional Technology Proficiency: The incumbent must demonstrate proficiency in instructional technologies, including multimedia tools, learning management systems, digital learning platforms, and other educational technologies supporting accessible and effective resident, online, distributed, and blended learning.