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INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Air Education and Training Command

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is: To both develop curriculum and provide instruction within the Squadron Officer School (SOS). This position is expected to provide quality education while also being responsible for the development, implementation, and management of teaching concepts, programs, and procedures to meet instructional requirements.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/07/2026 to 04/14/2026
Salary
$89,508 - $116,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
FEW vacancies in the following location:
Maxwell AFB, AL
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
9Z-AFPC-12930880-229729-VR
Control number
864124300

Duties

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  • Plans, develops, executes, and evaluates a comprehensive range of educational programs for officers and their instructors
  • Teaches in support of relevant Air University programs as required and serves as lead for faculty development opportunities in support of Air University's and SOS' mission.
  • Evaluates courses, makes adjustments as necessary to curricula, teaching methodologies, schedules, etc.
  • Accomplishes special projects and conducts individual and student research
  • Develops and maintains professional contacts with a variety of levels and organizational elements, Major Commands, Air Staff, DoD, and other government agencies.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Employee must be willing and able to travel by military and commercial air in accordance with Joint Travel Regulations to perform occasional multi-day temporary duty
  • Must meet positive education requirements specified in the OPM qualification standards. An earned terminal degree is highly desired
  • The employee may be recalled to duty and required to work overtime during other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends and/or holidays on an emergency basis
  • Work experience in faculty development and Professional Military Education and with company grade officers is highly desired
  • Because of the nature of the Air University education programs, incumbent may be required to teach graduate teaching and learning courses across AU's various education programs
  • Performs other related duties as assigned
  • Position is Centrally Managed and PCS is authorized

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Clerical and Administrative Support Positions for the GS-1750, Professional and Scientific Positions.

BASIC REQUIREMENT: A Bachelor's degree (or higher 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 include study in at least four of the following five areas: (1) Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology; (2) Instructional design practices (3) Educational evaluation (4) Instructional product OR (5) Computers in education and training. Some positions in this series may specialize in one or two functional areas, where more specific academic preparation may be necessary. For such positions, agencies may require course work in the applicable functional area(s) as part of the above-required 24 semester hours. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.
AND
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below:

Specialized Experience: Applicant must have one (1) year of specialized experience for GS-1750-12 which includes knowledge of a wide range of professional concepts, principles, methods, techniques, and practices of one or more specialties of the instructional systems field as well as in learning theory, gained through extended study, experience, and maintained currency with developing trends in the field of learning. Comprehensive knowledge of a wide variety of instructional development methods and teaching strategies sufficient to conduct analysis to determine the requirements for revision of existing instructional systems or development of new education programs. Skill in conferring with curriculum designers, course writers, instructors, department directors, faculty/instructors, and subjective-matter experts to coordinate system analysis leading to producing education support activities, such as simulations, test equipment, and prototypes. Skill in applying this knowledge to difficult and complex work assignment which frequently involve matters that are controversial, unconventional, or novel. Note: You must submit a copy of official transcripts. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the GS-11 grade/level position or equivalent in the federal service.


FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-­grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:

1. Professional knowledge and understanding in one or more of the following fields: Organizational leadership, organizational behavior, critical thinking, psychology, teaching and learning, as well as learning theory and the principles, methods, practices, and techniques of the instructional systems design field to administer, advise on, design, develop, and/or provide education or training services in formal education/training programs.

2. Knowledge of and ability to follow foundational instructional design and development processes to analyze, research, design, teach, and write educationally sound instructional materials and instructional materials and teaching guides for use in seminar instruction and to construct and validate appropriate evaluation instruments to determine level and extent of student learning and achievement.

3. Knowledge of a wide range of the principles and practical methods, techniques, and tools of instruction to teach a variety of students with a range of differences such as diverse ages, backgrounds, and levels of interest.

4. Ability to compose and deliver both written and oral presentations.

5. Ability to establish instructional program objectives and to assess progress toward their achievement.

6. Ability to analyze problems related to instructional material or support equipment and develop timely and economical solutions such as develop finished products including lesson plans, training texts, television programs, programmed texts, or computer assisted instruction.

7. Ability to work effectively and constructively with various groups in accomplishing assigned projects in both lead and follower capacity.


PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information


Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BASIS OF RATING:
Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.

Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Air Education and Training Command

The mission of the United States Air Force is: To fly, fight, and win...Airpower anytime, anywhere. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: Developing Airmen, Technology-to-Warfighting and Integrating Operations. Core competencies and distinctive capabilities are based on a shared commitment to three core values -- integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.

Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide:

  • AF DCIPS Interchange
  • AF Internal Employee
  • Cyber Interagency Transfer Authority (CITA)
  • DoD Transfer (Excluding Air Force)
  • EO 13473 Appointment of Certain Military Spouses
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Employee
  • Military Spouse Preference
  • Non-AF DCIPS Interchange
  • PPP DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians
  • PPP DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • PPP Mil Res (MR) and Nat Guard (NG) Pref Eligible Technician Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Veterans Recruitment Authority

Agency contact information

Total Force Service Center
Phone
1-800-525-0102
Email
DO.NOT.EMAIL@CALL.ONLY
Address
Maxwell AFB
50 Lemay Plaza South
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
US

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