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Training Specialist-NEO Coordinator

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans' Hospital

Summary

The Training Specialist is directly responsible for the development and implementation of New Employee Orientation (NEO) activities, resources and services, and coordinating these to ensure all aspects are in compliance with established Medical Center goals and guidelines. This position is located within the Education Department within the Nursing Services at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital & Clinics in Madison, WI.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/23/2026 to 05/04/2026
Salary
$74,678 - $97,087 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Madison, WI
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
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
11
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CAZP-12935336-26-RJ
Control number
866386000

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Duties

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The primary purpose of this position is to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive New Employee Orientation (NEO) and Learning Management System (LMS/TMS) program for the medical center. This program ensures all staff receive required onboarding, mandatory education, and competency based training, and that opportunities are provided for continuing education and professional development. The incumbent functions as an educator/staff development specialist and technical LMS administrator, responsible for assessing educational needs across occupational specialties; designing and delivering multimodal training; tracking and documenting completions; and maintaining compliance with Joint Commission, OSHA, VISN, VA, and other regulatory requirements.

Duties include but are not limited to:

NEO Program Coordination & Instruction:
- Plans, develops, implements, and evaluates NEO activities for new employees, students, and contract staff in a cost effective manner, integrating the organization's mission, vision, values, and strategic plan.
- Collaborates with the Education Coordinator, Nurse Educators, subject matter experts (SMEs), presenters, Human Resources, and other stakeholders to coordinate and continuously improve NEO content, delivery, logistics, and outcomes.
- Designs NEO materials and methodologies according to performance objectives and learner needs, utilizing traditional classroom, multimedia, teleconferencing/videoconferencing, and distance learning modalities consistent with adult learning and accelerated learning principles.
- Instructs effectively and creatively across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains; updates materials to reflect technological changes, evolving requirements, and best practices.
- Ensures NEO topics and training meet Joint Commission, OSHA, VISN, and VA requirements; tracks and records attendance and completion; follows up with supervisors on nonattendance and coordinates rescheduling as necessary.
- Analyzes NEO effectiveness using Kirkpatrick or similar evaluation models; implements improvements based on data, learner feedback, and stakeholder input.
LMS/TMS Administration & Learning Management:
- Serves as the Talent Management System (TMS) administrator for assigned domains; creates and manages Items and associated components (e.g., Content Objects, Documents), places Items in Catalogs and Curricula, and ensures web based content interfaces correctly with TMS.
- Performs Assignment Manager, Scheduling Manager, Registration Manager, and Item Manager functions: creates Scheduled Offerings; registers users; records attendance; resets passwords; provides first line support to TMS users; and runs standard/ad hoc reports to monitor compliance and completions.
- Develops and maintains systems to manage and track training achievements; produces compliance dashboards and reports for managers and leaders; trains supervisors and staff to access, maintain, and update TMS records and to monitor progress and identify shortfalls.
Continuing Education & Specialty Training:
- Identifies specialties where continuing education or competency validation is required or desirable; reviews local, VISN, and VA policies and Human Resources qualification standards to determine training requirements.
- Develops targeted education plans to address identified needs; creates training materials (including computer based courses); coordinates broadcast learning; and arranges SME input to ensure relevance and validity.
- Coordinates schedules, rooms, equipment, and communications for classes; ensures prerequisites are communicated and met prior to attendance.
- Maintains an up to date library of educational information across hospital specialties; provides resources on career pathways and support programs (e.g., financial aid, preparatory courses) to facilitate development.
- Serves as a resource to supervisors when developing Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) and Personal Development Plans (PDPs), providing mechanisms to monitor progress.
Program Evaluation & Analytics:
- Analyzes trends in training requests, participation, and completion data to identify future program needs and opportunities for process improvement.
- Applies quality improvement principles and tools to assess processes and implement effective follow up actions that improve patient care, staff performance, and work products.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-4:00pm and may include some evenings.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Position Description/PD#: Training Specialist-NEO Coordinator/PD252900

Requirements

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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.
  • 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 dentification 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, 05/04/2026.


Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Individual Occupational Requirements
Education
Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- education or a subject area related to the position to be filled.
or
Experience
Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge of the subject area of the position and of the methods and techniques of instruction. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include:

  • Teaching or instructing in an adult education program, secondary school, college, military installation, or industrial establishment in the appropriate field(s).
  • Supervising or administering a training program.
  • Development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc., and evaluation of training results.
  • Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others on a regular basis.
In addition to the IOR above, applicants must meet the grade requirements

Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of an Training Specialist, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge of the subject area of the position and of the methods and techniques of instruction.
Qualifying specialized experience includes: Teaching or instructing in an adult education program, secondary school, college, military installation or industrial establishment in the appropriate field(s); Supervising or administering a training program; Development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc. and evaluation of training results; Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others on a regular basis.
NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

OR
Education: Successful completion of a 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 related, in a major study - Education or a subject area related to the Training Specialist position. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the Training Specialist position and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

OR
Combination: Equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses in Education or a subject area related to the position and such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the work of the Training Specialist position and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Creative Thinking
  • Customer Service
  • Education and Training
  • Information Assurance
  • Oral Communication
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; religions; 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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary but includes standing, bending, walking, and carrying light/medium loads of
paper, office files, supplies, and equipment. Extended periods at a computer terminal and standing to instruct are required. Occasional weekend/evening duty may be necessary to assure training availability; minimal local travel may be required

Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

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/.

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 qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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; religions; 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans?

This position is part of VISN 12- The VA Great Lakes Health Care System. The VA Great Lakes Health Care System, a group of eight VA medical centers and more than 40 VA clinics, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive health care package to America's veterans. VA Great Lakes serves veterans who reside in Illinois, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Wisconsin, and northwestern Indiana.

Our Mission is to serve the health care needs of America's veterans. This is accomplished through a comprehensive, integrated health care delivery system that provides:

  • Excellence in Health Care Value
  • Excellence in Service as Defined by Customers
  • Excellence in Education and Research
VA Great Lakes Health Care System is also an organization characterized by exceptional accountability, and by being an employer of choice.

Our Vision is to be a veterans' health care system that supports innovation, empowerment, productivity, accountability, and continuous improvement. Working together, a continuum of high quality health care is provided in a convenient, responsive, caring manner -- and at a reasonable cost.

Agency contact information

Ruth Joseph
Phone
478-484-7459
Email
Ruth.Joseph2@va.gov
Address
William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital
2500 Overlook Terrace
Madison, WI 53705
US

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