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Education Program Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration

Summary

Responsible for all education and training throughout the organization to include New Employee Orientation, annual mandatory trainings, library services, the Talent Management System (TMS), leadership and development programs, coaching and mentoring programs, simulation, Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support education, and other trainings required by the facility, VISN or VA Central Office.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/18/2026 to 05/26/2026
Salary
$68,081 - $107,090 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 9 - 11
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Detroit, MI
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy. ADHOC telework may be authorized.
Travel Required
25% or less - 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
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CBSR-12964212-26-SB
Control number
869759400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, employees of other Federal agencies, and Veterans. *See "How You Will Be Evaluated" for additional information.

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Duties

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Major duties of the position include but are not limited to:

  • Serve as the Talent Management System (TMS) Domain Manager and Content Creator, overseeing specialized technical duties that support Education Service functions across healthcare, research, and administrative operations. Identify system and program issues, develop solutions, recommend policy or procedural changes, and ensure proper implementation of TMS updates.
  • Provide support to all levels of TMS users, resolving technical problems and ensuring mandatory training programs are available, accurate, and fully maintained. Manage training records and generate reports for facility performance measures, compliance, and departmental tracking.
  • Develop, revise, and maintain computer-based training modules by collaborating with subject-matter experts and using applications such as Microsoft Office and Adobe eLearning Suite. Ensure custom courses meet Section 508 accessibility standards. Coordinate with facility and VISN TMS Domain Managers to support program implementation and optimize TMS functionality.
  • Create, update, and evaluate training courses and materials, determining learning objectives, designing instructional strategies, developing assessments, and instructing courses when required. Adapt or revise materials due to changes in subject matter, student needs, or instructional methodologies.
  • Conduct analyses and studies related to courses and programs, gather information internally and externally, and use findings to produce complete, self-contained training products. Provide technical assistance to staff developing training content for varied audiences.
  • Plan, promote, and coordinate educational programs and projects, determining resource requirements, preparing program plans, organizing activities, and conducting negotiations as needed. Prepare and submit required reports for VAMC management, VISN, VA Central Office, and accrediting agencies.
  • Develop and maintain SharePoint sites, providing technical guidance on design, maintenance, and improvement. Continuously review instructional materials and implement new delivery methodologies.
  • Evaluate courses and programs, recommending updates or revisions. Offer consultation to staff and supervisors on the development and improvement of education programs, strategies, and services. Assist in resolving program issues influenced by social, economic, cultural, or organizational factors.
  • Support Education Leadership by reviewing policy memorandums, recommending updates, and participating in policy development for education-related programs. Ensure accountability for local, VISN, and national performance measures by accessing and producing data in appropriate formats and providing responsive customer service.
  • Coordinate projects related to training development, establish internal and external contacts for information gathering, and conduct special projects involving fact-finding, policy recommendations, and implementation of program changes. Attend meetings and advise leadership on required actions, developing proposals to improve service operations within areas of responsibility.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Education Program Specialist/PD93809-0 and PD94389-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • 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 or trial 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, 05/26/2026.

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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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.

Individual Occupational Requirement: To meet the basic qualification of the 1720 Education Program Specialist Occupational Series:

  • Possess a degree that includes or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses; OR,
  • Possess a combination of education and experience with at least 24 semester hours in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least 9 semester hours have been in education courses, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The experience must reflect the level and kind described in the next bullet below; OR,
  • Possess four years of experience that demonstrate a thorough understanding of the principles and practices underlying the work of this series. This experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate that the I possess an understanding of the field comparable to that normally acquired through successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university; OR,
  • Possess at least 1 full academic year of professional teaching experience. This experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination of the students' success or failure according to established criteria. Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements does not meet this criterion.
In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
  • GS-09 Experience/Education:
    • Possess 2 (two) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree; OR,
    • Possess a combination of education and experience. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond one (1) year of graduate education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first year of graduate education). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify; OR,
    • Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07. Specialized experience includes but are not limited to: plan, direct, organizes, coordinate administrative service; data collection, researching standard practices; basic management analysis process; conducting analytical studies; provide program support.
  • GS-11 Experience/Education:
    • Possess 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; OR,
    • Possess a combination of education and experience. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond two (2) years of graduate education. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first year of graduate education). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify; OR,
    • Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09. Specialized experience includes but are not limited to: plan, direct, organizes, coordinate administrative service; data collection, researching standard practices; develop and evaluate programs; project management; regulations and precedents; management analysis process; conducting analytical studies; provide program support.
Preferred Experience: Experience with TMS, SharePoint, ADPAC, and/or IT.

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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position is primarily sedentary, but may require potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Work also involves
some carrying and transporting of books, library materials, files and/or office supplies, driving an automobile, etc. Fieldwork may involve traveling to outlying Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), meetings and sources of information. Transferring objects, supplies and program materials throughout the Medical Center may be required. Work is usually performed sitting at a desk, in conferences and meetings. Some light physical exertion is necessary. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on program needs.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States 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.

If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application. Your official or unofficial transcript must reflect: name of the college or university, full address of the college or university, your name, class title(s) with the number of credits earned/completed, the degree received, if applicable, and date degree conferred. A copy of your certificate/degree or screenshot of your current classes are not a replacement of your transcript and they will not be used in the qualifying process.

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

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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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.

VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Company & Job Title
Month & Year of Start/End dates (i.e. June 2007 to April 2008)
Indicate Full-time or Part-time (include hours worked per week) status
Duties(be as detailed as possible) for each job entry
References, to include contact information

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Applicants will be considered based on the following areas of consideration.

  • First Area of Consideration (CTAP/ICTAP Employees) - Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
  • Second Area of Consideration (Facility Employees) - Current, permanent John D. Dingell Medical Center employees (this includes Outpatient Clinics, permanent employees of the Veteran Canteen Service assigned to this facility, Office of Information & Technology employees assigned to this facility, CPAC bargaining unit employees located at the Detroit VAMC, and Virtual bargaining unit employees assigned to the facility).
  • Third Area of Consideration (Other VA Employees) - Current, permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Employees (VA employees who are located at other VA medical centers).
  • Fourth Area of Consideration (Status Candidates) - Current, permanent Federal employees, former Federal employees with reinstatement rights, 30% or More Disabled, Schedule A, VRA and VEOA eligible, Former Overseas employees, Certain Military Spouses, Foreign Service employees, Land Management, and National Service.

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?

John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit (Detroit VAMC) is a 160-bed full-service medical center that provides primary, secondary and tertiary care to Veterans in Southeast Michigan. There are approximately 330,000 Veterans residing in the primary service area. The Detroit VAMC is classified as a Level 1B complexity by Veterans Health Administration. We are a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.

The facility offers primary care and a full array of medical, surgical and mental health services including Cardiac Care, Cancer Care, Orthopedics, Surgical Services, Women's Health, Sleep Clinic, Audiology, Vision and Dental, PTSD, Substance Use and many others. Our acute care services cover the full spectrum severity including Emergency Care, ICU, Telemetry, Medicine/Surgery, Mental Health, Rehabilitation, Hospice and Long Term care.

Agency contact information

Sandra Barber
Phone
313-942-5402
Email
Sandra.barber@va.gov
Address
John D Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
4646 John R Street
Detroit, MI 48201
US

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