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INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Department of Defense
Warfighting Acquisition University

Summary

This position is covered under the Federal Excepted Service under Title 10 United States Code, Section 1746 and Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations Schedule A, Section 213.3106(h).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$70,623 - $158,323 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 11
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Term - 3 Years
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
WarU-26-13021944-EB
Control number
878582700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens

Duties

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Performs the following duties in support of Warfighting Acquisition University learning assets and training environment:

1. Analysis & Requirements Definition - Conducts needs assessments, front-end analyses, and job/occupational analyses to determine training gaps and performance requirements. - Collaborates with Learning Directors (LDs), Program Managers (PMs), SMEs, and stakeholders to finalize requirements, learning outcomes, and solution recommendations.

2. Instructional Design & Learning Architecture - Leads the design of learning for assigned courses, credentials, or micro-learning assets. - Develops Design Documents including, Learning objectives and outcomes, Assessment strategies, Bloom's level alignment, Minimum content coverage requirements, Performance-based learning approaches, Visual and instructional design principles. - Advises on instructional material formats, delivery modes, and technology selection. - Ensures adherence to adult learning principles, accessibility requirements, and Warfighting Acquisition University quality standards.

3. Instructional Material Development - Develops, reviews, or revises instructional materials such as storyboards, lesson plans, facilitator guides, eLearning modules, multimedia scripts, and learner resources. - Designs or specifies training aids, simulations, job aids, and technology-enhanced learning tools.

4. Contractor Oversight & Quality Assurance - Evaluates deliverables from contractor ISDs using checklists, rubrics, and documented change requests. - Reviews contractor-developed: Design Documents, Multimedia products, Accessibility components, Support materials, storyboards, and test items.

5. Assessment, Test & Measurement - Develops or reviews objective tests, performance assessments, rubrics, and evaluation instruments. - Ensures assessments are valid, reliable, and aligned with performance requirements. - Supports assessment strategy development across learning assets and credentials. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see Legal and Regulatory Guidance, please go to http://www.sss.gov for more information
  • Incumbent may be required to obtain and maintain an appropriate security clearance
  • If applicable, incumbent must meet, or be capable of meeting within the specified timeframes, and maintaining, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification requirements applicable to the duties of an acquisition coded position.
  • If applicable, incumbent is expected to meet Continuing Acquisition Education requirements.
  • If applicable, incumbent may be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
  • The incumbent of this position may be required to work overtime, irregular shifts, and/or on the weekend.
  • Work may require travel away from the normal duty station on commercial aircraft.

Qualifications

You must meet the minimum qualification requirements as stated in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Operating Manual, Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/Standards/group-stds/gs-prof.asp.

This position has a positive education requirement. You must submit proof of education or of certification to be considered for this position. To qualify for this position you must meet one of the basic requirements described below:

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.

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.

Please reference the Education section of this announcement to review the Warfighting Acquisition University Faculty Pay Band Minimum Education and Specialized Experience Requirements

To qualify for this position at a respective band/grade level, you must demonstrate in your resume/application that you possess the required years of specialized experience one band/grade-level lower (or equivalent) to include having specialized experience directly relating to the specific duties of the position, and demonstrate that you have the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully.

Specialized experience is defined as:
  • Experience areas include, but are not limited to, curriculum development, instructional design, creating or delivering adult education, creating or conducting corporate training, managing or supporting the selection and implementation of learning systems, conducting job/task or other performance needs analysis, creating program or product evaluation tools, or supporting program or product evaluation activities.
  • Experience using instructional design theories, models, practices, and methodologies; determining media selection and development practices for training environments; choosing appropriate learning and instructional technologies and deciding application for training environments; Evaluating learning and development services, programs, and products
  • Highly Desired: Experience developing learning assets for the Department of War or other Federal Government organizations using the currently accepted methodology(s) for Instructional Systems Design.
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

WarU Faculty Pay Band Minimum Education and Specialized Experience Requirements:

  • WarU Pay Band A (AD-11) (Equivalent to a GS-09 through GS-13 General Schedule grade equivalency): Minimum Education and Specialized Experience:
    • Basic requirements for Band A include a minimum of a Bachelor level degree and up to four years of experience in the appropriate functional area.
Please note: Technical certifications and/or experience may be approved by the WarU Chief of Staff (delegated from the WarU President) to meet the needs of the University.

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? If the position you are applying for has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with your 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

This position is in the Excepted Service. For more information regarding Excepted Service employment please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/help/working-in-government/service/

If you are a current Federal civilian employee in the Federal Competitive Service, if selected, you must sign a statement of understanding acknowledging you are transitioning from the Federal Competitive Service to the Federal Excepted Service.

Initial appointment is made for a period of three years, conditional upon satisfactory completion of a WarU probationary period of two years. At the one year mark, as part of an annual review, consideration is given to extending the appointment; thus at any one time moving beyond that point an employee will have two years remaining.

WarU employees enjoy flexible work schedules and transit subsidy. At the supervisor's discretion.

WarU participates in e-Verify with the Department of Homeland Security and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

If selected for this position, you must be able to start employment within 30 days of acceptance (unless otherwise approved by WarU).

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

Accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

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

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.

To qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described above. A Warfighting Acquisition University screening panel will review your resume and narrative answers to the hiring criteria to evaluate your qualifications for the position.

You MUST upload a Cover Letter from your resume addressing the following hiring criteria:

Scenario:
You are the lead Government Instructional Systems Designer assigned to develop a new course titled "Introduction to Government Contracting Processes." A Subject Matter Expert (SME) has drafted the following learning objectives for the first module of the course. The SME is very proud of the objectives that were created. Your task is to review these objectives and provide recommendations with justification for improvement before the design phase proceeds.

SME Drafted Learning Objectives
  • Understand government contracting.
  • Learn about different contract types.
  • Know the steps for procurement.
  • Become familiar with important contracting documents.
  • Gain awareness of roles involved in contracting.
Assessment Prompt:
Review the SME provided learning objectives in the scenario. Then respond to the following:
Provide constructive feedback identifying issues or areas needing improvement.
Revise learning objectives as appropriate using accepted instructional design standards, including:
  • Measurable action verbs
  • Clear performance expectations
  • Conditions and criteria when appropriate
Justify each recommendation by explaining how your revisions improve instructional quality and support:
  • Measurability
  • Alignment with assessments
  • Clarity for learners and SMEs
  • Instructional strategy decisions
  • Adherence to standards
Your response should be concise yet thorough, demonstrating your ability to critique SME input, apply ISD methodology, and justify design decisions. Applicants should respond in 5-10 sentences, demonstrating the ability to critique SME input diplomatically, apply instructional theory, and justify design decisions.

Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil

Warfighting Acquisition University

Join WarU and be a part of a world-class Department of War organization committed to training and supporting Warfighting acquisition professionals. In addition to training courses, WarU offers a variety of learning events and experiences, provides tools and resources to help on the job, conducts direct assistance to organizations, and offers access to an entire community of practitioners, experts and policy makers. WarU promotes a culture of lifelong learning both for faculty and staff and for the members of the Warfighting Acquisition Workforce they serve. Join our dynamic team and help give our military the competitive advantage they need.

Agency contact information

HR Customer Care Center
Phone
(317) 212-0454
Email
dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.dfasmeritcc@mail.mil
Address
Warfighting Acquisition University
9820 Belvoir Road
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Warfighting Acquisition University, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.waru.edu/

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