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Training Specialist

Department of Defense
Defense Media Activity
Defense Information School
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is part of the Defense Media Activity. The incumbent will be responsible for providing policy and procedures for DoD audiovisual and visual information activities and operations such as Combat Camera operations and for newspapers and like print media throughout DoD such as the European and Pacific Stars and Stripes newspapers.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
08/04/2025 to 08/18/2025
Salary
$84,601 to - $131,826 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Fort Meade, MD
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
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DMA-25-12772536-MP
Control number
842430400

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

"Agency" means current permanent DoD employees. Veterans include Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) eligible veterans. ICTAP (Must be in Commuting Area). Military Spouses; PPP, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP); PPP, DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP); PPP, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician (DoD MRNG); PPP, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement (DoD MR & NG).

Duties

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As a Training Specialist at the GS-1712-11/12 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Serves as a Training Specialist and Subject Matter Expert (SME), responsible for the development, delivery, and evaluation of the DINFOS Mass Communication Foundations training program.
  • Instructs entry and intermediate-level training in visual information and public affairs topics to include, photography, video production, multimedia production, writing, communication strategy, public affairs, and digital media.
  • Responsible for researching, developing, adapting, revising, coordinating, and presenting lesson plans and other associated course materials covering various course tasks.
  • Monitors and evaluates student performance to determine achievement of course requirements; Plans and conducts validity and reliability studies and surveys of assigned courses.
  • Provides expertise of subject matter and training techniques to identify and prepare solutions to problems concerning such issues as training course content, instructional delivery and training materials.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Set Schedule
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): GS-12-Exempt; GS-11-Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a non-sensitive security clearance.
  • Must pass pre-employment drug screening test, and periodic drug screening thereafter, if required.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-11, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Assisting with the development and management of a comprehensive adult training program to support faculty development in the areas of teaching, learning, research, and creative activities.
  • Conducting research, developing, adapting, revising, coordinating, and presenting comprehensive lesson plans covering diverse subject area tasks, and evaluating instructional impact.
  • Presenting comprehensive lesson plans covering diverse subject area tasks and evaluating instructional impact.
OR

Education: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree (such as LL.M.) in a related field

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the second year (total graduate semester hours minus 36) by 18. Add the two percentages.

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

B. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service:
  • Designing, developing, and delivering entry and intermediate-level training in visual information and public affairs.
  • Designing and selecting instructional materials, references, and tests for assigned courses.
  • Researching, developing, adapting, revising, coordinating, and presenting comprehensive lesson plans and associated course material that cover various subject area tasks.

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 1712 series.

This position has an individual occupational requirement (IOR) which must be met in order to qualify for this position.

Please see OPM Link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1700/training-instruction-series-1712/

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.
If you are using your education to meet the IOR: You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.

NOTE: All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for GS-12 grade level.

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY FOR GS-11? You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

NOTE: 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

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A
Special Hiring Authority for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information.

For more information, please visit

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Other Notes:

Re-employed Annuitant: This position Does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

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.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Education and Training
  • Instructional Design
  • Learning and Program Evaluation


Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the "Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP)" eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant. Information and required documentation for claiming MSP may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below. To be eligible as a RGP, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application package: a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 (whs.mil)); a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.

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