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Training Specialist

Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary of the Interior
Office of Aviation Services, Aviation Safety and Evaluation Division
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Department of the Interior is devoted to protecting and preserving the natural resources of this great nation, including National Parks, Landmarks, and the well-being of communities, including those of Native American, Alaska Natives and affiliated Islanders.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
09/12/2025 to 09/26/2025
Salary
$82,812 to - $141,996 per year
Pay scale & grade
GW 11 - 12
Locations
1 vacancy in the following locations:
Anchorage, AK
Fairbanks, AK
Boise, ID
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
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
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
OS-6054-25-AI-106(MP)
Control number
845828800

Duties

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This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Office of Aviation Services, Aviation Safety and Evaluation Division in either Boise, Idaho, Anchorage, Alaska, or Fairbanks, Alaska.

If applying to a specific duty station, you may be allowed to telework a set number of day(s) per pay period, with supervisory approval.

At the full performance level GW-12the major duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Provides direct support to bureau aviation accident prevention program efforts by delivering or coordinating aviation training to designated audiences.
  2. Identifies qualified Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) or other instructors to deliver training, and ensure requests include proper vetting through respective bureau or agency management.
  3. Coordinates Interagency Aviation Trainer (IAT) trainer qualification requests, participates in their development, and renders recommendation to either qualify, certify, or disqualify regarding their ability to instruct specific courses related to aviation operations involving safety, techniques, and procedures.
  4. Serves as a technical expert on DOI, interagency, and fire and aviation safety committees.
  5. Provides recommendations, advice, and counsel for incorporation into national interagency policy, standards, and operating procedures related to aviation use in natural resource missions, wildland fire suppression, and prescribed burning.
  6. Develops and manages the DOI Aviation Safety Training within assigned areas of responsibility to include coordinating SMEs, in order to assist in the development, improvement, or update of training content.
  7. Coordinates interagency aviation training and National Wildland Fire Coordination group presentations.
  8. Assists the Chief, Training Branch in the identification of agency IAT program needs, recommends improvements, and acts as a conduit between end-users of IAT products and services.
This position is included in a bargaining unit. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), Local 2052, is the exclusive representative of all employees in this bargaining unit.

Salary Range Information (Wildland Firefighter Pay Plan-GW):
Boise, Idaho Salary Range Information:
GW-11: $82,812 - $107,650 per year
GW-12: $96,598 - $125,582 per year

Anchorage, Alaska Salary Range Information:
GW-11: $93,635 - $121,720 per year
GW-12: $109,223 - $141,996 per year

Fairbanks, Alaska Salary Range Information:
GW-11: $93,635 - $121,720 per year
GW-12: $109,223 - $141,996 per year

Duty Station: Fairbanks, Alaska: If selected for the Fairbanks duty station, the selectee will be required to report in person to a Department of the Interior office or other federal facility within the local commuting area on their first day of work. Please note that this is not a remote position. The salary will be adjusted based on the selectee's duty location.

Note: In addition to the listed special base rate salary, this position is also eligible for Incident Response Premium when incumbent is deployed to a qualifying incident, which may significantly increase overall compensation.

First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the lower salary range of the grade level.

This vacancy may be used to fill additional positions as vacancies become available.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  1. You must be a U.S. Citizen.
  2. You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation/determination.
  3. You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.
  4. You must submit ALL required documents and a completed questionnaire.
  5. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service system, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See http://www.sss.gov/.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
(1). Basic Occupational Requirement for Training Specialist (1712):
A. Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- education or a subject area related to the position to be filled.
-OR-
B. Experience: Specialized Experience: 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 Basic Requirements for this position, applicants must meet the Specialized Experience described below.

(2). Specialized Experience:
To qualify for the GW-11, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-09 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

  1. Experience conducting training sessions using established curriculum.
  2. Experience developing training materials.
  3. Experience utilizing web-based tools and equipment to present training materials.
  4. Experience collaborating in a team environment.

To qualify for the GW-12, you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GW-11 level in the Federal service, or comparable experience not gained through Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is defined as demonstrated experience:

  1. Experience conducting training sessions using established curriculum.
  2. Experience developing training materials, curriculum, aids, devices and course evaluations.
  3. Experience collaborating in a team environment to create training objectives and supporting materials to be presented.
  4. Experience utilizing web-based tools and equipment to develop and present training materials.
Note: You must meet ALL Specialized Experience requirements for each grade level.

Firefighter Special Retirement: This is a SECONDARY/Administrative fire position under the special retirement provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) (FERS). While secondary positions are not subject to the maximum entry age (MEA) policy, the selectee must have prior service in a primary position and meet the transfer requirement for movement from a primary to secondary position to be eligible for special retirement coverage. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure this office has enough information to determine your retirement status to ensure you do not lose benefits (normally through submission of your SF-50). YOU MUST LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN A PRIMARY POSITION.

Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualification Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions and is available at OPM's website: https://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/num-ndx.asp

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Merit Promotion candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

Education

Education: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide transcripts as proof of meeting the requirements.

Foreign Education: Education completed in colleges or universities outside the United States may be used to meet the specific educational requirements as stated above. You must provide acceptable documentation that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4

Additional information

Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position.

Identification of promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. Promotion will depend upon administrative approval and the continuing need for and performance of higher-level duties.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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.

The application contains information subject to the Privacy Act (P.L. 93-579, 5 USC 552a). The information is used to determine qualifications for employment, and is authorized under Title 5, USC, Section 3302 and 3361.

NOTICE: This employer participates in E-Verify and will utilize your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Driver's License: You must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license while employed in this position.

Drug Test: This is a Drug Testing Designated Position. You will be required to submit to screening for illegal drug use and pass prior to appointment. This position is subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The preliminary background check consists of a search of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense background investigation files and an FBI National Criminal History Fingerprint Check; it may take up to 3 weeks to complete. If selected for this position, you will be extended a tentative offer of employment pending a satisfactory background check. Current Federal employees or individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check; these will be handled on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the Bureau security office.

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.

Please limit your resume to no more than 2 pages. If more than 2 pages are submitted, only the first 2 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.

Once the application process is complete, we will review your application to ensure you meet the job requirements. To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation and responses to the online questionnaire will be made. Your responses to the online assessment will be used to measure the degree to which your background matches the requirements for this position. However, your resume must support your responses to the scored occupational questionnaire, or your score may be lowered. The best qualified candidates will be identified for referral to the hiring manager and may be invited for an interview.

Your answers to the on-line assessment will be used to evaluate your competencies in the following areas:

  1. Project Management - Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.
  2. Interpersonal Skills - Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others; adjusts approaches to suit different people and situations.
  3. Education and Training - Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
Due Weight Consideration is a review process used to provide consideration to performance appraisals and awards submitted with each application on a used merit promotion certificate and factoring the results into the merit promotion selection process.

Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. It is your responsibility to obtain and upload your performance appraisal/evaluation and/or list of awards prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement.

To preview the assessment questionnaire, click: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12795386

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