Instructional Systems Specialist, ZA-1750-4 (MAP)

Overview
Accepting applications

Open & closing dates
Opening and closing dates05/03/2021 to 05/17/2021
Service

Competitive

Pay scale & grade

ZA 4

Salary
$92,143 to $159,286 per year
Appointment type

Permanent

Work schedule

Full-time
Duties SummaryThis position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office for Coastal Management (OCM) with one vacancy in Silver Spring, MD or Charleston, SC.This position is also announced under vacancy number NOS-OCS-2021-0011, which is open to all US Citizens or Nationals. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both.ResponsibilitiesAs an Instructional Systems Specialist, you will perform the following duties:Provide leadership and expertise in learning science and adult learning theory. Stay abreast of the latest applications of learning research, in order to bring innovation and maximize the effectiveness of instructional products and services that support coastal communities' understanding and action to build healthy resilient coasts. Lead a team of instructional designers, and guide instructional design team processes, to ensure innovative, effective, and efficient service is provided to subject matter experts and reserve educators.Set strategic direction for system-wide education programs of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). Provide strategic and operational guidance to the cohort of Education Coordinators at Reserve sites across the nation, for education programs that advance Reserve science and can enhance ecosystem and community resilience.Lead national-level planning and coordinate education efforts across the Reserve System Education sector on priority coastal programs and topics, fostering education programs that align and advance the goals and strategic priorities of the system.Forge partnerships across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and with other organizations, make connections, and initiate strategic collaboration with other agencies and organizations whose educational objectives are aligned and synergistic with the Office of Coastal Management (OCM). Represent the Office for Coastal Management and NERRS Educational program on the NOAA Education Council, guiding development, measurement, and reporting of OCM and NERRS educational performance metrics.Serve as federal project lead to provide project planning, direction and task management for a team providing instructional expertise to design and develop instructional products on a range of coastal management and estuarine topics in a variety of instructional formats supporting continued development of the Digital Coast Academy. Conduct periodic review, evaluation, and analysis of instructional projects and processes; recommend improvements and initiating adjustments; and provide additional project and contract management and advisory services on specific problems, projects, programs, and functions in assigned program area.Travel Required25% or less - Up to 20% of domestic travel may be required for this position.
Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

4
Requirements Conditions of EmploymentMust be a U.S. Citizen or National to apply.Required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.Must be suitable for Federal employment.Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).Time-in-grade/band must be met by closing date of announcement.This position requires a Low Risk Security Clearance. This position will be filled under the DOC Alternative Personnel System (CAPS). This system replaced the Federal GS pay plan and structure. Under CAPS, positions are classified by career, pay plan, and pay band.The ZA-4 is equivalent to the GS-13/14. NOTE: * A one year probationary period may be required.* Payment of relocation expenses is not authorized.* This position is not in the bargaining unitCollege Transcript: If you are qualifying based on education, submit a copy of your college transcript that lists college courses detailing each course by the number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours and grade earned. You must submit evidence that any education completed in a foreign institution is equivalent to U.S. education standards with your resume. You may submit an unofficial copy of the transcript at the initial phase of the application process. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.Note: Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. An official college transcript will be required before you can report to duty.Applicants must meet ALL application requirements, to include a complete online resume, by 11:59 p.m. EASTERN TIME (ET) on the closing date of this announcement. QualificationsQualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: .BASIC REQUIREMENTS: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:To qualify for the 1750 series:EDUCATION: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:Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology: Study of learning theories as they relate to the systematic design, development, and validation of instructional materialInstructional 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.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.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.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.-AND-SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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.To qualify at the ZA-4 or GS-13 level:SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the ZA-3 or GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:Using appropriate learning theory in the instruction of coastal manager, practitioner, or environmental education audiences on topics related to coastal community resilience and/or healthy ecosystems OR leading teams responsible for this work;Tailoring coastal environmental science and resilience concepts and topics for learning groups, applying learning science to the design and development of innovative educational products or services, and evaluating the effectiveness of coastal management or natural resource-based instructional products to meet audience needs; OR leading teams responsible for this work; andMaking significant contributions to partnerships or networks of coastal professionals working collaboratively toward shared goals.EducationSubstitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy.Additional informationWell-qualified for CTAP and ICTAP eligibility includes those candidates who have been determined to exceed minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a rating of 85, but otherwise may or may not be among the highly or best-qualified candidates. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: .CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents:A copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice).A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location;A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; andAny documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: A copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement;A copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc;A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; andAny documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential.NOAA participates in e-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. How You Will Be EvaluatedYou will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.We will review your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. If you meet the minimum qualifications stated in the vacancy announcement, we will compare your resume, optional cover letter and supporting documentation to your responses on the scored occupational questionnaire (True/False, Yes/No, Multiple Choice questions). However, your resume or optional cover letter 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.The scored occupational questionnaire will evaluate you on the following competencies; please do not provide a separate written response:Ability to understand and apply foundational learning theories, principles of adult learning theory, and cognitive science to design, develop, and deliver solutions that maximize outcomes for diverse coastal audiences.Ability to perform and lead the design, development, and evaluation of effective educational training programs and learning products and services.Knowledge of estuarine and coastal resources, coastal management, and ability to translate the science and transfer knowledge to enable coastal audiences to enhance community resilience.Ability to implement systematic methods for gathering, analyzing, and reporting on information about the effectiveness and effort of learning programs.Ability to collaborate effectively and build inclusive processes across diverse groups, agencies, or organizations to build consensus and collective action.Ability to build and maintain diverse, effective partner relationships.Ability to plan, organize, and direct resources to complete specific goals and objectives.Knowledge of the instructional processes, systems, and frameworks that foster and maximize the learning experience and knowledge transfer and effectively align people and tasks to support the organization's strategy.Due weight shall be given to performance appraisals and awards in accordance with 5 CFR 335.103(b)(3), during the interview/selection process conducted by the hiring manager. If referred, all relevant documents including performance appraisals and awards submitted with your application package will be forwarded to the hiring official for review.NOTE: A Subject Matter Expert (SME) will participate in the evaluation process.To preview questions please click here.Background checks and security clearanceSecurity clearance
Other
Drug test required
No
This job is open to
Individuals with disabilities

Federal employees - Competitive service

Current or former competitive service federal employees.

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

Land & base management

Certain current or former term or temporary federal employees of a land or base management agency.

Military spouses

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista

Special authorities

Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed above, but defined in the federal hiring regulations.

Veterans
Clarification from the agency
VEOA, 30% Disabled.
Current or former employees at a land management agency who were initially hired under competitive procedures in a time-limited appointment.
Schedule A.