Instructional Systems Specialist and Trainer

Instructional Systems Specialist and Trainer

Department: Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for DC

Location(s): Washington, District of Columbia

Salary Range: $121785 - $158322 Per Year

Job Summary: The Pretrial Services Agency is seeking a highly qualified Instructional Systems Specialist and Trainer to support the development and delivery of mission-critical law enforcement training programs. In this pivotal role, the ideal candidate will apply proven instructional design methods and adult learning principles to produce effective high-quality learning solutions. Join us and help strengthen our workforce capability and contribute directly to organizational readiness and mission success.

Major Duties:

• As an Instructional System Specialist and Trainer, you will: 1. Advise on training requirements, design, develop, and provide training services in a law enforcement technical development program. Determine the learning objectives and task learning relationships, cluster learning events, organize course content, and develop instruction plans. 2. Serve as the Defendant Engagement and System Support's (DESS) expert in instructional systems. Confer with other DESS experts to coordinate instruction system analysis leading to producing training materials, audiovisual materials or test equipment, and mockups for in-person instructor-led and/or web-based training classes, events and activities. Coordinate and integrate the types and capabilities of instructional methods, materials, and media. 3. Compile and analyze course evaluations and updates training content or methodology based on feedback or effectiveness, follow up on course and program graduates, and coordinate with the Quality Management Unit to update to directives that have an impact on the technical training program. 4. Analyze learning problems, select teaching strategies using appropriate models, and develop course plans using this information. Organize the work, consult with subject-matter experts (SME), senior leaders and training professionals to determine the requirements and possible sources of information for specific courses and their relative priority in view of time and resources available, projected schedules, and relationship to the objectives of the total training program. 5. Develop or revise the specific content, organize, style, format, emphasis, and treatment of each segment of the instructional courses, and identify the best delivery methods. Create finished products including lesson plans, training texts, programmed texts, or computer assisted instruction modules. Specify the time and emphasis given to each instructional course or module in terms of training objectives and continuity. 6. Conduct occupational and job task analyses using interviews, surveys, observation, and SME panels to identify performance requirements, determine tasks requiring training versus performance support, develop performance measures, and establish instructional priorities. Identify tasks that can be efficiently and effectively supported by job or skill performance aids. 7. Apply advanced instructional systems design methodologies and technology-based learning strategies to develop performance-aligned solutions. Ensure solutions comply with Learning Management System (LMS) architecture and accessibility standards, including Section 508 requirements. 8. Use LMS analytics and reporting tools to evaluate instructional effectiveness, identify systemic skill gaps, monitor learning trends, and assess the impact of training on workforce readiness and compliance. Interpret data to recommend instructional redesign, changes in delivery strategy, or targeted interventions, rather than performing routine administrative tracking functions. 9. Perform learning analyses, from the initial training levels through the operating levels of tasks or jobs, to identify learning gaps and risks; evaluate emerging instructional technologies; and recommend strategies and tools considering training objectives and tie-in with other instructional materials and courses. Assess implementation results and recommend refinement based on findings. 10. Manage the DESS technical training program as an integrated instructional system, ensuring alignment among occupational requirements, instructional design, delivery strategies, and evaluation mechanisms. Study technical reference materials in the pretrial field, obtain input from accrediting entities, and continually review developments in the fields of education and training. 11. Serve as the Office of Training Development and Assistance Unit (TDAU) point of contact and liaison with PSA's Training Career Development Unit (TCDU) and the Agency's LMS Administrator to access reports, data analytics, create and update DESS technical curriculum, create and update items, and assign or remove staff from curriculum or items. Use LMS data and analytics to evaluate instructional effectiveness, validate learning transfer, identify systemic skill gaps, and recommend curriculum redesign or instructional strategy changes. 12. Apply advanced facilitation techniques to deliver instructor-led, virtual, and web-based training for the purpose of piloting, validating, and refining instructional system designs. Anticipate implementation risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain instructional quality and project milestones.

Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic professional requirements, and specialized experience requirement below. Basic Professional Requirement: A 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 material. 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. 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. For 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 To qualify for the GS-13 grade level, you must one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience related to the duties of the position that equipped you with the skills to perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying instructional design methodologies and adult learning principles to assess training needs and design, develop, implement, and evaluate instructional solutions for adult learners. This includes partnering with subject matter experts, designing instructor-led and online training, developing materials, integrating learning technologies, evaluating effectiveness, and validating instructional design. NOTE: Your resume must clearly show the specialized experience related to this position. Failure to demonstrate how you possess the experience requirements will result in an "Ineligible" rating.

How to Apply: To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date (05/11/2026) to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. If you are unable to apply online, you must request an alternative application which is available from the Human Resources Office. Please contact Tara Stoney at (202) 220-5586 or Tara.Stoney@psa.gov to obtain instructions on how to submit an alternative application. Only resumes up to a total of 2 pages will be accepted. Applicants with resumes exceeding 2 pages will removed from consideration. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-11