Instructional Sytems Specialist
Department of Homeland Security
Summary
This vacancy is for a GS – 1750 – 9/11, Instructional Sytems Specialist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, FORCECOM ENTERPRISE PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS BRANCH in NORFOLK, Virginia. This position is currently located and being filled in Norfolk, VA. By 2028, the position will move to Birmingham, AL.
Duties
- You will serve as an Instructional Sytems Specialist and be responsible for being a consultant in the areas of human performance technology (HPT), instructional systems design (ISD), evaluation, and professional development, and supports FORCECOM training manager, HQ Program Offices, and FORCECOM subunits as needed.
- Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team.
- Typical work assignments include: Analyzing, designing, developing and/or revising a variety of performance support systems, resident and exportable instruction, SOJT, ADL, blended learning solutions, and electronic performance support solutions for customers (as well as courses on the CG Conducting evaluation of resident, ADL, and blended learning curricula and products and provides performance support following the guidance in the CG Training System SOP.
- Implements, tracks, and measures internal and external evaluation results.
- Utilizing HPT to determine and recommend the appropriate analysis to align performance problems with the analysis approach (e.g., front-end, job-task, training requirements, or occupational).
- Synchronizes the analysis process requests with the appropriate training management and personnel.
- Providing performance support and instructional systems development guidance for instructional programs and materials and HPT processes.
- Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
- Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments.
- Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
- If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
- You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
- To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
Requirements
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume: Social Security Number (SSN) Date of Birth (DOB) Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position) Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc. Key Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov A one-year probationary period may be required. To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation.
This position requires a Public Trust clearance. This is not a Bargaining Unit position. Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by the closing date of the vacancy. All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.
The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Education
This position does have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.
Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected & prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. (see FOREIGN EDUCATION below).
College Transcript: 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 all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Transcripts should be legible and detailed, showing course number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. 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. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States.
To receive this credit, you must submit evidence of equivalency as provided by a credentialling evaluation service. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
We will review your resume & supporting documentation to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. If you meet the minimum qualifications, your experience, education & training, along with any applicable assessments, will be rated to place you in one of three categories. The necessary Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities to perform this job are: Attention to Detail Customer Service Flexibility Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Teamwork To preview the announcement questionnaire, click here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12985771 Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
If you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be placed in one of the following categories: Best-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrate high proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all Selective Placement Factors (SPF) & appropriate Quality Ranking Factors (QRF) as determined by the job analysis. Well-Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position and demonstrates acceptable proficiency in all of the critical competencies, including all SPFs & appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis. Qualified: Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position & demonstrate basic proficiency in most of the critical competencies, including all SPFs & appropriate QRFs as determined by the job analysis. If you are best qualified, you may be referred to the hiring manager for consideration & may be called for an interview.
Veterans: Qualified veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10% are listed in the best-qualified category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level, or higher. (This position is considered scientific/professional.). Other 10-point preference eligibles & veterans with 5-point preference who meet the eligibility & qualification requirements are placed above non-preference eligibles within the category in which they qualify. View information on veterans’ preference. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) documentation.
CTAP & ICTAP Eligibles: CTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position. If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service & your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. Individuals must be well-qualified. Information about CTAP & ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management’s Career Transition Resources website.
Benefits
DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select “Benefits.” Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
Required Documents
- Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
- The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages.
- You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable.
- Resume showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education, and training.
- Include start and end dates (mm/yy to mm/yy) and number of hours per week worked/volunteered.
- For additional information on your resume, see How to Apply.
- Your responses to any applicable assessments.
- Are you qualifying based on education?
- Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution.
- Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript.
- Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States.
- In order to receive this credit, you must submit evidence of equivalency as provided by a credentialling evaluation service.
- It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application.
- See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications Veteran's preference documentation (Member Copy 4 of DD-214, Revised Oct 2013 SF-15 and VA letter, if applicable.
- NOTE: The revised Oct 2013 SF15 is the latest copy and all others are not usable.
- Please see Feds Hire Vets for detail. a.
- Veterans claiming 5-point veterans' preference must submit legible Member 4 Copy DD214(s) indicating Character of Service. 5-point preference will not be granted if appropriate documentation is not submitted with your application. b. 30% Disabled Veterans must submit their Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service, and VA Disability Letter with percentage of disability OR documentation of disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces which reflects a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. c.
- Other 10-point Preference Eligibles must submit applicable Member Copy 4 DD-214(s), which includes Character of Service, and provide documentation of your other 10-point preference.
- If claiming 10-point preference, you must provide required documentation described on the back of the SF-15 which proves that you are entitled to such preference. 10-point preference will not be granted if appropriate documentation is not submitted with your application. d.
- If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD214 and is claiming eligibility under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating you will be discharged/released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days from the date you submit your certification as part of your application for this announcement.
- See the "How to Apply" section of this announcement for information on specific requirements for VOW certifications.
- Political Appointees: OPM must authorize employment offers for former or current Political Appointees.
- If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information.
- Submit proof of your former or current status, such as your SF-50.
- CTAP & ICTAP applicants MUST submit documentation verifying your eligibility.
- This includes a copy of your agency notice, a copy of your most recent performance rating, most recent SF-50-Notification of Personnel Action noting your current position, grade level and duty location, and documentation from your agency showing your current promotion potential.
- View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website.
- Any other supporting documentation required for verification as described in the announcement.
About this role
The Instructional Sytems Specialist position with the Department of Homeland Security is based in Norfolk, Virginia. This vacancy is for a GS – 1750 – 9/11, Instructional Sytems Specialist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. The role pays $62,640 to $98,530 per year.
Day to day, the work involves being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.
Who should apply
This role calls for United States citizenship and the ability to obtain and hold a security clearance. It is graded at GS-09, which sets both the pay band and the experience reviewers expect you to document. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Instructional Sytems Specialist position with the Department of Homeland Security in Norfolk, Virginia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.
How competitive it is
The posted pay of $62,640 to $98,530 per year places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. The security clearance requirement means a longer hiring timeline, so patience and an early application help. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on June 25, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.
This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.