Education Technician

Full Job Description

This position is located at the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) in the Education Division, Patient Care Services Strategic Business Unit, in the Veterans Integrated Service Network 20.

The primary responsibility of this position is to provide a wide variety of analytical, program administrative, and policy functions; to include, providing specialized duties for the VHA Resuscitation Education Initiative (REdI) and Simulation programs; as well as, for the entire Education Division.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/31/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.

The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience, GS-6: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing administrative and technical support duties in an office environment; collecting, compiling and tracking data and information; analyzing data and preparing reports; preparing correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication; and maintaining and troubleshooting a wide range of technical equipment.

Specialized Experience, GS-7: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-6) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing administrative and technical support duties in an office environment; collecting, compiling and tracking data and information; analyzing data and preparing reports; preparing correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other forms of written communication; maintaining and troubleshooting a wide range of technical equipment, including simulation and medical devices; and providing technical advice and training to clinical staff.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position AND the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.

The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-7, however a selection can be made at any of the following grade levels: GS-6, GS-7.

At the GS-6 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.

At the GS-09 grade level, you will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-7.

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance.

Major duties include but are not limited to: Oversees all the equipment, providing general maintenance, procuring replacement parts and necessary supplies needed for VAPORHCS Simulation Program.

Programs a variety of content for Basic Life Support/Advanced Cardiac Life Support and simulations based upon learning needs, e.g., develops educational content to train students on the use of new programs and any technology changes/updates.

Determines operational problems so as to find the appropriate solution and may require contacting multiple vendors to make the "scenario" work.

Conducts inventories of equipment and supplies and procures items at prescribed levels to meet facility/training program needs. Compiles data, tracks simulations, use of equipment, and evaluations.

Acts as the facility liaison with Resuscitation Education Initiative (REdI), responsible for managing, coordinating, administering and instructing for a 1A facility; requiring 2500 staff certifications in Basic Life Support and 200 certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Responsible for tracking, analyzing, independently resolving issues, and making recommendations to national for program improvement.

Certified AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor and provides face-to-face instruction of clinical employees that leads to AHA certification.

Serve as the expert for BLS and support for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) for facility and VISN20 staff in achieving and maintaining BLS and ACLS certification.

Provides one-on-one instructional support to employees achieving certification through online didactic and self-paced skills check off using voice assisted mannequins.

Conducts training material inventories to ensure stocks remain at prescribed levels to meet facility/training program needs.

Completes reports, compiles data, tracks ACLS/BLS certification cards and submits annual reports to VHA REdI, accounting for any discrepancies that were identified.

Serves as the TMS administrator and help-desk coordinator for the REdI program, providing user support on problematic issues for users.

Analyzes utilization trend data to identify problem areas, provides objective assessments, prioritizes identified problems, and recommends appropriate suggestions and/or alternatives regarding course procedural modification and programmatic improvements.

Performs front desk management and provides a high level of administrative support services.

Works independently and is responsible for processing a wide variety of administrative actions supporting the mission of the Education Division.

Advises staff of administrative regulations, policies, and procedures.

Provides program and administrative support by preparing spreadsheets, correspondence, inventory reporting, and related documents, completed independently and with a high degree of accuracy.

Processes incoming and outgoing materials such as correspondence, reports, memoranda, newsletter and other forms of written communication.

Schedules Education Division meetings and other meetings at the request of the Director of Education, prepares agenda, completes meeting minutes, coordinates attendees, and sets up the room on the day of the meeting.

Prepares, schedules, and coordinates travel, including flight, hotel, transportation, and conference/training registration for the Education Division.

Acts as primary timekeeper for Education Division, processing all timekeeping for the department.

Provides customer service in the coordination of meetings and/or conferences for a wide variety of staff throughout the medical center by being the point of contact, providing the policy, handling of disputes, answering questions, and providing options.

Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm PST Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Education Technician/PD215660 and PD215690 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met.

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.