Instructional Systems Specialist

Full Job Description

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S.

Customs and Border Protection, Office of Training & Development (OTD), in one of the following locations; Artesia, New Mexico Glynco, Georgia Harpers Ferry, West Virginia Additional selections may be made beyond the total number of vacancies specified using this vacancy announcement.

Basic Requirements: 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.

You qualify for this position if you meet the basic requirement listed above and possess the experience or substitution of education, if applicable, as described below: Experience: You qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service, performing duties such as: Assisting in the analysis of training needs, job tasks, or performance requirements to support the development or revision of training courses.

Assisting in the design or development of portions of instructor-led or technology-enabled training (e.g., lesson plans, student materials, or assessments) using established templates, guidelines, or precedents.

Supporting the evaluation of training courses by collecting feedback or performance data and recommending minor changes to content or delivery.

Drafting or editing training-related materials, correspondence, reports, or presentations for review by more senior staff.

Experience: You qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service, performing duties such as: Conducting performance, job, task, or audience analyses to determine training requirements and inform course or curriculum design.

Designing and developing instructor-led and/or technology-enabled training, including writing learning objectives, selecting instructional strategies, and creating or revising course materials and assessments.

Evaluating training programs or courses, identifying issues affecting effectiveness or efficiency, and recommending or implementing improvements to content, delivery methods, or evaluation processes.

Providing advice or recommendations to management, instructors, or program offices on instructional design, training methods, or training program improvements.

NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible.

Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements.

Education Substitution GS-09: You qualify for the GS-09 grade level of this position if you have successfully completed 2 years of progressively higher- level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Such education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education.

If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

Education Substitution GS-11: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level of this position if you have successfully completed 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D.

degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

Check with your school to determine how many credit hours comprise a year of graduate education. If that information is not available, use 18 semester or 27 quarter hours.

Combining Education and Experience: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience.

To combine your education and experience, convert each to a percentage and then add the percentages.

If your education is currently described in quarter hours, multiply by the fraction 2/3 to convert into semester hours then divide the semester hours by 18.

To determine your percentage of qualifying experience, divide your total months of experience by the required number of months of experience. Add your percentages together.

The total must equal at least 100% in order to qualify.

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.

You must meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process by 04/22/2026.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

Background Investigation: U.S.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity.

During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances.

For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Major Duties:

Joining the Customs and Border Protection's Office of Training and Development will allow you to use your knowledge to ensure that the training provided in CBP meets all technical requirements of all specialty areas.

This position starts at a salary of $61,722.00 (GS-09, Step 1) to $97,087.00 (GS-11, Step 10) with promotion potential to $97,087.00 (GS-11 Step 10).

GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table.

Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Typical work assignments include: Conducting performance, job, task, audience, and cost-benefit analyses to determine training requirements and inform the design, development, or revision of CBP training courses and curricula.

Designing and documenting instructional strategies, course structures, learning objectives, and assessment approaches that reflect current CBP directives, doctrine, conditions, and procedures.

Developing and revising course materials and related products (e.g., instructor guides, participant guides, student materials, scenarios, job aids, and evaluations) using a range of instructional methods such as lecture, large-group interventions, technology-enabled learning, group projects, coaching, and performance evaluations.

Evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of training programs using qualitative and quantitative methods; identify issues or problem areas; and recommend or implement improvements to course content, instructional methodology, and delivery.

Coordinating and collaborating with managers, instructors, and subject-matter experts; provide advice and technical guidance on instructional systems design issues, training methodologies, and process improvements.