Duties

Summary

The mission of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation is to ensure protection of the public, property, and the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States during commercial launch or reentry activities, and to encourage, facilitate, and promote U.S. commercial space transportation.

Learn more about this agency

Responsibilities

Incumbent supports the instructional and technical training for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation. Performs multiple, varying, and complex assignments under the minimal direction of a manager, project/program manager, team leader, or more experienced professional. Applies experience and comprehensive knowledge of instructional system design principles, practices, techniques and tools to provide assistance overseeing the instructional design standards and structure across the technical training curriculum for AST.

As a contributing specialist, the incumbent uses experience leading/conducting technical training courses for a highly complex technical workforce. Analyzes technical occupations or performs job task analysis to support the development of instructional methods, techniques and competencies for the AST workforce. Develops and recommends improvements to systems and/or processes and maintains technical training material to improve instructional effectiveness.

Applies new Instructional System Design Methods and technologies - such as experiential learning (gaming/simulation); blended learning (e.g. Blackboard) assisting to develop and/or maintain training material and curricula and to analyze and study technical training programs. Applies learning content management system software technology, to revise existing instructional courses, and assists with developing new training courses.

Conducts studies and recommends program improvements that impact a wide range of training activities. Assists with developing innovative and effective methods to improve training programs and ensures consistent high quality technical training to the AST technical workforce. Assists in developing technical training material and curriculum to prepare reports and recommendations on the use of new and/or improved teaching techniques. Analyzes and validates instructional content as required.

Researches and analyzes new technologies to provide assistance in evaluating their impact on AST's short and long term training development. Assists with incorporating existing and new emerging learning technologies to deliver training strategies. Ensures all training programs leverage appropriate adult learning principles. Leads small project/program teams and applies project management principles to monitor and assist with overseeing the work of contract instructional designers tasked with developing both AST training materials and resources. Assists with managing the overall training project list for training being developed by both contract and internal sources.

The incumbent may be the AST internal and external representative for labor organizations and the private commercial space industry. Acts as a point of contact to provide advice and guidance on instructional design standard development. Consults with subject matter experts to assist in designing and developing training materials. May be called upon to communicate FAA positions on policies and procedures internally and externally and represents AST on training committees and in meetings to discuss technical training for the operational workforce. Develops briefings that explain new initiatives.

Independently plans time. Identifies, plans, and organizes available resources to accomplish projects/programs/activities. Makes optimal use of resources to complete activities within established schedules. Established policies/procedures provide guidance for most assignments, but allow considerable discretion for employee to select the most appropriate approach(es) or develop new approaches. Assignments regularly require interpretations of internal and external policies and extrapolations from precedents.

The incumbent reports directly to the Team Manager. Resolves most problems and work issues without the assistance, Develops and recommends approaches to address current and anticipated problems and issues.Works with management and/or more experienced professionals to solve problems.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - The job may require travel from time- to-time, but not on a regular basis. The travel may be for training or other work-related duties.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
NA

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents)
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
• This Level 2 (Non-Critical Sensitive; Secret) position requires favorable adjudication of an Access National Agency Check and Inquiries (ANACI) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained.

Qualifications

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. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) Computers in education and training: Study of the application of computers in education and training, including selecting appropriate computer software.

IN ADDITION TO MEET THE ABOVE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, YOU MUST ALSO MEET THE SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE LISTED BELOW.

Candidates must have one year (52 weeks) of SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE equivalent to at least the next lower grade level that is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

To qualify for the I band, you must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the (FV-H or FG/GS-12). SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS:

• Experience analyzing technical occupations or performing job task analysis to support the development of instructional content for a technical workforce; OR
• Experience developing and delivering web-based training and learning programs incorporating multimedia techniques and products. OR
• Experience applying learning content management system software technology, to revise existing instructional courses, and assist with developing new training courses .

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; or (3) alphabetical, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

If you are a current or former Federal employee, and you currently hold or previously held a position classified in the 1750 occupational series, you are not required to submit a college transcript provided you upload a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, verifying your classification in the 1750 occupational series.

Applicants, who are not currently in the 1750 occupational series in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 1750 occupational series, you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

**Education cannot be substituted for experience.**

Preview Job Questionnaire
Make sure your resume includes detailed information to support your qualifications and answers to the job questionnaire.

Additional information

We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions.
Position may be subject to a background investigation.
A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies.

This position is covered by the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a "testing designated position (TDP)" will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing.

NOTES:

1) As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA.

In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA section, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a human resource specialist as appropriate.

2) This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: http://iobs.faa.gov/FAACoreCompensation.htm .

3) AFSCME Interview Criteria: Article 42, Section 13 states: If the selecting official decides to interview any employee on the selection list for a vacancy, then all who remain under consideration for the position at that point in the process must be interviewed. If the selection list is shortened to a best qualified list through a comparative process, then the best qualified list shall be considered to be the selection list. If it is determined that interviews are required and telephone interviews are not utilized, travel expenses incidental to these interviews will be paid in accordance with the Agency's travel regulations and this Agreement.

4) This announcement is also being advertised under VA #AWA-AST-20-0001MA-70613. Please review both vacancy announcements before making application to determine your eligibility to apply.

5) Due to the Pandemic, and individual states with different phases of reopening, the selectee's report date to the official duty station/facility may be delayed until such time as employee is allowed to report to the workplace. The person selected may telework up to the maximum extent possible, up to and including full time, until it is safe to relocate.

This is a bargaining unit position.

Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Secret

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

Only supplemental documentation (e.g. transcript, certifications, SF-50, and/or veterans' documentation) will be accepted in combination with your on-line application. These documents must be uploaded on or before the closing date of the announcement. All submitted documents must reference the announcement number.
For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf.
Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, illegible or missing documents.
Please DO NOT email your application documents. We cannot accept documents received via the email system. Documents sent via email will NOT receive consideration.

Applicants claiming eligibility for the Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO), MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.
This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 1750 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the, 1750 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 1750 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

If you are a current or former Federal employee (including a current FAA employee), you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are a current Federal employee and need a current copy of your SF-50, please contact your personnel office. If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/ . If you are a former Federal employee, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by writing the National Personnel Records Center Annex, 1411 Boulder Boulevard, Valmeyer, IL 62295. Additional information is available from this link: http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/civilian-personnel/ .

Expanded Veterans Hiring Opportunity (EVHO) are thoseveterans who are honorably discharged from the Armed Forces after completing at least three (3) years of continuous active service.Applicants claiming eligibility for EVHO, MUST submit a DD Form 214 reflecting character of service to verify eligibility by the closing date of the announcement as requested by the Human Resource Office. Eligibility for EVHO will be considered based on applicable documentation submitted by the closing date.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.