Group of individuals being instructed in a pool

Training Specialist

GS-1712

Position Overview

Training Instructors apply principles and techniques of education and training to facilitate, develop, and support engaging and interactive training programs or courses for a wide variety of audiences.  

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
National Park Service
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Survey

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate possesses a practical knowledge of the relevant subject matter area being taught as well as a practical knowledge of the methods and techniques of instruction. 

Work Environment

Work is performed indoors in a classroom or laboratory setting. 

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the Individual Occupation Requirements and the Professional and Scientific Positions Group Qualification Standard on the OPM websites.

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by Level

  • Entry:

    • Serves as assistant instructor under the guidance of a senior instructor
    • Conducts training sessions that cover well-established, factual topics under detailed guidelines. 

  • Mid:

    • Presents short, repetitive courses or course units that are highly structured.
    • Serves as a point-of-contact on training courses.
    • Assists higher graded specialists with the development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc.
    • Locates and schedules appropriate classroom space and equipment.
    • Teaches or instructs in an adult education program, secondary school, college, military installation, or industrial establishment in the appropriate field.

  • Journey:

    • Develops complete, full-length courses; reviews and evaluates audiovisual aids of substantial scope, that are often in untried form, and assesses the adequacy of the product, need for revision and develops recommendations for improvement.
    • Reviews and evaluates audiovisual aids that most effectively and efficiently enhance training; develops or revises objective tests; evaluates training results.
    • Develops portions of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc.

  • Senior:

    • Plans and constructs validity and reliability studies to analyze test items prepared by instructors and develops recommendations for revising test items to improve clarity, adequacy, and increase reliability.
    • Instructs courses that cover advanced technical systems or subject-matter areas comparable to the upper-division undergraduate level.

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Strengths by Level

Entry 5
Mid 7
Journey 9-11
Senior 12-15
  • Attention to Detail
    Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Attention to Detail - 2
    Considers all aspects involved in accomplishing a task, no matter how minute. Precisely follows procedures to ensure each element of a task is accurately completed.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Computer Skills
    Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Continual Learning
    Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Creative Thinking
    Uses imagination to develop new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to problems; designs new methods where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or are unavailable.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Customer Service
    Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Decision Making
    Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Developing Others
    Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of teaching, training, research, making presentations, lecturing, testing, and other instructional methods.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Facilitation
    Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and techniques of facilitation used to lead meetings, workshops, and other collaborative exercises; able to lead diverse groups to find consensus in shared interests and objectives.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Influencing/Negotiating
    Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Information Management
    Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Learning
    Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills; uses training, feedback, or other opportunities for self-learning and development.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Listening
    Receives, attends to, interprets, and responds to verbal messages and other cues such as body language in ways that are appropriate to listeners and situations.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Mathematical Reasoning
    Solves practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical and statistical techniques.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Multimedia Technologies
    Knowledge of the principles, methods, tools, and techniques to develop or apply technology using text, audio, graphics, or other media.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Oral Communication
    Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Organization
    Systematically employs a standard system of organization in work processes and related resources and an overall concern for integrating all aspects of the task, situation, and/or work-related problem as a means of achieving optimal efficiency and effectiveness in performing job-related duties/responsibilities.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Planning and Evaluating
    Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Reading
    Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Reasoning
    Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Schedule Management
    Knowledge of the strategies, techniques, and processes used to plan, develop, and control project schedule and track project milestones, activities, and deliverables, including timeframes and assigned resources.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Self-Management
    Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Strategic Thinking
    Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Teaching Others
    Helps others learn through formal or informal methods; identifies training needs; provides constructive feedback; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor.
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    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15
  • Written Communication
    Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
    Show Tool Tip
    Entry 5
    Mid 7
    Journey 9-11
    Senior 12-15

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