Program Specialist (Training Manager)

Serve as the DROC Training Manager. Develop and maintain a training infrastructure enhancing initiatives, communication, reducing duplication, and enhancing economy of scale, and serving as contact for nationwide initiatives. This announcement is being limited to the first 25 applications received. The announcement will close either on the published closing date at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time(EST) or on the day when the number of applications reaches 25 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Specific duties include: Administers Decision Review Operations Center training programs that are consistent with the vision of a well-trained and informed workforce in the claims processing area. Advises Decision Review Operations Center management on all aspects of technical training policy, determines training needs based upon quality reviews, and research training packages. Plans, develops, implements, coordinates and manages functions such as systematic studies for assessments of immediate and long-range training needs for the organization to ensure effective operation. Through data mining, identifies trends related to deferrals or other program errors and trains to trends to correct program deficiencies. Develops tracking systems for conducting internal quality reviews. Uses surveys, focus groups and similar tools to obtain feedback from employees, managers and supervisors, on training effectiveness. Evaluates training programs and uses the findings in planning, developing and installing new or modified programs. Ascertains the need for and generates surveys and studies of all faces of training program needs and review of data. Provide training, as needed, to outside entities involved in VBA processing. Administers training modules, proctors and scores testing, and reports testing results for RVSRs, VSRs, and other positions with the Decision Review Operations Center. Reviews and assesses training needs of all Decision Review Operations Center staff, assessing both individual needs and needs related to all DROC functions. Coordinates formalized training on trends noted on quality reviews by using STAR review results, regulations, directives and other relevant material to train all VSC staff in relevant phases of division work. Responsible for coordination and tracking of all training required by OFO, C&P service, or other centralized VA authority. Confers and interacts with instructors, subject matter experts, and others to perform analyses for the identification of specific training/learning objectives and to coordinate and/or recommend revision to training programs. Identifies the duties, tasks and elements necessary to various tasks with the DROC and selects from these duties the tasks requiring training; develops training modules, measures of job performance and methods/levels of proficiency certification; analyzes existing courses and chooses instruction settings. Conduct, or coordinate the conduct, of ongoing training for all DROC personnel, as well as specialized training as needed. Determines the requirements for specific courses and their priority in view of time and resources available, projected schedules and relationship to the objectives of the total training program. In measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the instructional plan, the incumbent evaluates all aspects of the training plan including administrative policies, procedures, curriculum, instructional methods and techniques, qualifications of subject matter experts, etc. Develops and applies innovative instructional strategies or improvements to highly complex training problems. Involved in preparing written instructions or policy whenever any VBA entity issues instructions or procedures which require further interpretation to facilitate local implementation. Responsible for all reporting requirements established in regard to the training program. Provide training determined to be appropriate in support of any certification course and/or testing that may be developed by VBA for VSRs or support staff. These reviews will include recurring quality reviews on all aspects of DROC activities, as mandate in manuals or CO directives. Maintains appropriate records and documentation for all quality review actions. Provides information for reports and have readily available as needed by management. Uses information gathered during reviews to formulate training plans. Keeps management advised of problems or trends that warrant special attention. Conducts Statistical Analysis of Operations (SAOs) as required. Assists with claims processing, taking appropriate action to secure additional evidence or processing of award or denial action. Develops written responses to inquiries, including congressional inquiries, related to concerns of our customers. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday • Friday 7:30 am • 4:00pm Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Specialist (Training Manager); PD030100 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Bargaining Unit: No To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 10/05/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level. 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-12 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Experience analyzing and evaluating reports; Administering a training program; Development or review of training/course materials, aids, devices, etc., and evaluation of training results; Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others; and effective communication skills across various audiences. Volunteer Experience: 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; religions; 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. Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances he public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary or trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. There is no educational substitution at this grade level.