INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST
What you'd do
Protect your homeland and defend your culture. Join USCIS, America's frontline defense against illegal foreign infiltration and fraud. As an INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST, you will you will design, develop, implement, and evaluate specialized training programs for the FDNS Training Academy, ensuring educational effectiveness and compliance with federal standards to support the agency's mission..
Major duties
This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, within FDNS HQ Training Academy and are assigned based on the need of the agency. The responsibilities described are for the full performance level. At developmental grade levels, assignments will be of more limited scope performed with less independence, and limited complexity. Design, develop, pilot, and evaluate instructional materials, courses, and training resources including e-learning, and learning management systems. Review and ensure training products comply with federal statutes, regulations, and agency policies. Provide quality control and assurance of education and training processes and products, including the development and use of evaluation tools. Research, evaluate, and integrate new learning technologies and tools to enhance training programs. Support and manage the agency’s digital resources. Maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Provide guidance, training, and technical assistance to subject matter experts and other staff on instructional design, training development, and implementation.
What you need to qualify
The qualifications for this position must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 08/24/2026. Current Federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the lower grade or equivalent grade band in the Federal service. The Time-in-Grade requirement must be met by 11:59 PM (Eastern Time) on 08/24/2026. GS-12: You qualify at the GS-12 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the majority of the following duties: Knowledge of instructional systems design concepts, principles, and practices to plan, administer, or evaluate training programs. Experience developing various training materials and using different instructional methods, such as eLearning and simulations, to develop or modify instructional strategies. Ability to use research methods such as job and cognitive task analysis, interviews, and surveys for training development and evaluation. Proficient oral and written communication skills to prepare instructional materials and interact with stakeholders. GS-13: You qualify at the GS-13 level if you possess one (1) year of specialized experience, which is equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the federal government, that equipped you with the skills needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. You must have experience performing the majority of the following duties: Mastery of Instructional Systems Design (ISD) concepts and practices, including advanced needs analysis, curriculum development, and evaluation of complex training programs. Demonstrated ability to lead major training projects, provide guidance to junior staff, and manage resources effectively. Experience developing and implementing new training programs, policies, and standards with broad organizational impact. Please read the following important information to ensure you submit everything we need to consider your application: It is your responsibility to ensure that you submit your responses and appropriate documentation prior to 08/24/2026. You must upload your resume under the "Resume" category. Resumes submitted under the "Other Documents" category will not be considered. Your most recently submitted resume will be used to determine your qualifications for the position advertised in this announcement. Therefore, your resume must highlight your most relevant, significant experience related to the requirements found in the qualification section of this announcement, as well as any applicable education. Limit your resume to no more than two pages. The USAJOBS database will not allow an applicant to submit an application that includes a resume over two pages. To help ensure your resume remains clear and easy to read, we recommend using margins of at least 0.8 inches and a font size of at least 11 point.Be clear and specific when describing your work history since Human Resources cannot make assumptions regarding your experience. Your application will be rated and ranked based on your responses to the online questions. Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information: Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job) Duties (be specific in describing your duties) Employer's name and address Supervisor name and phone number Start and end dates including month, day and year (e.g. June 18 2007 to April 05 2008) Start and end dates for each grade/pay level if you've held a federal position. Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) Salary Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide the above information may result in a finding of ineligible. Note: Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Federal Experience: If you are using current or prior federal experience as a basis for qualifying for this position, the grade levels and length of employment (mm/dd/year) at each grade level must be listed in your work history. This information will be further validated if selected for this position. National Service Experience (i.e., 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; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build criteria 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 service.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
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