Social Science Program Specialist (Trainer)

Overview

The employee will serve as the Social Science Program Specialist (Trainer), located in the Quality, Training, and Risk Management Depart, Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), Veterans Affair (VA). The VCL is a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year service aimed at connecting callers worldwide to a caring, qualified Veterans Administration employee. The VCL's mission is to provide 24/7, world-class suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to Veterans, Service Members and their family members.

Major Duties

Providing different types of training for various positions within the VCL program including Responders and Social Service Assistants (SSA). Trainings will include a range of content and skill areas including call center industry standards, crisis intervention and suicide prevention skills, and informational technology skills (e.g., search locator software, the VCL customer relationship management (CRM) system, text and chat software, etc.). Facilitating new employee training, which typically lasts several weeks in a classroom setting, and one to several weeks as a preceptor shadowing to evaluate the application of learning and demonstration of the proper response and dues of resources. The incumbent will also be responsible for administrating all pre- and post-test evaluation of staff learning. Providing ongoing feedback to trainees to communicate areas that need improvement as well as areas of strength; this feedback must be provided to employees in a manner that can be easily understood and acted upon. Ongoing (e.g., monthly, quarterly) in-service professional development trainings and staff adherence to required annual refresher trainings. Development of the training curriculum, including the use of instructional tools ranging from PowerPoint presentations, face-to-face trainings, and e-learning technology designed to keep the Responders' skill proficiencies up to date and compliant with program policy, which ensures the consistency of performance. Role playing scenarios, teaching courses, and coordinating activities related to the program of instruction offered. Developing and updating course content and tests for training in a wide variety of VCL programs to a wide variety of learners. Producing supplemental training materials to enhance learning (e.g., aids, handouts) and ensuring the most up-to-date materials are available via the SharePoint or knowledge base system. Creating and maintaining the training plan for Responders, Social Service Assistants, and HSS Supervisors which is in alignment with and compliant with VCL procedure, VA policy, and other external regulatory agencies. Independently evaluating the quality of training curriculum and developing recommendations for course revisions and program changes. Providing recommendations for evaluating the training program through revision of measurement tools (i.e. surveys, tests) to track staff training adherence, measure staff knowledge acquisition, and seek satisfaction feedback to improve the clarity, adequacy, and the effectiveness of the training program. Evaluating the new employee's adherence to all training standards upon completion of training and providing feedback to VCL leadership about the trainee's readiness to commence job duties. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Tour of duty is typically administrative hours. Flexible scheduling may be available after training. VCL has multiple tours which cover 24/7/365 operations (including holidays). Tour is subject to change based on program needs. Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not available Telework: Not applicable, this is a 100% remote position. Position Description/PD#: Social Science Program Specialist (Trainer)/PD08423A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not required Financial Disclosure Report: Not required This is bargaining unit position

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/03/2026. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The IOR is a basic requirement that must be met by every applicant in order to qualify for entry into this occupational series and is something that cannot be waived. To qualify for this occupational series, you must possess one of the following: Successful completion of a four year degree from an accredited college or university. The degree must be in a behavioral or social science, or related disciplines appropriate to the position. OR Combination of education and experience that provide applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. OR Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrate the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field. Selective Placement Factor (SPF): The SPF is a prerequisite for appointment and must be met by every applicant in order to receive further consideration for this position. Evidence of the Selective Placement Factor must be reflected on your resume with complete information where the experience was obtained (employer name, job titles, dates, salary grades). The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: experience leading, training, or instructing personnel on crisis intervention response methods. In addition to the IOR and SPF requirements, applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-09) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. In order to meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet 3/4 of the following examples of specialized experience: Experience in crisis intervention/mental health with an emphasis on suicidality or training/leading others in that area; Expertise in identifying thought patterns and risk factors associated with major mental illnesses; Consultation process and its place in crisis management to provide state-of-the-art care for complex issues; Utilizing software to create training materials and conducting training. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M. if related, in a field that is directly related to the work of this position that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond the first 2 years) in a field that is directly related to the work of this position that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work equivalent to the total requirement of this position (e.g., 6 months of specialized experience and 1 year of post masters degree graduate education). Eligible and qualified applicants on a certificate provided to the hiring manager will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Education and Training Project Management Planning and Evaluating Communication 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

Transcript Reminder: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must depict the name of the college to determine accreditation, and your name must also be displayed on the transcripts. If qualifying based on a degree, or for positions requiring a degree, the transcript must show the date the degree was conferred. If selected, you must provide official transcripts. Transcripts should state degree conferred and have a date. Copies of official transcripts are accepted and are the best way to ensure your education is interpreted correctly in accordance with OPM qualification standards. Unofficial transcripts are accepted if they contain all the required information. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Physical Requirements: The work may require some physical effort such as standing, walking, and bending.