Training Instructor

Summary

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is seeking a Training Instructor to support the Environmental Management Service (EMS). This role delivers, develops, and evaluates nationwide EMS training programs critical to the organization's mission. The instructor also conducts studies to assess program effectiveness and supports Veterans' health and well-being.

Duties

Develops and updates EMS training materials and curricula, recommending substantive changes and integrating current instructional content Conducts focused training studies and data analyses, offering precedent-based recommendations Participates in task analyses to define training needs, collaborates on healthcare committees, and consults external experts to improve processes Evaluates regulatory standards, revises educational content, and proactively recommends policy updates related to training Mentors staff on professional development and fosters collaborative, respectful communication aligned with VA priorities Designs evaluation methods to assess learning outcomes across diverse training topics, ensuring quality assurance and competency monitoring Serves as technical instructor specializing in sanitation and disinfection within healthcare settings Delivers training across EMS topics using diverse teaching methods tailored to learner needs Provides instruction to EMS staff and collaborates with hospital programs such as Compensated Work Therapy Develops and implements comprehensive curricula focused on environmental management and disease prevention Trains supervisors and frontline staff on environmental management, infection control, medical terminology, and related subjects, maintaining liaison with internal and external educators Participates on sanitation-related committees, communicates relevant training initiatives, and promotes teamwork Implements technology programs for waste management training, staying current on sanitation technology and evaluating new equipment Collaborates with EMS managers to develop automated waste tracking systems integrating competency assessments Identifies core knowledge requirements and incorporates updated regulatory policies from agencies including TJC, USDA, OSHA, NFPA, OIG, EPA, CDC, AORN, WHO, APIC, and HHS into coursework Rotates through Environmental Care Section shifts to support EMS staff training needs and prepare employees for competency advancement Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Training Instructor/PD99770-S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/06/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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. This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR). You must meet the following: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- education or a subject area related to the position to be filled. OR, Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge of the subject area of the position and of the methods and techniques of instruction. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Teaching or instructing in an adult education program, secondary school, college, military installation, or industrial establishment in the appropriate field(s). Supervising or 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 on a regular basis. In addition to meeting the IOR above, you must meet the experience and/or education as described below: GS-9 Grade Level You may qualify based on your 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-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing technical instruction in sanitation, disinfection, infection control, microbiology, environmental management, or related EMS topics; Gathering and organizing data for training evaluations, tracking competency completion, and supporting quality assurance reviews; Applying foundational knowledge of environmental services and infection control to enhance staff training and ensure compliance. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D. OR, Combination: Have a combination of experience and education as described above that equates to one year of experience. My percentage of the required education plus my percentage of the required experience equal one hundred percent. ducation and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond . 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

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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/.