Training Specialist

Summary The Simulation Operations Specialist (SOS) serves within the Anesthesia Service (112A) Simulation Department at a Complexity Level A-1 VA Medical Center

• the highest designation within VHA, reflecting the facility's broad scope of tertiary and quaternary care, active teaching programs, and multi-specialty clinical services. Duties The SOS serves as the primary simulator operator and educator, independently planning, executing, and evaluating simulation-based learning events of significant complexity and clinical impact. The incumbent designs and facilitates scenarios across the full spectrum of simulation modalities
• from basic task training to advanced, multi-disciplinary procedural simulations
• and leads structured debriefs using evidence-based frameworks (e.g., Debriefing with Good Judgment, PEARLS, (TeamSTEPPS). This includes direct operational support for advanced surgical procedure simulations, including training programs for complex minimally invasive procedures such as Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration (LCBDE). The SOS designs, configures, and operates simulation environments that replicate the surgical field with a level of fidelity sufficient to prepare surgeons to perform these procedures on Veteran patients
• directly contributing to measurable improvements in surgical outcomes, reductions in bed days of care, and decreased post-procedural complications. The SOS supports simulation activities involving AI-integrated surgical robotics, including pre-implementation training and workflow gap analysis for systems such as the Da Vinci Surgical System. This includes designing simulation-based previewing exercises that allow surgical teams to evaluate new robotic equipment, assess operational processes, identify training gaps, and develop clinical proficiency prior to live patient procedures. Additional duties include:
• Operating and troubleshooting A/V systems, simulator control software, VR platforms, and AI-integrated simulation tools during live events
• Applying advanced moulage techniques and constructing high-realism props and environmental elements to support immersive, clinically authentic training environments
• Developing contingency plans for equipment issues or schedule disruptions to ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical training programs
• Supporting advanced simulation certification requirements for the simulation center, including preparation for and maintenance of Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) accreditation or equivalent program recognition.
• Collaborating with clinicians, faculty, surgeons, and trainees across multiple specialty services to refine scenario content and assessment criteria at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels Developing and maintaining simulation scenarios, learning modules, and competency assessment tools that reflect current clinical standards, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based simulation practices
• Designing curricula that support advanced simulation certification requirements, including competency-based credentialing, privileging support, and skills validation programs aligned with specialty-specific standards
• Integrating virtual reality and artificial intelligence modalities into the simulation curriculum as part of the facility's ongoing expansion of high-fidelity, immersive training capabilities; evaluating emerging VR and AI-enabled tools for clinical applicability and educational effectiveness
• Managing training schedules, event calendars, and room reservations; proactively forecasting and communicating scheduling changes to multi-disciplinary stakeholder groups
• Organizing and proctoring competency-based learning exercises; documenting all training events in accordance with VHA, JC, AHA, and REdI requirements
• Mentoring faculty, clinical staff, and adjunct instructors on debriefing techniques, curriculum design, simulation operations, and learning platform utilization? ??????
• Resolving scheduling conflicts and coordinating logistics across multiple simultaneous programs involving diverse stakeholder groups including community partners and military collaborators Work Schedule: Monday
• Friday 6:30 am to 3:00 pm or 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized Telework: This position may be authorized for Ad-Hoc telework. Ad hoc telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Training Specialist/PD11554A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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, 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-09 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 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. Examples of appropriate SF-50s to include which show TIG requirements have been met include: Within grade increases (WGI) at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date that occurred more than one year from the closing date of the job opportunity announcement; or Most recent appointment. NOTE: Do not submit Award or General Adjustment SF-50s, as they do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying

Tig. Minimum Qualification

REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-09 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience which is equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-07 level) in the normal line of progression for the position. Specialized Experience is defined as experience below. Work in the occupation or subject-matter field of the position to be filled that required training or instructing others. Administering a training program. OR Education Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-09 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., if related. Such education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work. OR Combination of Specialized Experience and Education Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-09 level: Equivalent combinations of specialized experience and 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., if related. To compute, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. 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 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