TRAINING INSTRUCTOR (MWD)

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, to include the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-1712, Training Instructor series. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-07, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge with animal behavior, psychology, training methods, evaluation procedures, and basic veterinary needs of the working dogs; analyzing situations and resolve difficult issues and problems in assigned area of responsibility; working experience with principles, practices, and techniques of training puppies for the working dog program. OR EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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. with a major study in education or a subject area related to the position to be filled. NOTE: You must submit copies of your transcripts. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: A combination of the experience described above, and part of the education described above. Therefore, have a combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience that when combined total at least 100 percent. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-07 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-09 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1. Working experience with animal behavior, psychology, training methods, evaluation procedures, and basic veterinary needs of MWDs. The employee must analyze situations and resolve difficult issues and problems in assigned area of responsibility. 2. Working experience with principles, practices, and techniques of MWD training. Skill and knowledge in technical methods and procedures for evaluating and training MWDs. Three years recent experience in MWD training including experience with Clear Signals Training (CST) and Deferred Final Response (DFR) preferred. 3. Knowledge of MWD training administration, policies and procedures. 4. Working experience in evaluating MWD potential, trainability, and initial training. 5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing and to work harmoniously with all levels of personnel within the component. 6. Ability to understand program objectives and progress toward their achievement. 7. Knowledge of MWD care. 8. Knowledge of safety requirements pertaining to the safe handling of military working dogs. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.