Summary This position is located in the Director of Operations section, Office of Security and Preparedness (OSP), VA Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC), North Little Rock, Arkansas. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a senior-level instructor involved in planning and conducting classroom, laboratory, and/or field instruction sessions as part of the LETC training program. Responsibilities Serves as a technical expert in one or more of the LETC training program/courses. Instructional duties are performed at least 25% or more of the time. Other duties include providing advice and guidance to instructors in preparing and presenting lesson materials to students of the LETC. They are directly responsible for the creation, maintenance and updating of new and existing training materials to ensure they are relevant and comport to existing Federal law and Department of Veterans Affairs directives, handbooks and policies. In addition, they conduct field investigations pertaining to allegations of misconduct, inappropriate use of force, police program compliance inspections and criminal investigations. Major Duties and Responsibilities Serve as a senior-level instructor, subject-matter expert, and course developer in the Deputy Director of Operations section. The program/courses taught cover subject-matter which involves highly specialized knowledge and skill in a variety of law enforcement, weapon systems, criminal/administrative investigations, leadership, verbal de-escalation, evidence, and courses designed specifically for the customer (i.e. Department of Veterans Affairs, US Air Force, Federal Bureau of Prisons, US Coast Guard, etc.). Serve as the subject matter expert in one or more of the assigned basic/advanced training programs. Develop and implement long and short-range training plans and formulate appropriate financial operating plans and program procedures to ensure the training program meets the needs and interests of the organizations served. Participate as an instructor in other courses within their respective divisions and cross-train on programs within other operational divisions to serve as a force multiplier. Provide oversight concerning the conduct of training courses for personnel and plan, coordinate, and execute field training and lab exercise. There is potential for considerable variety among attendees in terms of experience levels, practices and policies among the various Federal agencies. Ensure class curriculum is administered in the proper sequence and that deviations from the established schedules receive prior approval. Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) when conducting Use of Force investigations based upon allegations of excessive use of force. These investigations may be administrative or criminal in nature. Prepare written reports and submit to senior level leaders for possible administrative, disciplinary or criminal proceedings. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Subject to the Lautenberg Amendment: Per the Lautenberg Amendment, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9), individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a qualifying conviction of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence would not meet the condition of employment for this position. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Maybe available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD19154A and PD19153A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements 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. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period 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. Position must display operational skills and proficiency in handling firearms. Required to perform a semi-annual weapons qualification test commensurate with assigned duties and responsibilities. Position will be required to carry the duty firearm and associated law enforcement equipment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a one year probationary period or two 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 one year probationary period or two year trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/28/2026. 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-09. For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11. 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 some former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. See the Required Document section below for more information regarding the SF-50s needed to verify time-in-grade. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is participating in developing course and program material in the Operations' section instructional fields; initiating content changes and developing different approaches and methods of law enforcement instruction; recommending changes to improve the course/program and achieve course/program objectives; teaching, training, researching, making presentations, lecturing, and testing on law enforcement instruction matters. OR Education: To qualify based on education for the GS-11, 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. GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-11 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is experience in law enforcement and training delivery to conduct training pertaining to law enforcement and related fields; coordinate training programs, review training plans, and prepare instructional materials concerning law enforcement or related field; research various legal information and requirements such as court decisions and related reference files and materials; assisting in the development of new instructional programs; providing advice to law enforcement personnel. 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: Resume must include job title and employer name, number of hours worked per week, start and end dates (including month and year), list of duties and responsibilities for each position held. In addition, if the experience was a federal position, you must list series and grade for each position held. Failure to include this information may result in an ineligible rating. A full year of work is considered to be 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. Physical Requirements: There are a range of physical demands depending on the course presented. Some courses are confined to a classroom setting while others require walking, standing, bending, sitting, lying down, or crouching in positions that may be tiring or uncomfortable. Some incumbents are required to exert a great deal of physical activity associated with firearms and defensive tactics training. There is a need to carry gear, packages and firearms. Travel to field locations to coordinate and present training may be involved. Administrative functions and process are generally conducted in an office setting. Administrative investigations and police program assessments are conducted at the LETC or the host facilities location. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be found well qualified, applicants must meet the following qualifications: experience in law enforcement and training delivery to conduct training pertaining to law enforcement and related fields; coordinate training programs, review training plans, and prepare instructional materials concerning law enforcement or related field; research various legal information and requirements such as court decisions and related reference files and materials; assisting in the development of new instructional programs; providing advice to law enforcement personnel. Information CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Local Commuting Area: The local commuting area for this position is defined as a radius of 50 miles from 2200 Fort Roots Dr, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114. This includes all locations that fall within a 50-mile driving distance from 2200 Fort Roots Dr, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 72114. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration (HRA) at The Fair Chance Act. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: https://appsupport.usastaffing.gov/hc/en-us/sections/28980686389652-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security and Law Enforcement

Latest Jobs

Law Enforcement Specialist (Instructor)