Summary The Designated Learning Officer (DLO) and Director of Education for VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) is in Education Services. The DLO supports the spectrum of programs across the educational continuum (health professions training, staff education, workforce development), employee lifecycle, and is responsible for ongoing assessment of these programs aimed at establishing an integrated and synergistic learning environment for all staff at VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Responsibilities This position will also be administratively supervising over the Education Services, which encompasses identification of necessary trainings and orientations for all staff located at VAPAHCS. This position reports directly to the Associate Chief of Staff of Education and is responsible as a first level supervisor providing planning, direction, organization, and exercising control over non-supervisory positions within Education Services. As such, the incumbent, under the guidance of the Chief, is responsible for the development of plans, implementation, direction, evaluation, management and coordination of the overall education program for the hospital and serves as the Director of Education. Major duties include but are not limited to: Demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. Responsible for assuring the competency of employees and scheduling appropriate corrective action to address identified deficiencies. Assigns work to subordinates; develops performance standards and evaluates subordinates' work; conducts interview and makes selections for vacant positions, hears and resolves employee complaints; effects disciplinary actions when appropriate; and identifies training needs of employees and volunteers and arranges training. Serves as a resource and advisor to both clinical and administrative staff in the development and review of training and education plans and strategies. works closely with facility management, Education Services, and individual Services to establish and ensure linkages between educational and quality management outcomes. serves as the facility's primary educational liaison with the VISN and VACO program office (Workforce Management and Consulting, among others) and will help serve as an educational resource for all services (clinical and non-clinical within VAPAHCS). employs a wide variety of teaching methods ranging from the traditional classroom setting to self-directed, learner-centered techniques. Exercises supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Learning Resources Officer/PD02094O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) 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. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/05/2026. 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-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement: The following education and/or education and experience are required to meet the specific qualification requirements for this position. Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position. or Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in education, or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in A above. In addition to the individual occupational requirements, you must also qualify based on your experience as described below: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Demonstrated experience identifying and assessing learning needs, developing education goals and objectives, design curriculum/lesson plans, identify and utilize appropriate educational tools, and conduct, evaluate and revise training for both staff and patients. Comprehensive knowledge of a variety of teaching modalities (e.g. traditional classroom instruction, computer assisted instruction, web-based programs, distance learning, and audiovisual aides). Design, coordinate, and/or deliver educational seminars, workshops and conferences. Analyze and evaluate data and prepare reports and other documents based on the data. Identify long and short-range goals, establish measurable objectives, monitor accomplishments, gather, review, and analyze data and develop and implement corrective measures. Plan and assign work of subordinate staff. Develop performance standards, evaluate subordinates' performance, and assess and provide training as needed. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Budget Administration Education and Training Planning and Evaluating 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. Physical Requirements: Reference VA Directive and Handbook 5019 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 There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. 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/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
