Instructional Systems Specialist

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Emmitsburg (MD)

On-site

USD 122,000 - 158,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible work schedules

Retirement plan

Paid federal holidays

Job summary

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Emmitsburg, MD seeks an experienced Instructional Systems Specialist. You will be a senior SME in adult learning, instructional design, curriculum development, and evaluation, shaping education for the National Fire Academy.

You will lead design and development of courses across traditional, blended, online, synchronous and asynchronous formats, ensuring instructional quality and adherence to federal standards.

Qualifications

Positive education requirement with transcripts required.
Education substitution may qualify by education/experience with transcripts.
Foreign education may be used if comparable to US education requirements.

Responsibilities

Serve as senior technical SME in adult learning, instructional design, and curriculum development.
Lead design, development, pilot testing, evaluation, and revision of training programs.
Provide QA oversight to ensure materials are evidence-based and standards-aligned.
Act as Contracting Officer's Representative for instructional design contracts.

Skills

Adult learning theory

Instructional design

Curriculum development

Program evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Learning Management System

AR/VR devices

Web-based collaboration tools

Job description

Department: Department of Homeland Security

This position is located in the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The ideal candidate is an experienced instructional systems professional with expert knowledge of adult learning theory, instructional design, curriculum development, and program evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

What will I do in this position if hired? In this position you will serve as the Instructional Systems Specialist. Typical assignments include: Serving as a senior technical specialist and subject matter expert in adult learning, instructional design, curriculum development, and instructional systems for the National Fire Academy.

Leading and coordinating the design, development, pilot testing, evaluation, and revision of training courses, curricula, and educational programs delivered through traditional, blended, online, synchronous, and asynchronous formats.

Providing technical oversight and quality assurance for instructional products to ensure educational materials are evidence-based, instructionally sound, and aligned with National Fire Academy, United States Fire Administration, and federal standards.

Serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative for instructional design and course development contracts, including developing statements of work, monitoring contractor performance, reviewing deliverables, and tracking project deadlines, budgets, and communications.

Researching, recommending, testing, and supporting implementation of current and emerging educational technologies, including learning management systems, learning content management systems, web-based collaboration tools, AR/VR devices, gamification models, and related learning technologies. What else do I need to know? At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management.

Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description.

Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Requirements & Education

Positive Education Requirement: This position has a positive education requirement, as outlined in the "requirements" section. You must submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) with your online application. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide official college transcripts.

Education substitution: This position permits applicants to qualify based on education (or a combination of education and experience), as outlined in the "requirements" section. If you are using education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts (unofficial are acceptable) with your online application. Once selected and prior to appointment, applicants must provide official college transcripts.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S.

college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. Visit the Department of Education's Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers.

DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $121785 - $158322/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-11.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.