TRAINING AND CURRICULUM SPECIALIST

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as the early childhood education specialist or youth development specialist for child and youth programs including child development centers, family child care, school-age youth programs, and unique childcare programs. To train program staff, volunteers, contractors, family childcare providers, administrative, and food service staff.

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Duties

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• Oversees curricula for child development centers, family child care programs, school-age, youth programs and other unique children's programs.
• Creates a work environment that supports ongoing professional development and continuous quality improvement through observation, coaching, mentoring, collaborative learning, training and reflective practice.
• Supports children who may have special needs or complex behaviors. Ensures procedures are followed to support the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and any other laws and/ or directives pertaining to the special needs of children.
• Develops plans to improve overall operations, correct identified deficiencies, and enhance developmental programs
• and services.
• Represents all programs with a variety of installation and functional area organizations. Establishes, develops, and maintains effective working relationships with agencies on and off the installation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see
• This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• Full/part-time employees occupying direct childcare positions are eligible for discounts IAW DAF AFSVC/CC Memo, 30 Sep 22; first child 100% / each additional child 25%. Other assigned CYP and FCC personnel are eligible for 25% discount.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• Incumbent must be able to obtain ServSafe, Food Handler's, First Aid, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certifications and complete additional training requirements.
• The work requires the employee to drive a motor vehicle. Incumbent must possess and be able to maintain an appropriate, valid driver's license. An annual driving record check is required.
• Must complete applicable Virtual Lab School (VLS) courses.
• This is a Mission-Essential position performing a Mission-Critical-Function which must continue uninterrupted after the occurrence of an emergency and continued through full resumption of all functions.
• IAW AFI 34-144 and DoD certification requirements, a pre-employment physical examination with a renewal at least every 3 years and specified immunizations are required.
• A State Criminal History Repository (SCHR) checks will be completed on any person selected for this position. Renewal every five years of the Installation Records, FBI Fingerprint an SCHR is required with annual review of DD Form 2981.
• The position is required to operate a motor vehicle; the incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use IAW AFMAN 44-198, Type 2: Motor Vehicle Operators.
• At a minimum, meet qualification requirements stipulated by the US Office of Personnel Management for the 1701 occupational series.
• This position has the ultimate responsibility for programs meeting the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs or the Council of Accreditation criteria for accreditation and DoD certification requirements.
• Designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing.
• Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the basic requirement and specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions, to include the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the GS-1701, General Education and Training series.

BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

EDUCATION: A Bachelor's degree (or higher degree) that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position. For Child Development Training and Curriculum Specialist positions with the Departments of the Air Force, the education must have been in child development or early childhood education. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: C ourses 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 above. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

AND

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07 , which includes professional knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of early childhood development and youth development encompassing infant through school-age, youth and teens and child and youth development theories, methodology, and practices. Knowledge of childcare regulation requirements and policies. Skill in developing curricula which supports physical, emotional, social, cognitive development of children and youth. Skill in developing supports that accommodate children with special needs and children with challenging behaviors. Skill in developing, adapting, and providing training to staff members, volunteers, family child care providers and parents, as well as food service and administrative staff. Skill in the administration and interpretation of the environmental, program, and child abuse probability assessments. Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts.

OR

EDUCATION: Have 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in child development or early childhood education. Note: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

OR

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above. Therefore, I have a combination of experience and education to meet the qualifications of the position. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.

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-7 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-9 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

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. Professional knowledge of the principles, theories, concepts, and practices of early childhood development and youth development encompassing infant through school-age, youth and teens and child and youth development theories, methodology, and practices.
2. Knowledge of childcare regulation requirements and policies.
3. Skill in developing curricula which supports physical, emotional, social, cognitive development of children and youth.
4. Skill in developing supports that accommodate children with special needs and children with challenging behaviors.
5. Skill in developing, adapting, and providing training to staff members, volunteers, family childcare providers and parents, as well as food service and administrative staff.
6. Skill in the administration and interpretation of the environmental, program, and child abuse probability assessments. Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

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.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Current Federal Civilian employees may apply for temporary and term positions and if selected, a break in service may be required prior to appointment to the position.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here .

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.