Training Instructor

Veterans Health Administration • Tucson, AZ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is seeking a Training Instructor to support the Environmental Management Service (EMS). The position delivers, develops, and evaluates EMS training programs and conducts studies to assess program effectiveness. The instructor provides technical instruction in sanitation and disinfection in healthcare settings and supports Veterans’ health and well-being.

The instructor develops and updates curricula and training materials, evaluates learning outcomes, and integrates current regulatory and instructional content. The role trains EMS supervisors and frontline staff in environmental management, infection control, medical terminology, and related subjects. It also works with EMS managers, hospital programs, committees, and internal and external educators to strengthen training and related processes.

The position is onsite and is scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Travel to all campuses and community outpatient clinics is required. Duty hours may vary based on facility training needs and are coordinated with the supervisor. The work is mostly sedentary but includes physical demonstrations and other physical activities, including heavy lifting.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Applicants must meet the Individual Occupation Requirement through undergraduate or graduate study in education or a related subject area, or qualifying specialized experience involving instruction, training program administration, development or review of training materials, or regular instruction of others in the relevant field.
• For GS-9, applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, such as technical instruction in sanitation, disinfection, infection control, microbiology, environmental management, or related EMS topics; gathering and organizing training-evaluation data, tracking competency completion, and supporting quality assurance; or applying foundational environmental services and infection-control knowledge to staff training and compliance.
• Education may substitute for GS-9 experience: a master's or equivalent graduate degree, two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.B. or J.D.; a combination of education and experience may also qualify.
• Current or former federal employees covered by the time-in-grade requirement must have 52 weeks at GS-7 for this GS-9 position and submit supporting SF-50 documentation.
• A transcript must be submitted if education is used to qualify. Foreign education used for qualification must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period.
• Physical activities include sitting, pushing, pulling, standing, walking, bending, stooping, carrying light items, driving, and demonstrating sanitation processes, equipment use, and proper lifting techniques, including heavy lifting.
• Travel to all campuses and community outpatient clinics is required; GSA vehicle approvals may be needed.
• Duty hours may vary according to facility training needs and are coordinated with the supervisor.
• Must complete the online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and update EMS training materials and curricula, recommending substantive changes and incorporating current instructional content.
• Conduct focused training studies and data analyses, and provide recommendations based on precedent.
• Participate in task analyses to define training needs; collaborate on healthcare committees; and consult external experts to improve processes.
• Evaluate regulatory standards, revise educational content, and recommend policy updates related to training.
• Mentor staff on professional development and encourage collaborative, respectful communication aligned with VA priorities.
• Design methods to evaluate learning outcomes across training topics and support quality assurance and competency monitoring.
• Provide technical instruction in sanitation and disinfection in healthcare settings.
• Deliver training across EMS topics using teaching methods suited to learner needs.
• Train EMS staff and collaborate with hospital programs, including Compensated Work Therapy.
• Develop and implement curricula focused on environmental management and disease prevention.
• Train supervisors and frontline staff in environmental management, infection control, medical terminology, and related subjects, while liaising with internal and external educators.
• Participate on sanitation-related committees, communicate training initiatives, and promote teamwork.
• Implement technology programs for waste management training; stay current on sanitation technology; and evaluate new equipment.
• Collaborate with EMS managers to develop automated waste-tracking systems that integrate competency assessments.
• Identify core knowledge requirements and incorporate updated regulatory policies from agencies including TJC, USDA, OSHA, NFPA, OIG, EPA, CDC, AORN, WHO, APIC, and HHS into coursework.
• Rotate through Environmental Care Section shifts to support EMS staff training needs and prepare employees for competency advancement.
• Travel to campuses and community outpatient clinics to provide training.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; the announcement states that employees and their families have access to a range of benefits, with specific eligibility dependent on position type.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level