Vacancy Announcement

Education Specialist

Management & Professional Development Education Group

Education Division

Federal Judicial Center

Washington, DC 20002-8003

The Federal Judicial Center is the federal courts' agency for research and continuing education. Congress established the Center in 1967 as a separate organization within the federal judicial system at the request of the Judicial Conference of the United States. A nine-member board, chaired by the Chief Justice of the United States, determines its basic policies.

Within the Education Division, the FJC has an opening for an Education Specialist in the Management and Professional Development Education (MPDE) group . This group provides educational programs and resources for nonsupervisory staff, aspiring leaders, and all court supervisors and managers below the executive level. The education specialist develops instructor-led, in-person, virtual, blended, and microlearning leadership and management education programs for court supervisors and managers and professional development programs for nonsupervisory court personnel. This position requires occasional overnight travel (approximately 15-20 days per year). Advance notice is given when travel is required. The Center does not pay for relocation expenses; however, Center employees receive reimbursement for all official business travel.

Who We Are

The MPDE group is one of five groups within the FJC Education Division. We are a mix of education specialists, who serve as program managers responsible for curriculum design, development, and delivery and program coordinators responsible for the administrative, financial, and logistical aspects of our programs. We develop, deliver, and evaluate professional education programs for federal court employees, specifically, non-executive managers, supervisors and their team members. Our faculty typically are court staff, consultants, and other subject matter experts. Our education specialists sometimes serve as trainers and facilitators, too.

We consult with an advisory committee comprised of court leaders. The committee suggests relevant topics and experts, advises on priorities, assists with program execution and evaluation, and guides our efforts. We are additionally guided by sets of leadership competencies tailored for our participants. Our programs range from self-study e-learning programs to virtual workshops and webinars to multi-day in-person skill-building sessions. In a typical year, we deliver about 35 programs for approximately 1,300 in-person participants and 2,000 remote participants. We are an agile group with a fast-paced operational tempo serving a large client base.

Our group strengths include:

• a passion to serve the federal courts with relevant and meaningful education and resources;
• a focus on identifying and providing what our learners need;
• being adaptable to changing needs;
• diplomacy and tact; and
• creativity.

Collectively, we are a group of experienced professionals who have worked at the center for 4 to 17 years. We believe people come to the FJC and stay because the mission is vital to our nation, the work is challenging and meaningful, the clients are supportive, and the culture is positive.

Who You Are

We are looking for an instructional designer or trainer who has experience designing, developing, and delivering in-person, virtual, and blended learning training programs. We seek someone with experience using virtual education platforms (e.g., Zoom, Adobe Connect, WebEx, Microsoft Teams) for delivering virtual meetings and training programs. You are a great candidate if you are an experienced program manager with demonstrated success managing educational programs and projects from start to finish. We seek a dynamic team player who values collegiality and is willing to share ideas and information. Someone willing to learn about our diverse constituency, grow on the job, and stay curious about what design and delivery methods best meet the needs of our audience has the potential to succeed here.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, develop, deliver, and evaluate in-person and virtual educational programs for court personnel based on (1) generally accepted principles of adult learning and (2) identified leadership and management competencies.
• Assess training needs and determine the most effective ways to deliver education programs for federal judiciary personnel.
• Diagnose organizational problems and recommend appropriate solutions to constituents.
• Work collaboratively with Center staff and court employees, including judges, executives, deputies, managers, supervisors, and aspiring leaders.
• Work collaboratively with advisory groups, planning committees, academics, and consultants to produce and update education programs and resources.
• Train and assist court faculty in effective teaching and facilitation methods appropriate for an audience of highly educated and accomplished professionals.
• Teach content, facilitate discussions, and coach participants and faculty.
• Work in concert with a program coordinator responsible for each step of travel-based in-person programs, including site selection, preparation of funding and authorization documents, communication, vendor engagement, producing program materials, and program evaluation.

Mandatory Qualifications

• A graduate degree in education, instructional design, law, management, leadership, one of the social sciences, one of the behavioral sciences, or a related field OR a bachelors degree and at least 5 years experience designing curricula and developing educational programs for adults.
• Substantial experience in curriculum design and content development.
• Substantial experience running in-person, on-site programs.
• Experience with web conferencing technologies, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Connect, and collaborative technologies, such as SharePoint and online forums.
• Experience developing virtual education programs (e.g., webinars, e-learning, podcasts).
• Instructional delivery and facilitation skills.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Strong project management, presentation, and technical skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively.

Desirable Qualifications

• Five years of full-time work experience in the fields of adult education or professional development training is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with competency-based learning.
• Familiarity with principles and practices of organizational development.
• An understanding of the constitutional basis, mission, organization, and independence of the federal judiciary.
• Past professional experience working with the federal judiciary or state courts.

Salary and Benefits

The starting salary is set at $147,509 (includes 2024 D.C. locality). This position falls in the Centers pay band 6, which has a salary range up to $223,836. For a successful candidate not currently a member of the Center staff, a higher starting salary, not to exceed $154,884 (includes 2024 D.C. locality) may be considered if the candidate furnishes proof that his/her current salary falls above the pay band 6 minimum salary of $147,509 (includes 2024 D.C. locality), in which case the Center would match that salary up to the starting salary limit of $154,884. This is the maximum starting salary, and it is non-negotiable. In addition, a successful candidate who does not live within the D.C. locality region or work at the official duty station in Washington, D.C. 16 or more hours per pay period will not receive D.C. region locality pay and will receive the locality pay of their place of primary residence (telework site). If the successful internal candidates salary falls above the range minimum, that salary will be matched up to his/her current salary.

Federal government benefits are applicable. An array of supplemental benefits is also offered, including a transportation subsidy and a flexible benefit program allowing for pre-tax deductions for health insurance, health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses. The Federal Judicial Center is located in the Thurgood Marshall Building, conveniently situated to public transportation directly beside Union Station. The Marshall Building houses a child development center, a health fitness facility, and a cafeteria for its tenants.

The Federal Judicial Center offers a range of telework and flexible work schedule options, based on the employees position categorization. When business needs arise, all Center employees are required to work at the official duty station in Washington, D.C., or at a temporary duty station.

The Center does not pay for relocation expenses; however, Center employees receive reimbursement for all official business travel.

This position does not carry the tenure rights of positions in the competitive civil service.

Application Procedures

In a one-page cover letter referring to Announcement #24-03, please summarize how you satisfy the qualifications listed above. Applications without the required cover letter or with cover letters that do not address the qualifications will not be considered. Along with the cover letter, please include a current resume that specifies dates of employment and responsibilities for all related positions. A cover letter and resume in a single combined PDF document is required . Name the file using your last name, first name, and the announcement number, as follows: Lastname.Firstname.24-03.pdf. Information provided in the transmittal email will not be considered part of the application.

All applications should be submitted by email to personnel@fjc.gov.

When applying, please refer to Announcement #24-03. This vacancy will remain open until filled, but to assure full consideration, your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. June 21, 2024.

Candidates selected for final interviews will be asked to submit additional materials that showcase their curriculum development abilities and to demonstrate their presentation and facilitation skills.

Key Requirements

• You must be a United States Citizen, subject to the exceptions enumerated at https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/search-judiciary-jobs/citizenship-requirements-employment-judiciary .
• Selectee must favorably complete a background investigation.
• Relatives of Center staff members may not be employed at the Center in any capacity.
• All requirements must be met for full consideration.

The Federal Judicial Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and an inclusive work culture. It strives to maintain a professional and collegial workplace in which everyone is valued and treated fairly and respectfully.