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Our most valuable resources are our employees. The power the innovation that drives an exceptional digital experience at VA helps us develop technology tools that meet the real needs of the diverse community that we serve. So, their dedication to a career in public service demands a reciprocal investment on the part of VA.
With the recent launch of the Career Development Portal, the Office of Information and Technology is delivering on this investment by nurturing our talent and fostering professional growth — whether they choose to remain at VA or take their skills to the private sector.
OIT’s Office of People Science’s Stephanie Keith, Director of People Readiness, explained that the Career Development Portal was created to address inconsistencies in understanding baseline skills. It provides a more effective framework for identifying and understanding qualifications, training, and development opportunities from an employer’s perspective. The team began building the tools and curriculum to address those gaps, and the Career Development Portal was born.
The Career Development Portal is more than just a collection of resources — it’s a centralized hub offering role-specific videos, qualifications, certifications, curated curriculums, and on-the-job training. It serves as a one-stop destination for employees seeking to refine their skills or explore new career paths within OIT across multiple tracks — Technical, Business, and Leadership, with more tracks to come. Within their selected track, employees can choose to explore several functionalities that guide them through all aspects of career development. In addition to learning about the tasks and skills associated with their role, interactive features like spotlight videos and skills assessments help users understand their role from another employee’s perspective, evaluate their progress, and identify areas for improvement.
Users can also explore options for advancement, such as on-the-job training, curated curricula, and industry certifications. For those looking to make a change in their career, the portal offers listings for temporary project opportunities, alternate career pathways, and resources to search for other federal employment opportunities.
Ms. Keith shared how employees can make the most of the portal. “It shows what skills and competencies are required for a variety of roles, which gives the individual the ability to say, “I want to move to this role,” and see exactly what they have to do to get there step by step.” In addition to providing resources and information, the portal also serves as an action plan for employees looking to kickstart their professional growth.
One of the standout features of the Career Development Portal is its tailored approach to learning. Whether you’re immersed in information technology, cybersecurity, or cross-functional responsibilities, the platform ensures that the training aligns with the demands of your chosen career path.
Sharon McPherson, a Senior Cyber Workforce Analyst, shared how the courses cater to specific roles and career paths:
“The Portal allows employees to see how they can progress professionally. With this feature, they can access their work role and see other roles that are available to them in their service line.” Ms. McPherson continued, “We’re really on the cutting edge of providing a resource like this to our employees. We’re working with a lot of federal agency partners in the development of some of the tools and resources that we use in the Portal.”
Looking to the future, the People Readiness team remains proactive in reviewing and updating content, ensuring that employees always have access to relevant resources. The team intends to focus on the Portal’s Business track, which will cover positions related to contract management, finance management, and program management. As the technology landscape changes, the Technical track will also be built out to adopt additional roles for AI and data science.
“This development model will help address employees’ overall development needs, and it’s intended for them to develop and understand what the curriculum would be,” says Ms. McPherson.
The People Excellence commitment OIT demonstrates towards staying at the forefront of professional development ensures that employees not only gain essential skills but also contribute to shaping the future of federal workforce growth. Through our active collaboration with federal agency partners, we lead the way in pioneering innovative tools and resources.
From entry-level positions to seasoned professionals to those who are simply seeking new skills and experience, the Career Development Portal reaffirms OIT’s dedication to nurturing its most valuable resource — its workforce.
