Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration (AOC): Current, permanent, VHA Nationwide employees.

The Program Analyst serves as a specialized advisor and analyst, applying advanced management principles and analytical techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of program operations. A central component of the role is serving as an Automated Data Processing Application Coordinator (ADPAC), providing essential technical and software support to more than 150 clinical and administrative staff members. In this capacity, the analyst acts as the subject matter expert and access manager for a suite of critical service software applications, including HSRM, EPSI, ECFax, and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).

Major duties and Responsibilities: The duties of the Program Analyst are divided into three primary functional areas, but not limited too: ADPAC/Management Assistance, Performance Improvement and Organizational Analysis, and Program Administration.

ADPAC and Management Assistance
- Software Subject Matter Expertise: Serves as the primary subject matter expert and access manager for essential service software applications, including HSRM, EPSI, ECFax, RefDoc, Cisco Finesse, and CRM.
- User Access Management: Manages the full lifecycle of staff access, ensuring new hires receive necessary IT equipment and credentials while ensuring departing employees' access is revoked and equipment is returned.
- Technical Troubleshooting: Acts as the first point of contact for application access issues, basic hardware troubleshooting, and password maintenance.
- System Proficiency: Utilizes deep proficiency in VistA and CPRS platforms to manage user-related elements and applies basic knowledge of VA Fileman for data management.
- Infrastructure Planning: Proactively assesses service software platforms for future enhancements and identifies upcoming IT hardware and software requirements.
- Compliance Auditing: Ensures the completion of mandated audits, including VistA Access and Telephone Directory Reviews.
- Administrative Support: Facilitates staff entry of IT service tickets, manages email distribution lists, and assigns group drive access.
Performance Improvement and Organizational Analysis
- Data Analytics: Employs advanced tools such as Power BI, Pyramid Analytics, VSSC reports, and the Consult Toolbox to analyze complex data sets.
- Metric Reporting: Collects and analyzes service-specific data to prepare status reports for leadership, focusing on consult volumes, timeliness metrics, and document backlogs.
- Operational Priority Setting: Provides data-driven insights to help leadership determine operational priorities and resource allocation.
- Facility Updates: Compiles and formats relevant service metrics to support Executive Leadership facility updates and strategic planning.
- Efficiency Studies: Conducts studies on administrative and clinical processes to make recommendations for improving organizational effectiveness.
Program Administration
- Liaison Operations: Acts as a central point of contact between Community Providers, TPAs, VA staff, and Veterans to coordinate community care delivery.
- Policy Interpretation: Interprets legislative statutes, VA IVC policies, and contractual obligations to resolve complex billing concerns and remove barriers to care.
- Provider Management: Supports the administrative management of the Provider Agreement program and assists with reports concerning potential quality issues (PQI) or Fraud, Waste, and Abuse claims.
- Trend Monitoring: Tracks and monitors reporting trends related to provider quality and serves as a resource for those submitting concerns.
- Operational Coverage: Provides essential coverage for the Veteran Experience Officer (VEO) position as needed, utilizing platforms like the Patient Advocate Tracking System-Replacement (PATS-R).
- Stakeholder Communication: Updates community providers and internal staff on new or changing VA directives or mandates.
- Additionally, the position is responsible for assisting service staff with:

• Obtaining VistA Menu and Keys.
• Submitting Electronic Process Access System (ePAS).
• Assisting group drive access.
• Managing email distribution lists.
• Submitting security group membership requests.
• Ensuring access to Vista/Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS).
• Support staff entry of yourIT service tickets.
• Facilitate staff procurement of IT hardware and software.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday,8:00am - 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
AD HOC TW eligible only, this is not a virtual position, this is not a remote position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD110110
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/09/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS7. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
• Analytical Evaluation: Applying analytical and evaluative techniques to identify and resolve procedural or factual issues.
• Operational Analysis: Evaluating the efficiency of program operations or administrative functions like budget, procurement, or HR.
• Management Principles: Knowledge of organizational theories, including delegation, communication channels, and work distribution.
• Data Oversight: Gathering and analyzing statistical data to prepare reports on program goals and performance metrics.
• Regulatory Interpretation: Interpreting laws and regulations to manage program resources (people, money, and equipment) effectively.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related.

OR,

• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Analysis and Problem Solving
• Computer Skills
• Data Management
• Manages and Organizes Information

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work is performed in an office setting, with some traveling to conferences and training. The position would require some walking, prolonged standing, bending and occasional carrying of light items (up to 15 lbs.) from one area to another. The work involves extensive use of the telephone and computer.

Factor 7 - Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. This position may require occasional travel between office locations and exposure to limited noise such as fax machines, copiers and phones.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Next steps