Program Analyst

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open ONLY to current and former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

Specific duties include:

• Formulates, determine, and/or influence the policies of the agency. Drafts and interprets VA laws and regulations as well as approving decisions which may be binding on the agency.
• Manages multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization. Conducts investigations of evidence involved in resolving appealed cases and special interest cases.
• Deals with issues of both sensitive or of a high-profile nature while advising leadership on the national or local impact of changes in process, protocol, or legal statutes, which may impact or shape the future direction of the organization.
• Prepares clear and concise documents. Assists in developing and updating procedural guidance for distribution to field offices. Drafts training letters, writes briefing papers, draft system requirements, and answers Congressional and external stakeholder inquiries. Researches Veteran-specific issues and prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions.
• Leads in-house efforts and participates actively as a lead team member or sub group leader on project teams involving participants outside of VBA.
• Prepares PowerPoint and similar material and gives oral presentations to various audiences within P&F Service, VBA senior management, department level executives, and outside agencies.
• Provides oversight, review and analysis of the policies, procedures, and processes that are the responsibility of their assigned team to identify areas for improvement and to ensure the highest level of support to P&F Service's stakeholders. These duties include providing oversight with site visits and other instruments to independently and objectively evaluate the regional office's compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Participates in all phases of organizational and management activities significant to VBA. Coordinate the team's assigned projects and work items to ensure proper prioritization as well as alignment with VA's strategic goals.
• Studies and provides sound advice on program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations to develop new and modified operating instructions and training material. Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives.
• Undertakes long and short-range research and studies program activities within P&F Service to support the organization's business goals and objectives. Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as Internet tools, manuals, and other reference material.

Promotion Potential: There is no promotion potential.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst;40069-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 Or 2-year, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selectees are required to service a one-year supervisory probationary period if not previously completed in a Federal position.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements I-9 Acceptable Documents.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:06/12/2026.

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.

• For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level.

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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-14 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Advising on program operations, new legislation, automated systems, management initiatives, and the operation of interacting programs and organizations. Analyzing and evaluating, on a quantitative or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs or operations in meeting established goals and objectives.

Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, labs, or commercial vehicles. Work requires the observance of fire regulation.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://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.

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

• Oral Communication: Ability to communicate orally; including the ability to interpret complex and/or technical information and concepts and communicate them to a wide variety of audiences with different backgrounds, education, and skill levels
• Laws, Regulations and Policies: Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures in order to conduct studies, briefings, and prepare written communications to improve the operation of these programs.
• Planning and Evaluating: Determines objectives and strategies; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities
• Strategic Thinking: Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy; examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long term perspective; determines objectives and set priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
• Administration and Management: Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package to include the documents detailed below. Resumes may not exceed two pages and must be legible for review of eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified. Failure to submit the documents as specified may result in loss of consideration for this job announcement.

• Resume:
  • Contact Information:
    • Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number
  • Relevant Work Experience:
    • For each relevant work experience, make sure you include:
      • Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions)
      • Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 - 08/2022)
      • The number of hours you worked per week
    • Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications. Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement
  • Optional Details:
    • When relevant, include:
      • Current Security Clearance
      • Job-related training
      • Language skills
      • Organizations and affiliations
      • Professional publications
      • Eligibility for special programs (e.g., military spouses, individuals with disabilities, etc.)
• A copy of your most recent NON-award SF-50. The SF-50 must indicate proof of status and should identify your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted).
• Your SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade To verify you meet Time-in-Grade requirements, also submit a SF-50 reflecting when you entered your highest grade held (e.g. Promotion, Appointment, etc.).
• Current VBA Employees seeking a reassignment/change to lower grade: you must submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (non-award) AND the SF-50 placing you into your current position.

Additional Documents accepted:

• Most recent Performance Appraisal (VA Form 0750)
• Award SF-50s
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

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