Program Analyst

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy announcement is open to Department of Veterans Affairs CTAP eligible applicants ONLY.

Specific duties include:

• Recommends solutions for program officials and supervisors, which includes modified work methods, procedural changes, systems variations, and acceptance of new technology developments.
• Develops recommendations for program officials and supervisors and strives to have viable recommendations accepted by operating components. Recommendations include development of new or modified work methods, procedural changes, systems variations, and acceptance of new technology developments. Develops recommendations for improvements in program operations and to promote efficiency and cost savings.
• Develops modifications, revisions, and implementing procedures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of program operations. Participates in discussions, meetings, conferences and conference calls with agency administrators, senior subject matter and technical personnel, and other federal agency officials to secure and provide information, to investigate facts; present conclusions, recommendations, and alternatives; obtain concurrence; develop alternate courses of actions; and mutually resolve problems.
• Formulates recommendations for modifying, revising, or implementing procedures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of program operations.
• Designs and conducts comprehensive management studies where the boundaries of the studies are extremely broad and difficult to determine in advance. Establishes study methods and techniques to be utilized in program studies and audits.
• Gathers and organizes narrative and statistical information using established methods, techniques, and precedents such as questionnaires, interviews, review of databases, and comparisons of past, present, and related program functions.
• Applies analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations carried out by administrative or professional personnel or substantive administrative support functions.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level
Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Ad-Hoc Only
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst; 37356A
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 period, 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
• 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:06/22/2026.

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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, or 30% or more disabled Veterans).

• For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 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. These requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and those applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:
GS-13 Grade Level:

• Specialized Experience: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as diagnosing problems within the organization and implementing plans and means to make improvements and/or implement changes; or experience developing the design of business processes, systems, technology, and/or job roles for a division within a VA Regional Office
• Education Substitution: There is no education substitute for the GS-13 level.

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: The work is sedentary. It occasionally requires carrying of light objects such as files, books and papers;
some walking, standing and bending. No special physical qualifications are required.

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):

• Technical Competence
• Written Communication
• Reasoning
• Oral Communication
• Interpersonal Skills

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.This position will utilize a Structured Interview Assessment which includes a pass/fail score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the pass score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the pass score or fail to complete the assessment.

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.).
• CTAP documentation - RIF notice, SF-50 showing VA employee, and performance appraisal

Please use this checklist to make sure you have included other documents required for your application. You will not be contacted for additional information.

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