Program Analyst

Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open ONLY to current, permanent Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) employees and current/former VA employees who are CTAP eligible.

Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Participates in the transition interagency governance structure as a VBA liaison and monitors operating programs, policies, services, and procedural activities supporting military to civilian readiness initiatives for separating Servicemembers, Veterans, caregivers and their families.
• Recommends objectives and operations for new and existing programs between other federal agencies and VBA within the scope of transition. The incumbent serves as a historical policy consultant when new information is released from Congress and the military departments that may have an impact on Veteran's transition.
• Provides procedural background to other agencies regarding transition processes and how to integrate VBA and the other agencies' information systems to provide a seamless transition for service members from active duty to potential entitlement to VA benefits.
• Responsible for major policy and tactical recommendations or decisions that have a direct and substantial effect on the implementation of VA military to civilian readiness activities on military installations worldwide.
• Works in close cooperation with other elements of VA, as well as interagency partners (such as Department of War, Department of Labor, etc.) as it relates to transitioning Service member benefits.
• Manages and leads multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization.
• Tracks, analyzes and reports on data provided through partnership agreements.
• Provides recommendations to program refinements, defines short and medium range plans, and validates program requirements.
• Research, learn and apply a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze and improve team effectiveness, efficiency and work products.
• Develops program mission, objectives, and strategies surrounding VA military to civilian readiness activities. Include special projects related to the same.
• Undertakes long- and short-range research and studies program activities to support the organization's business goals and objectives. Gathers and analyzes relevant data (Congress.gov, OMB regulations) and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as Internet tools, manuals, and other reference material.
• Serves as VA transition SME and decision maker on military to civilian readiness policy, guidelines, military installation specific directives and procedural updates for contract personnel. May handle confidential acquisition data in support of the same.

Promotion Potential: GS-13
Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: NotAvailable
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst, GS-12, GS-13 PD# 42266-A, 42267A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Bargaining Unit: No

Conditions of employment

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 or 2-year trial 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
• 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:11/04/2026.

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-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 level.
• 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• GS-12 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience:Building and maintaining effective relationships with key stakeholders, prioritizing and completing multiple projects concurrently using sound project management principles.
Independently analyzing and evaluating on a quantitative and qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs and tracking and reporting the progress of projects, tasks and initiatives.

• GS-13 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: : An extensive knowledge and skills in building and maintaining effective relationships with key stakeholders. The ability to serve as a liaison between the agency/organization and stakeholders.
Experience in strategic project development and analyzing complex, technical issues to provide sound recommendations for resolutions and improvements. Experience analyzing and interpreting data, formalizing program plans, managing multiple projects concurrently where effort requires coordination among multiple resources and entities as well as experience developing strategies for proactive coordination and collaboration with internal and external agents.

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.

Oral Communication: Expresses ideas and facts to individuals or groups effectively; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others; facilitates an open exchange of ideas.

Organizational Awareness:Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.

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.

Problem Solving: Being able to identify problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.

Written Communication: Write material to include policies and portrayal of statistical data in a clear, concise, organized and convincing manner to internal and external contacts

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 an interview. 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):

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:

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

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