Clarification from the agency

College Graduates who have obtained a qualifying graduate/equivalent or higher-level degree from an institution of higher education within the previous two years. Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation (of not less than 4 years) begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty.

This position is located in the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA). OCLA is responsible for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) relations and interactions with the Congress of the United States. OCLA acts as the congressional and legislative affairs office for all VA Administrations and staff offices, and coordinates closely with the program offices of the Administrations, staff offices, the Office of General Counsel (OGG), the Government Accountability Office, and Federally Mandated Committees, assuring that Departmental congressional activities, priorities, and communications align with those of the Administration to improve the lives of Veterans and their families. The incumbent of the position serves as an analyst and advisor to management on the content, appropriateness, and effectiveness of all information on all VA programs, policies, and procedures provided to Members of Congress, congressional staff and outside entities.

Specific duties include:

• Responding to inquiries from congressional members and committee staff on VA policy and program issues as well as requests for information about VA programmatic and policy issues.
• Arranging meetings and briefings between VA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and congressional members and their staff that are responsive to requests for information about VA Policy and programmatic and policy issues.
• Researching issues to be discussed and providing background documentation to assist Congressional Relations Officers in their preparation of SMEs engagements with congressional members.
• Attending congressional oversight and legislative hearings where VA has an interest in the issues and outcomes; preparing a summary on the hearing proceedings; and coordinating department responses to Pre and Post Hearing Questions for the Record.
• Tracking data and information provided to congressional Members, committees and staff.
• Preparing and providing briefings and presentations on VA programs and issues of congressional interest and making recommendations.
• Assisting management in interpretation and utilization of reports and congressional information provided.
• Developing various tables, charts, and figures to present trends, performance status, capability, and related management information.
• Working diplomatically with a wide variety of individuals either in person, by phone, or e-mail in potentially difficult and delicate situations in a persuasive manner.
• Interpreting, analyzing, and communicating policies, laws and regulations to develop solutions to problems and to advise higher level management.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level GS-11, without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. The grade progression for this position is GS-9/11.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst (College Graduate); PD20381A and PD20382A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

Conditions of Employment

• 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
• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR INSERT "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, 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:05/15/2026.

COLLEGE GRADUATE HIRING REQUIREMENT: You must have obtained a qualifying graduate/equivalent or higher level degree from an institution of higher education within the previous two years. Veterans who were precluded from applying due to their military service obligation (of not less than 4 years) begin their 2-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed 6 years from the date on which the degree was completed.

AND

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

GS-09 Grade Level:

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:

• Responding to requests for information regarding policy and program issues
• Researching issues to be discussed/providing background documentation
• Communicating, orally and in writing, with a wide variety of individuals.
• Preparing summary and analysis of briefings and meetings.
• Tracking data and information provided to management, staff and customers.

Education Substitution: You may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education or masters or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D., in a related field of the position to be filled. Education at the graduate level must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. [NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application]

OR

Combining Education & Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-9 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 18 semester hours of graduate level education that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for a GS-9 position. For example, an applicant who has 27 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience equivalent to GS-7 (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the GS-9 position. [NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application]

GS-11 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-09 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Preparing and providing briefings and presentations on programs and issues of interest.
• Writing and reviewing a full range of correspondence/information to be provided to a variety of audiences.
• Providing technical assistance to program staff on how to respond to programmatic inquiries.
• Compiling workload metrics
• Interpreting reporting requirements contained in bills and enacted legislation.
• Preparing complex reports for senior department and OCLA management.
• Assisting management in interpretation and utilization of reports and congressional information provided.

Education Substitution: You may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related. [NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application]

OR

Combining Education & Experience: You may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 36 semester hours of graduate level education that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for a GS-11 position. For example, an applicant who has 45 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience equivalent to GS-9 (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the GS-11 position. [NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application]

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 primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required, including attending hearings/briefings on Capital Hill.

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.

You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

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

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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete application package to include the documents detailed below. Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified; errors, omissions, or failure to submit the documents as specified will affect your rating or result in loss of consideration for employment.

• Resume: Detailing specialized experience and competencies as they relate to this position
  • For each position in your resume, you must specify the start and end dates (month/year) and a description of duties. If the position was Federal, you must also indicate the grade level. Resumes containing a general summary of all positions held, not specifying start/end dates, and/or not including Federal grade level(s) are insufficient to determine basic qualifications.
• Transcript(s): Must include your name, school's name, coursework, and date of conferral. A diploma is NOT sufficient to determine eligibility/qualifications.
• Veterans: Member-4 DD-214 and disability rating letter (if applicable)
  • If you are currently on active duty to be released within 120 days, you may submit an armed forces certification in lieu of a Member-4 DD-214.

Please use this checklist to 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.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

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