Program Analyst (TCF Intern)

Clarification from the agency

Federal Employees must submit their most recent (within 12 months of the closing date of this announcement), non-award SF-50. Please note that more than one SF-50 may be required to establish Time In Grade.

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements.

The TCF Intern position under the Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA), directly affects patient management by providing data on patterns of care and patient outcomes, as well as their resource and cost implications. The incumbent also serves as an MCA Liaison with the VISN for the Medical Center. The analyst is a professional who is well versed in the objectives and functionality of automated clinical and administrative applications as well as the various data repositories throughout the VHA and the interrelationship of these application and data sets to the operational goals/objectives of this Medical Center.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Prepares monthly supply mapping by utilizing multiple reports and service feedback to ensure all cost is assigned to the appropriate MCA department. Prepares labor mapping reviews bi-weekly.

Develops reports for review by Service Chiefs and/or their designee. Ensures cost and encounter data is correctly aligned within the MCA organizational structure, which includes performing detail analyses of workload trends, over a large time period for larger internal program areas. Provides management officials with procedural and regulatory guidance concerning recording of costs and workload. Analyzes the existing workload capture system to determine the best source data for the MCA program.

Analyzes payroll costing of all facility staff at the Medical Center to ensure accuracy of data through cost center and budget object code review. Continually monitors, identifies, and resolves costing/FTEE issues with appropriate staff and works to implement processes at the service level that will prevent similar errors from occurring in the future.

Serves as business analyst; gathering, examining, analyzing and evaluating information related to activities requiring action by the Chief Financial Officer, other Service Chiefs, first line supervisors, and clinical administrative staff. Responsible for extracting, producing, and maintaining various monthly management/briefing reports that meet the operational needs of the Medical Center. Presents information via written memorandums and/or presentations to facility leadership and VISN MCA coordinator.

Assesses ways to improve this monthly process and work with other MCA staff to implement changes where necessary. Coordinates work with other MCA staff to insure accurate and timely documentation and submission of data to prevent problems in the MCA functions.

Performs monthly audits that involve researching source systems and documents to verify the accuracy of MCA. Reviews any validation efforts with services in the medical center and other MCA staff to show them the impact that their data can have on the medical center. Performs monthly maintenance duties and audits on MCA to ensure currency and accuracy of data. Assists with the Event Capture program at the VA Medical Center.

Builds and prepares reports using Microsoft Access, Word, Excel, and Power Point. Downloads files from the Internet, VISTA MCA, and Austin Automation Center and imports them into MS Access databases for review, processing and reporting.

Acts as a liaison between the VISN MCA team and support services within the medical centers which play a major role in the implementation and continuance of MCA. Serves on various committee, task forces, and project teams dealing with Medical Center issues related to information available through and generated by the MCA Program. Interfaces with service line supervisors and administrative personnel in order to keep current on any changes in VA Medical Center functions that may affect the MCA program.

Collaborates with VISN MCA Coordinator to keep current on any changes in National or VISN guidance which may impact MCA, workload, and cost information systems.

Work schedule: Full Time, Monday- Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Position Description Title/PD#: Program Analyst (TCF Intern)/PD09490A

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
• 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.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required
• 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, 06/15/2026.

This is a developmental position leading to a GS-11, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level 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.

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 GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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 education and/or experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Strong analytical skills. Knowledge of statistical techniques, medical center operations. Analytical skills for potential programmatic changes that could significantly enhance patient care, patient safety, overall efficiencies and/or cost effectiveness. Analyzes existing automated and manual systems to determine the type of financial and clinical information available. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of 1 full year of graduate level education. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. OR Superior Academic Achievement. NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT COPIES OF YOUR OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS FOR YOUR EDUCATION TO BE CONSIDERED. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education described above that meets 100% of the requirements for this position. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience, as described above, will meet the requirements for this position. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position.

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.

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/.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. It involved carrying light books, papers and manuals. There is some walking to and from various offices within this facility, stooping, pulling and pushing of file drawers and lifting light file boxes.

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

1. Resume - for each job held, you must list the following:

• Job Title
• Dates worked (Month/Year - Month/Year)
• Hours worked per week
• Detailed description of duties performed

IF APPLICABLE:
2. SF-50 - Notice of Personnel Action - most recent (within 12 months of the closing date of this announcement) non-award SF-50 copy with Title, Grade, Step and Tenure or copy. If using for Time-in-Grade eligibility, include SF-50 with applicable Grade

• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• 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.

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 Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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