Program Analyst

Duties

Specific duties include:

Provides leaders and managers with strategic counsel and advice interpreting and implementing provisions of agency policy, management of programs, collective bargaining agreements, and practices as they apply to individual cases. Provides leaders, employees, and job applicants with accurate information and interpretations of Federal civilian recruitment policies and placement procedures. Develops multiple recruitment strategies utilizing various hiring flexibilities and authorities. Prepare recruitment packages to include crediting plans, job analysis on a variety of complex positions using research, interview, observation, and analytical techniques. Provide training to leadership and employees in all HR matters.

Provides information to all employees on matters pertaining to federal employee benefits to include FEHB, FEGLI, TSP, EAP, leave and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Develops recommendations for program officials and supervisors and strives to have recommendations accepted by operating components. Recommendations include 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. Evaluates, processes, and makes recommendations for effective organizational changes. Recommends areas and methods by which efficiency of operation can be improved. Provides management with reports, evaluated information, budgetary proposals and similar products necessary for effective direction of program operations. 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. Advises management of unique conditions and issues which affect program activities and provides guidance on interpretation and implementation of new and revised legislation, policies, regulations, and procedures.

Interprets findings resulting from studies that are independently developed. Analyzes and evaluates, on a quantitative and or qualitative basis, the effectiveness of programs in meeting established goals, measures, and objectives. Analyzes and prepares program status reports for review at all levels. Performs program cost analyses such as development of life cycle or other cost analyses of projects, or performance of cost benefit or economic evaluations of programs. Analyzes and evaluates on a quantitative or qualitative bases, the effectiveness of programs or grant operations in meeting established goals and objectives.

Establishes study methods and techniques to be utilized in program studies and audits. Employs advanced qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze and measure the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of organizational programs. 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. Reviews and reconciles large amounts of data. 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.

Other duties as assigned.

Promotion Potential: 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. The grade progression for this position is GS-13.

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst; 37354-A (GS-11), 37355-A (GS-12), 37356-A (GS-13)
Relocation Expenses: Authorized - Relocation expenses and services (Permanent Change of Station - PCS) are authorized for this recruitment. PCS is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with the transfer between duty stations or facilities. In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee agrees to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer. Failure to complete all conditions of the obligated service may result in repayment of travel/transportation expenses. Click here for more information .
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:09/30/2022.

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-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• 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. To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to confirm time-in-grade.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Specialized Experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position(s), and that is typically IN OR RELATED TO the work of the position to be filled.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE , GS-11
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-9) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience performing employee and management advisory services for specific requests requiring research of human resources policies and practices relating to staffing, employee relations, or benefits.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Guide employees in resolving primarily common work-related or personal problems;
• Provide leaders and employees with information and interpretations of the organization's policies, procedures, and guidelines;
• Provide advice regarding appropriate levels of personnel actions.

OR

A PhD. or equivalent doctoral degree or three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree.

OR

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of graduate education beyond two years by 18. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE , GS-12
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience applying and providing guidance on multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Labor Relations.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Provide advisory services to leaders and employees on a range of human resources concepts, laws, and policies;
• Assist leadership in solving a range of complex problems and issues;
• Participate in policy development groups or projects based on broad organizational requirements.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE , GS-13
Applicants must have one year of specialized experience at least the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as experience providing advisory services, quality review services, or experience drafting and approving standard operating procedures and/or other forms of regulatory guidance covering multiple fields of Human Resources rules, regulations, and procedures including Personnel Management, Recruitment and Staffing, Classification, Employee Benefits (OWCP, retirements, and insurance programs), and/or Employee and Labor Relations.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:

• Provide advice and guidance in the areas of classification and staffing and recruitment;
• Defending agency actions in front of a 3 rd party hearing (FLRA, MSPB);
• Experience as the chief negotiator in labor negotiations.

Combining Education & Experience : If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information .

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 : None, position is primarily sedentary.

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/ .

Education

Education can be used to qualify ONLY at the GS-11 grade level.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to be credited towards qualifications. Provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
All education claimed by applicants will be verified upon appointment. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript to receive credit.

Additional information

COVID-19 Pandemic Expanded Telework Program

Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Relocation Expenses: Authorized - Relocation expenses and services (Permanent Change of Station - PCS) are authorized for this recruitment. PCS is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with the transfer between duty stations or facilities. In consideration of the payment of expenses for travel and transportation, the selectee agrees to remain in federal service for twelve (12) months following the date of transfer. Failure to complete all conditions of the obligated service may result in repayment of travel/transportation expenses. Click here for more information .

VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/ .

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .