This Program Analyst serves as a Policy Analyst within the Office of Finance, Payment Operations and is responsible for identifying issues or policy areas to explore, collecting and analyzing information, then reporting the findings and proposes new policies for addressing the problems. Incumbent monitors legislative activity relating to VA Community Care and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran Affairs (CHAMPVA).

Duties

Identifies key policy issues and priorities, design analysis, evaluates alternative agency strategies, and makes definitive recommendations to senior management; Interpret the laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines governing the healthcare delivery system and apply the information to the agency's working situation; Investigates, develops, recommends acceptable solutions, and assists in the research of congressional correspondence; Analyzes agency situations and provides recommended changes and/or solutions in program objectives to ensure sound utilization of manpower, money, and material resources; Performs extensive inquiry into a wide variety of significant issues, problems, or proposals, and determines data sources and the relevance of findings and synthesized information; Utilizes quantitative methods, such as cost benefit analysis, design of computer simulation models, and statistical analysis including survey methods and regression analysis; Prepares a variety of analytical reports, memorandum, and written materials on public policy issues within the healthcare profession to support the agency's decision making process; Assists staff with the consideration of legislative issues by providing information and analysis and applying professional subject-area knowledge; Performs superior analytical skills to determine the scope of issues, determine the research methodology to gather facts, and present the information to directors and staff. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: 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. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD53000A and PD53005A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/29/2023. 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. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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. 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. 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 your experience and/or educationas described below: GS 07 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: Basic claims processing. Locating and utilizing policies within the VA. Experience with basic research and statistics methods. Presenting findings and making recommendations. Knowledge of manpower and budget operations OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a 1 full years of progressively higher level graduate education. OR Superior Academic Achievement General Schedule Qualification Policies (opm.gov) OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. GS 09 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: Experience with principles of organization, management and administration. Experience with claims processing operations, reimbursement techniques and analysis of management data. Knowledge of public policy issues related to healthcare and the Veteran's Administration. Researching issues and synthesizing information. Utilizing quantitative methods, such as cost benefit analysis and statistical analysis. Presenting recommendations to management on operating. Developing and recommending changes in program objectives to ensure sound utilization of manpower, money, and material resources. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., (if related) OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond 1 full year of graduate level education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementAnalytical ReasoningAnalytical ThinkingQuality Management 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. Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary in nature with normal amounts of walking, standing, bending and carrying light items. No special physical demands are required. Work is performed in a typical office setting that is well lit, heated, and ventilated. 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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VHA Servicing Human Resources Office - 2 2402 Wildwood Ave Suite 301 Sherwood, AR 72120 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]