Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Program Analyst in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Summary The Program Analyst position supports health system decision-making and management functions as a member of the Planning and Analysis section in the Office of the Medical Center Director, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. The Planning and Analysis section supports executive and clinical information needs and designs projects or studies in response to complex questions. The Program Analyst works under the direction of a Health System Specialist. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES Data Gathering and Analysis 60 percent Gathers, develops, and displays data from available information systems, including VistA, VISN Support Service Center, Planning Systems Support Group, and VA Performance Measures System. With supervisory guidance, researches VA data resources and develops a broad understanding of how databases and reports are organized and the types of data available from them. Identifies discrepancies between VA data sources. When necessary, establishes new data collection procedures for specific programmatic activities or for programmatic evaluation. Independently researches and obtains data from external sources for benchmarking and performance improvement activities, including salary and productivity measures. Utilizes software packages such as Excel, Word, Access, Powerpoint, and Pyramid Analytics to manipulate and display data. Contributes to the design and implementation of innovative approaches to health services delivery and organization based on findings. Evaluates achievement of objectives and performance measures based on planned targets and actual performance, assessing status and developing improvement plans. Participates in medical center-wide performance improvement activities, including committee and performance improvement team membership. Provides staff support to committees and teams as assigned. Serves as a data resource for other areas of the healthcare system. Program Assessment and Evaluation 40 percent Communicates effectively with a broad customer base in order to recommend ways of eliminating, combining, simplifying, or improving procedures and processes. Measures progress and effectiveness of operations against objectives from reports submitted by organizational units. Determines data needs, establishes data collection procedures, designs report formats, and presents findings within assigned deadlines. Prepares findings for presentation in the form of written reports, graphs, charts, tables or other summaries. Contributes technical knowledge of data to the preparation of reports. Works closely with program officials at all levels of VHA and the facility to gather information and presents options to supervisor. Manages ongoing production and distribution of reports. Performs other related 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: This position may be authorized for telework Ad-Hoc only / Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD6294-A, PD6295-A, and PD4798-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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 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, 04/27/2026. 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 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. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. Note: You must submit a copy of your most recent personnel action/SF-50. Additionally, 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 education as 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: Knowledge of an extensive body of management and/or program analysis technical rules, guidelines, regulations, and precedents. Knowledge of the basic objectives and policies governing various management or program operations. Skill in applying basic data gathering methods and analysis techniques to collect and assess various types of factual information. General knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization. Interpersonal skills in working with others to gather information and present recommendation. Ability to work and solve problems with general supervisory oversight. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above. 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: Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied. Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization. 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 an combination of specialized experience and education as described above. GS-11 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: Knowledge and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations. Knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, policies and precedents which affect the use of program and related support resources in the area studied. Knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives, work processes, and administrative operations of the organization. Knowledge and skill in adapting analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of program effectiveness and/or organizational productivity. Skill in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes. Interpersonal skills in presenting recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations. Ability to work and solve problems independently. OR Education: Applicants 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 OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education as described above. You will be rated on the following Competencies 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 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: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. T-5 (CTAP) Eligibility requirements: Are you a current federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm: you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND, you are applying to a specific vacancy at or below your current grade level with no greater promotion potential than your current position; AND, your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent. To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.