Program Analyst

Summary

This position is located in the Great Lakes Healthcare Network, VISN 12, serving as a Program Analyst for the Network Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA) Department at a designated Madison VA facility. The incumbent has knowledge, experience, and demonstrable success working in an automated

information systems environment and in project management.

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Duties

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This position is a Program Analyst for the Network Managerial Cost Accounting (MCA) Office. MCA is an automated clinical and financial decision support system which links actual operating expenses to health care services consumed at the patient level. The scope of the MCA program is to improve veterans' health care by providing a system for making data-driven decisions utilizing information related to patient care patterns, outcomes, and associated resource costs.

Major Duties :

• Analyzes and processes large amounts of financial and clinical workload data within a mainframe database (DSS system)
• Works independently with VAMC staff and MCA peers to gather data necessary for monthly data processing.
• Conducts extensive research using diverse sources to complete the monthly processing
• Resolves difficult problems related to variable and changing costs, multidisciplinary programs with workload and cost variables that are hard to identify
• Communicates effectively with MCA peers, service chiefs, administrative officers and others to resolve data collection and assignment issues.
• Completes several routine and non-routine data audits.
• Maps expenses using various electronic tools to their respective clinical and administrative departments, following the structure in the DSS database.
• Manages several concurrent projects, demonstrating effective scheduling, time management, and prioritization skills.
• 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 - 4:30pm

Telework: This position may be authorized for ad-hoc telework.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/ PD251770 and PD251760

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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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.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• 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 ( 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.
• 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, 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, 07/17/2026.

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-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. 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.

To qualify at the GS-09 level, you must meet one of the following:

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: Skills in conducting detailed analyses of complex functions and work processes, Skills in the application of fact-finding techniques, oral and written communications, and development of presentations and reports, Ability to conduct complex studies that require the incumbent to accurately work with problem definitions, General knowledge of system design and database management.

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 two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B. or J.D., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position. (Transcripts Required).

OR,

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education.

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, you must meet one of the following:

Specialized Experience : Must have one full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in Federal Service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Knowledge and skill applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues concerning costs, efficiency, and effectiveness; Comprehensive knowledge of the operating programs and objectives of the Medical Center; Knowledge and understanding of VA accounting systems; Knowledge of a wide range of auditing techniques and analyses to ensure the accuracy of financial data; Skill in presenting program recommendations and negotiating solutions to disputed recommendations; and Development of presentations and reports.

OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for specialized experience. You must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR three full years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.M., if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. (Transcripts Required)

OR,

Combination: Applicants may combine education and experience. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education. (Transcripts Required)

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

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: 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:

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.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and 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 for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.