Program Specialist

Summary This position is located at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. Responsibilities The primary purpose of this position is to provide the cemetery leadership with expert, objectively based for information for making decisions on program operations and drive cemetery level improvement/compliance. Perform a variety of analytical, planning, evaluative and advisory work for the management team at SVNC. Conduct continuing and periodic studies involving compilation and analysis of data for purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of cemetery operations, identifying areas requiring improvement, and recommending procedures or methods for more efficient operations and production. This includes studies involving a wide variety of management and operational reviews covering workload analysis, utilization of resources, productivity charting, graphing, workflow processes and improvements, and changes in organizational structure and methods of operations to promote efficiency of operations. Control, coordinate, analyze, validate, and participate in the analysis of administrative and field activities along with numerous other statistical and narrative reports. Assemble workload data, work measurement data and work program data for the development of budget estimates, equipment needs, RMT submission, facilities repair requests and gravesite depletion tracking. Study areas where modified work methods, procedures, or systems must be developed in response to technological advances or actual or proposed changes in either legislation or overall program purpose. Perform work involving the collection, compilation and/or tracking of data and statistical information in support of the cemetery. Assist in the planning, review, and reporting of data/statistical results of program/project studies. Establish protocols for incoming data, organizes computerized data sets, and retrieves computerized data by using software applications to draw information, to prepared/assist in preparation of reports. Coordinates incoming data from a variety of sources. Reviews documents, reports, and/or applications for omissions and inconsistencies, and ensures data entry is complete and accurate. Enter pertinent information into an automated tracking system. Maintain automated system of program­specific data to track items such as project milestones and progress reports. Review, analyze, and evaluate reports and statistics to advise on trends, out of line situations, and anticipated needs. When a problem area or out of line situation is identified during a review, will inform the supervisor, and make recommendations for corrective action. Performs public outreach as needed. GS-09 salary: $77,161-100,315 GS-11 salary: $93,358-121,371 Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#: Program Specialist/PD1646643 The full performance level of this position is GS - 11. At the level GS-09, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision. 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. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application: Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 08/07/2026. 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 within 45 days of 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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. 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. Must have the ability to type at least 40 words per minute. Must possess and maintain a REAL ID compliant valid state driver's license. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education, as described below: 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: Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and compassion and use appropriate words and tone of voice when communicating with callers on highly sensitive issues; Knowledge of electronic data processing systems and skilled in written and oral communications; Compiling and analyzing data, identifying trends, preparing reports, and recommending solutions for resolving problems and ensuring compliance with operational standards and measures. 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. 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 the first 18 semester hours of graduate-level education earned. 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: supervising or coordinating the ordering, delivery, and placement of headstones and markers in a national or state veterans cemetery; developing, managing or supporting a high volume case production environment related to headstone and markers in various VA systems and ensuring compliance with NCA standards and timeliness metrics; working within a case production environment supporting the issuance and tracking of government furnished headstones and markers; experience with memorial product specifications, cemetery operations, and quality assurance procedures. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 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 which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond the 36 semester hours of graduate education earned. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Analysis and Problem Solving Critical Thinking Administration and Management Computer Skills Communication 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 primarily sedentary, sitting behind a desk in the office. There may be some walking, standing, bending, and carrying of light items like papers or books. No special physical demands are required to perform work. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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. Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. PLEASE NOTE: Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. 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. Additional Information Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/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 CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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. 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. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.