Program Analyst

Summary

This position is located at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System (HCS), St. Cloud, MN. This position provides support for all areas and programs under the Rehabilitation & Extended Care (REC) Integrated Care Community (ICC) including planning, coordinating, implementing directing, integrating, controlling and evaluating programs within the healthcare delivery system.

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Duties

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Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides administrative support to the health care management team in his/her daily activities.
• Provide full support and assistance on complex administrative matters affecting the healthcare delivery system.

Data Analytics and Program Management: 45%

• Plans, schedules and conducts evaluations and recommend process improvements that will improve the productivity of the service line.
• Develops innovative approaches to identify meaningful workload factors and performance quality levels and determines accurate measurement techniques.
• Makes recommendations and conclusions considering and giving appropriate weight to all factors taken into consideration; considers the impacts of centralization versus decentralization of functions with geographically separated components of the service line.
• Assess' whether current measures of program effectiveness are adequate or whether new measures need to be researched and developed that may provide a clearer picture of actual program performance.
• Responsible for independently identifying problems and bringing them to the attention of the leadership with recommendations on appropriate action.
• Responsible for planning and organizing projects, which includes estimating costs, coordinating with staff and management.

Policies and Regulations: 20%

• Responsible for developing or re-evaluating administrative regulations and policies, especially those governing the allocation of personnel, supplies, equipment and all other departmental and service line resources.
• Responsible for researching all information on policies and updating the information upon the policy renewal, this includes reference materials and any changes to the actions covered in the policy.

Contracting Duties: 20%

• Serves as the Approving Official for the Government Purchase Card Program.
• Works with customers to find suitable products to meet the government's needs that also comply with all acquisition laws, policies, or guidance.
• Creates financial documents such as purchase request and commitment documents.
• Responsible for preparing and following Quality Surveillance Assurance Plans and ensure that the contractors are meeting the terms and conditions of their respective contracts.

Goal Monitoring and Action Item Responses: 15%

• Make recommendations, provide updates in meeting organizational goals, and provide decision making alternatives whenever applicable.
• Monitors action items and ensure appropriate progress is made in a timely manner.
• Compiles, coordinates and completes facility responses to recurring, non-recurring and special reports requested by.

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, 8:00am04:30pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/ PD905120 and PD905130

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

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.
• 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)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/01/2026.

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 . 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.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Minimum Qualifications GS-07:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year (52 weeks) 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: evaluation and measurement techniques to determine compliance with rules and regulations established to evaluate program accomplishments; utilization of Microsoft Office software products (i.e. word processing, email, presentations, spreadsheets, and databases) and proficient using the internet; interpreting and/or applying applicable laws, regulations, and policies which affect program success. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. to qualify based on education for this grade level, you must have successfully completed one (1) full year (52 weeks) of graduate level education. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR,
• Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A.): isbased on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average (GPA), or (3) honor society membership.
• Class standing - Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.
• Grade-point average (G.P.A.) - Applicants must have a grade-point average of:

• • 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or
  • 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.
• Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society - Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed by the Association of College Honor Societies. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR,
• Combining Education and Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelor's degree.

Minimum Qualifications GS-09:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one (1) year (52 weeks) 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: Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of a program within an organization; experience implementing policies and procedures as well as, ensuring the actions taken are coordinated through the proper channels of an organization; utilization of Microsoft Office software (i.e. word processing, email, presentations, spreadsheets, and databases) and the internet; gathering and analyzing administrative principles, methods, practices and techniques, and modifying standard approaches to difficult and/or complex issues; presenting findings in various formats (i.e. charts, graphs, reports, spreadsheets); presenting project and/or study results both orally and written. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level, you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or a LL.B or J.D., if related. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). OR,
• Combining Education and Experience: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of specialized experience and education beyond the first year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).

Preferred Experience: Leadership skills, strong communication skills, and ability to build coalitions.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly of a sedentary nature with some lifting of light boxes required.

Work Environment: The work is performed in an office environment with adequate lighting and climate control, with no unusual risks or discomforts. Position may require occasional travel.

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.

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

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 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 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.