Program Analyst

Summary

The Program Analyst is located in Nursing Service at the VA Medical Center in Louisville, KY. The incumbent performs as the Program Analyst for the administrative areas and assists the Deputy Nurse Executive (DNE) with program analysis for the clinical areas within Nursing Service.

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Duties

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The position is at the full performance level located in the Department of Veteran Affairs, at the Robley Rex VA hospital in the Nursing Service Department. The incumbent performs as program analyst for the administrative areas and assists the Administrative Officer and Deputy Associate Director of patient care with program analysis for the clinical areas within Nursing Service. The primary purpose of the position is to perform a wide range of analytical evaluation, related to improving the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare by integrating clinical and information processes necessary to achieve successful adoption and application of new technologies throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The incumbent is also responsible for providing comprehensive administrative and data management duties to serve Primary Care Service. Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performs analytical and evaluative work that includes extracting, compiling, researching and/or tracking and reporting of data and program information. Provides review, analysis and recommendations of human resources, budget and operating programs within the service.
• Reviews, analyzes and makes recommendations to the DADPCS, Nursing Service in the development of strategic, operational and service business planning documents.
• Reviews and develops Nursing Service procedures, methodologies and policies assuring they are pertinent, relevant and current.
• Has knowledge of all required service and Medical Center reports pertinent to the service, coordinated their completion and establishes a suspense file to track due dates.
• Identifies areas of concern, troubleshoot problems, develops resolutions and investigates a wide variety of matters pertaining to the service.
• Prepares comprehensive reports that incorporate thorough review and analysis for submission to appropriate facility, network and/or VA Central Office officials.
• Reviews all outgoing correspondence and reports ensuring proper format, mathematical and grammatical content are correct and ascertaining that all necessary coordination of facts has been completed and is in accordance with established policy.
• Prepares the annual service budget and submits recommendation to the DADPCS, Nursing Service.
• Performs cost analysis, cost benefit or economic evaluations of Nursing Service projects and programs.
• Oversees the organization and maintenance of a comprehensive system of budgetary information in support of the service's two fund control points.
• Monitors all accounting transactions and cash flow as budgetary demands on control points frequently requires incumbent's advice on increases or decreases of purchases for reconciliation with budget limitations.
• Designs and maintains with current costs and new products a variety of computerized spreadsheets, such as inventory templates, cost/serving, nourishment cost update and other performance measures to assist management in cost containment and quality control.
• Serves as the liaison and/or point of contact between the Nurse Managers and the DADPCS and the Associate Chief Nurses (to include Acute Care, Critical Care and Surgery) for non-clinical and budgetary issues.
• Have frequent interaction with individuals at all levels in VA. These contacts may be personal, one-to-one basis or in conferences held to exchange information and negotiate mutually satisfactory solutions to important issues.
• Oversees an ongoing training tracking program for Nursing Service employees to ensure annual mandatory and required education is developed, implemented and monitored.
• Develops procedures and systems for establishing, operating and assessing the effectiveness of administrative control systems and line or operating programs e.g. quality assurance monitors, patient satisfaction and patient safety programs as they relate to the service and/or medical center.

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; 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Telework: Ad-hoc Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/ PD403720 and PD40372-0

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.
• 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, 09/11/2026.

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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7.

For a GS-11position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9.

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:

Specialized Experience for a GS-9: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Knowledgeable of Medical Center operations, policies, and procedures, as well as VA regulations, and program guidelines;
• Reviewing data, presenting alternatives, making recommendations, and assisting with developing problem resolutions;
• Performing analytical and evaluative work that includes extracting, compiling, researching and/or tracking and reporting of data and program information;
• Utilizing computers and applicable databases/software for statistical purposes; and managing information systems; Preparing and presenting reports for management;
• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting and statistical principles to use in administering a wide variety of budgetary accounts and transfer of funds;
• Utilizing a variety of software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, QI Macros, Access, among other VA related software in order to compile and process data collected and produce reports in useful reporting formats.

OR,

Education: Applicants 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 a LL.B or J.D., if related. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ( TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED )

OR,

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination education beyond one year of graduate education (in excess of 18 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation ( TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED ). Specialized

Experience for a GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-9 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Performing a wide variety of analytical studies and projects related to management improvement, productivity improvement, and long-range planning;
• Knowledgeable of Medical Center operations, policies, and procedures, as well as VA regulations, and program guidelines;
• Reviewing data, presenting alternatives, making recommendations, and assisting with developing problem resolutions;
• Skill to evaluate and analyze processes and procedures with multiple variables;
• Performing analytical and evaluative work that includes extracting, compiling, researching and/or tracking and reporting of data and program information;
• Utilizing computers and applicable databases/software for statistical purposes; and managing information systems; Preparing and presenting reports for management;
• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and statistical principles and practices to use in administering a wide variety of budgetary accounts and transfer of funds;
• Knowledge of disbursements and of fund accounting methods, procedures, and techniques used in maintaining, balancing, and closing Fund control accounts;
• Utilizing a variety of software such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, QI Macros, Access, among other VA related software in order to compile and process data collected and produce reports in useful reporting formats.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

OR ,

Education: Applicants 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 a LL.M, if related. Education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ( TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED ).

OR,

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first two years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED).

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 performed in an office setting is primarily sedentary in nature.

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.