Clarification from the agency

Qualified candidates will be referred in the following order: 1) Current, Permanent employees of the San Diego VA Health Care System, 2) Other Current, Permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Performs data collection, compilation, and tracking of statistical information in support of program operations.
• Assists in planning, reviewing, and reporting data/statistical results of program/project studies.
• Establishes protocols for incoming data, organizes computerized data sets (Excel), and retrieves computerized data.
• Runs basic analysis and generates a variety of reports; coordinates and reviews incoming data from multiple sources for accuracy and completeness.
• Maintains spreadsheet data with patient information (admissions/discharges, census, acuity), assists in program initiative development, and reports statistical results for improvement and special projects.
• Completes special research projects (Chart Audits, NIC Program Audits, Performance Improvement Projects, Infection Surveillance, Patient Satisfaction Surveys, etc.).
• Assembles and summarizes data from publications and other sources; interprets incoming data, reports, graphs, and charts for completeness and accuracy.
• Processes incoming/outgoing materials (correspondence, Release of Information, reports, memoranda, CPRS/MSTA, P&Os, etc.).
• Maintains filing systems, edits and composes letters, reviews correspondence for accuracy/completeness, develops standard replies, prepares recurring reports, and consolidates information.
• Procures standard office supplies/services, answers questions about support policies, consolidates requests, and authorizes purchases.
• Explains HBPC services, coordinates with other VAMC programs, acts as liaison, and advises on policies and procedures.
• Coordinates meetings/conferences, maintains calendars, records appointments, arranges administrative details, and follows up on action items.
• Arranges meeting space and support, attends meetings, notes commitments, and informs staff accordingly.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00AM to 3:30PM.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD101280
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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 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 or trial 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, 08/31/2026.

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 level. 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.

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

• 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:

1. Data Collection & Tracking Support
2. Research/Program Resources Services and Support
3. Mail, Correspondence, and Reports
4. Office Supplies and Equipment
5. Public Contact Work
6. Maintaining Appointments, Calendars, and Schedules

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree, two (2) full years of graduate level education leading to such a degree, or LL.B. or J.D., if related in a related field that demonstrates my ability to perform the duties of this position. NOTE: This education must have been obtained at an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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 graduate-level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. NOTE: The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with program analysis or evaluation including work in evaluating government programs, healthcare programs, or similar complex systems.
• Experience with VHA Healthcare Systems including administration operations, polices, and healthcare delivery models.
• Data Analysis: Proficiency with statistical software, data visualization tools, and program evaluation frameworks.
• Project Management Skills: Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and coordinate with cross functional teams.
• Experience working and communicating with diverse workgroups, including clinical, administrative, and quality staff using a variety of written, oral, virtual, and electronic media.

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.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.