Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to those covered by the indicated hiring paths and living in the local, Houston, TX commuting area. Veterans eligible under the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) and current permanent VBA employees holding the GS-11, GS-12 or higher and seeking non-competitive reassignment/change to lower grade need not to live in the local commuting area to be considered.

In the position, the duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs a variety of complex analytical activities to evaluate, develop, advise, and promote improvement in station managerial and personnel policies, practices, methods, procedures, and organizational structures. Researches, provides interpretation, information, and advice on policies and procedures to the VSCM and AVSCM. Analyzes and evaluates administrative internal control systems to assess compliance with agency directives and effectiveness in identifying possible fraud, waste, or mismanagement.
• Participates in discussions, meetings, conferences and conference calls with agency administrators, senior subject matter and technical personnel, and other federal agency officials to secure and provide information, to investigate facts; present conclusions, recommendations, and alternatives; obtain concurrence; develop alternate courses of actions; and mutually resolve problems.
• Advises management of unique conditions and issues which affect administrative activities and provides guidance on interpretation and implementation of new and revised legislation, policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Serves as a liaison between VBA District Offices and the RO, coordinating and facilitating initiatives that require team cooperation and action.
• Handles correspondence and is privy to sensitive employee and labor relations issues such as local negotiations, grievance responses, and disciplinary/performance action drafts and files. Acts with extreme confidentiality and discretion when dealing with highly sensitive employee and labor relation matters for example, disciplinary actions and management strategy in negotiations with labor.
• Provides local advice and prepares memos for the VSMC regarding labor management issues, master agreement discrepancies and management's position on such issues such as changes in working conditions or conditions of employment within the Regional Office. Keeps all records and timetables concerning Master Agreement matters for the Veteran Service Center.
• Regularly apprises the VSCM and AVSCM(s) of initiative status and recommends when intervention is necessary, providing sound advice and guidance to station management in achieving the RO's objectives.
• Studies areas requiring new or substantially modified work methods, procedures and systems necessitated by changes in mission, staffing levels to improve productivity, quality, and timeliness. Incumbent must have knowledge of all aspects of Regional Office (RO) management, enough to advise the VSCM, AVSCMs, and other station leadership on operations and serves as a consultant. Coordinates and prepares responses to Central Office requests for Field Station input such as workload projections, equipment requirements, staffing needs, and suggested improvements to procedures.

• Assists with plans and schedules for ongoing production-oriented work on a quarterly and annual basis and directs assignments of similar duration. Adjusts staffing levels or work procedures within the organizational unit to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at higher echelons. Justifies the purchase of supplies and new equipment. Improves work methods and procedures used to produce work products. Oversees the development of technical data, estimates, statistics, suggestions, and other information useful to higher level managers in determining which goals and objectives to emphasize. Decides the methodologies to use in achieving work goals and objectives, and in determining other management strategies.
• Develops local policy statements implementing VBA directives in such areas as training and systemic analyses of operations. In addition, monitors, interprets, and analyzes data available through management information systems to validate correct reporting to uncover problem areas and to recommend improvements in managerial effectiveness. Analyzes projected workloads to ensure consideration of program assumptions, consistency with local conditions and realistic conversion into staffing requirements. Manages the administrative operations of the VSC front office. Program oversight supports the RO's mission and customer service goals through well-developed programs and includes all functional areas such as: VSC corporate mailbox and VSC front office communications; VSC front office logistics; workload data analysis; VSC emergency preparedness; VSC directives; VSC systematic analyses of operations; VSC related human resources, support services, and public contact surveys; employee concerns; VSC timecard certification Point of Contact (POC); VSC employee emails and alerts; skill certification POC; tracking station support of national initiatives for end of year reporting for the VSC; Veteran inquiries; VSC related station trip pack updates; VSC related SharePoint administration; VSC delegations; VSC travel; and VSC office supply procurement.

Conditions of employment

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday 8:00am- 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Telework: This position is eligible for situational (ad hoc) telework only. The selectee is required to report to the official duty station each scheduled workday. Telework may be approved only on a case-by-case basis with supervisory approval. Routine or recurring telework is not authorized for this position.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Management Analyst; PD40322A and PD40321A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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 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.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• 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 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement: 11/16/2026.

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 (unless if in the commuting area and eligible for a non-competitive hiring authority such as Schedule A, VRA, or 30% or more disabled Veterans).

• For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level.
• For a GS-12 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-11 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.

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

GS-11 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: Applicants 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. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Collecting and researching data for evaluations of programs/operations;

• Researching laws, regulations, guidelines, and approved procedures to provide findings;

• Communicating information to management, both orally and in writing.

OR

Education Substitution: Applicants may substitute education for the experience required to qualify at the GS-11 level: Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree. Such education must demonstrate the competencies necessary to do the work.

OR

Combination Education and Experience: GS-11 Applicants may combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-11 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting you can use graduate level education you have earned beyond the second year). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-11 level. For example, an applicant who has 54 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position.

GS-12 Grade Level:

Specialized Experience: In addition to the experience required for the GS-11, applicants must have one year of Specialized Experience which is equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11 level) in the normal line of progression for the position. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Providing advice and guidance for improvements on policies and making recommendations;
• Applying analytic methods and techniques to evaluate the effectiveness, productivity, and/or performance of administrative and technical programs;
• Applying and modifying established practices to specific administrative problems which involve many variables;
• Preparing detailed reports to present findings from analysis to management

There is no education substitution at GS-12 grade level.

Combining Education & Experience: If you do not fully meet the length of experience and education described for a specific grade level (e.g. have six months of experience and some coursework but not a degree), the two can be combined to total 100% of the requirement. Click here for more information.
Volunteer Experience: 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.
Full vs. Part-Time Employment: Full-time employment is considered to be at least 35 hours per week. Part-time experience will be credited on a pro-rated basis; when including part-time employment in your resume you must specify the average hours worked per week.
Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary although some slight physical effort may be required.

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• Accountability
• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Decision Making
• Flexibility
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension
• Reasoning
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

You will also be assessed on the following technical competencies:

• Planning and Evaluating - Determines objectives and strategies; coordinates with other parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors and evaluates the progress and outcomes of operational plans; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
• Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
• Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
• Computer Skills - Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.
• Self-Management - Sets well defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior.

The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.