Program Analyst

Full Job Description

The position is at the full performance level located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), at the New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVAHCS) in the Surgical Service.

The purpose of this position is to serve as a Program Analyst for the US Department of Veterans Affairs with responsibility for developing, implementing, maintaining, and providing leadership, strategic direction, and program oversight of care through Surgical Service.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/11/2026.

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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Grade Level Requirements GS-07 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Understand contracts, budgets, and fiscal management principles; applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration and/or resolution of issues and problems; understand agency programs, policies, and objectives.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education described above.

GS-09 Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting time in grade requirements, 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: Independently monitor and create contracts, budgets, and provide fiscal management assistance to leaders; analyze statistical data and prepare written reports for trends and performance improvement measures; apply analytical and evaluative techniques in effort to identify and resolve issues and problems.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree OR 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.B or J.D., if related.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education described above.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Data Analysis Planning and Evaluating Program Management 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: The work is primarily sedentary with the occasional slight physical effort required.

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/.

Major Duties:

Duties: The duties and responsibilities of this position involve administration and management, planning support for the Surgical Services and the subspecialty clinics with respect to clinic access and performance management.

The incumbent will work for the Administrative Officer, Surgical Service.

The incumbent must analyze and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the multiple program operations of Surgical Service, assessing the effectiveness of services provided to the patients served.

He/she will provide senior leadership with his/her findings and recommend ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in Surgical Service.

He/she may identify and advise the Administrative Officer, Business Manager, Chief, Surgical Service, and senior leadership on the impact of changes proposed and how they will affect other services and the patients served, ensuring that patient care is not adversely impacted.

This requires an extensive knowledge of the complex functions of all services throughout the medical center and their relationship to Surgical Service.

Duties include but are not limited to: Program Analyst for Clinic Access Management and Systems Redesign and Performance Measurement (PM) for the NMVAHCS Surgical Service, working under the Administrative Officer, Surgical Service.

Assist the Administrative Officer in managing over 10,600 unique Veteran patients that have nearly 15,000 patient visits a year on an annual budget of over $4 million.

Assists the Service's Contracting Officer's Representatives (COR) for supported equipment, supplies, and vendors utilized by the department.

Demands a high level of program management expertise across a broad spectrum to meet the needs of the Health Care System.

The position identifies information used to manage, support and develop critical aspects of the Surgical Service.

Provide data to be used by senior management and leadership for decision-making and process improvement in the service.

The incumbent collaborates as a staff member within the management team with shared responsibility for planning, organization, development, direction and evaluation of NMVAHCS specialty Surgical Service operations.

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 between the hours of 7:00 am - 3:30 pm Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD10064O