Program Analyst

Full Job Description

This position is located at the Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 03/05/2026.

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 within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 your most recent non-award 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 non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade.

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.

Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.

You may qualify for a GS-09 position based on your education and/or experience, 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: administrative/office work experience that includes work such as applying complex fact-finding, analytical and problem solving methods and techniques to identify problems, budget formulation, set work priorities, and preparing plans and proposals; serving as a Contracting Officer's Representative, performing contract surveillance, quality assurance, inspection support and coordination between all parties involved; preparing and presenting recommendations and solutions on complex issues; analyzing interrelated issues of effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of programs; developing criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of programs; assessing and developing internal controls; preparing reports, technical correspondence.

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 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 which demonstrates 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.

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 the graduate level.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Analytical Thinking Communication Project Manager Technical Competence 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 sedentary and is usually accomplished while the employee is comfortably seated at a desk or table.

However, periods of walking, bending and stooping are required, and the employee frequently carries light objects, such as papers and books.

The incumbent may need to travel approximately 20% of the time to receive or conduct training. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

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 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. Major Duties:

The Program Analyst conducts audits, studies, and operational reviews to ensure compliance with established policies, practices and procedures.

Provides cemetery managers with objective information on program operations that support compliance and improvement.

Incumbent interprets policy and regulations and presents controversial and critical observations, findings and proposal for solutions/changes in program operations to management.

Administers the internal review, quality, and productivity initiatives for the organization. Develops short and long-range goals and coordinates quality assurance plans for the cemetery.

Research and compiles information for reports. Generates required reports, standard operation procedures, and data collection methods for the cemetery.

Ensures reports are submitted in correct format and in a timely manner, meeting suspense dates as required.

Prepares, updates, and maintains recurring and non-recurring reports, correspondence, data-calls, and other documents in the Microsoft Word/Excel format.

Extracts and consolidates required information for recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports such as manpower reports, interments, etc.

Incumbent assists cemetery management with personnel management functions including pay/leave administration, travel, worker's compensation, health care enrollment, and employment physicals.

Responsible for records management, ensuring records are properly distributed, stored, and disposed of. Performs public outreach as needed.

Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends.

Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time.

Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year.

Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery.

Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Telework: Not Available Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Program Analyst/PD1725489 The full performance level of this position is GS - 09.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required If interested in applying for this position you may preview the online application: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12894699