Program Analyst

Full Job Description

The incumbent serves as a Program Analyst for the Quality & Performance Division at the VAMC Portland.

Quality & Performance Division is responsible for evaluating program and staff operations to ensure adherence to the requirements established by VACO, JCAHO, OIG, GAO, and other accrediting bodies for patient care and providing recommendations for improvements.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time in grade requirements and specialized experience within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement,, 03/09/2026.

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 30 days of closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7. 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-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience in applying analytical and evaluative techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature; Knowledge of the theory and principles of management including administrative practices and procedures; Ability to use qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques; and Skill in conducting interviews with supervisors and employees to obtain information about organizational missions, functions, and work procedures.

Uses a variety of software programs to capture record and display data and produce reports.

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 may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of a master's or equivalent graduate degree, or successfully completed two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or LL.B or J.D.

if related. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

NOTE: Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. 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 the first year) as described above, to meet the total requirements.

The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position.

NOTE: Copies of transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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:

General Program Assessment Functions a.

Incumbent ensures that each identified problem or opportunity is followed through to resolution, and the related findings, conclusions, recommendations, and actions taken are documented. b.

Uses a variety of software programs to perform statistical calculations for specific reports and/or for PVAMC and Quality & Performance Division management's use. c.

Findings are presented statistically and graphically to the Quality & Performance Chief and/or other appropriate Quality & Performance Division staff. d.

Based on the findings and knowledge of policies, procedures, organizational processes and systems, and using performance improvement methodology, incumbent helps develop recommendations to resolve problems and/or improve processes.

e.

Obtains assistance and/or needed information from the Quality Consultants for whom the incumbent provides program support, and/or the Quality & Performance Chief for problems that may arise, or backlogs that cannot be disposed of promptly.

f. Develops and maintains mechanisms to track identified problems and/or opportunities to improve care and /or services provided to assure problem resolution or improvement.

Usually involves developing methods for which there is no published guidance.

Program Coordinator for Patient Safety, Risk Management, and Performance Measures programs in Quality and Performance Division a.

Uses a variety of software programs to capture record and display data and produce reports. b.

Reports data trends and/or significant problems or issues to quality consultants responsible for patient safety, risk management, and performance measures. c.

Attends committee meetings, develops agendas, and records meeting minutes. d.

Functions as a surrogate for the Patient Safety Officer, Risk Manager and/or Performance Measure Consultant in meetings or for other tasks that require backup coverage for annual or other leave.

General Support Functions Performs general administrative support functions including: answering phone calls, referring calls, processing data according to the unit specifications, and other general administrative support related to Quality & Performance Division.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 4:00pm or 8:00am - 4:30pm PST Alternate tours negotiable Compressed/Flexible: Negotiable Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Program Analyst/PD601450 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized