Summary This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Education Service Division (EDU). The incumbent serves as a Management and Program Analyst within the Program Management Division. The incumbent develops effective long-term strategies for meeting the needs of the Education business line customer. Responsibilities Specific duties include: Monitors and tracks legislation introduced in Congress that would impact VA education programs. Analyzes legislation, prepares written summaries, and develops Education Service's views. Gathers information, collects data, and works closely with the Office of Resource Management Benefits Budget staff to develop cost estimates. Estimates the amount of General Operating Expense funds needed to implement proposed legislation. Tracks proposed legislation from introduction to enactment. Prepares draft testimony on VA education benefit programs for congressional hearings before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and House Committee on Veterans Affairs. Establishes and maintains Memorandums of Understanding and Computer Matching Agreements between VBA and other government agencies. Performs analytical and evaluative work associated with business line and/or program activities. Leads and works in collaboration with team members or employees to ensure tasks are completed and that good working relationships among team members and with management are maintained. Leads as needed and participates on a team of management and program analysts responsible for conducting research and development projects. The projects will either support the development of strategies needed to meet customer needs; be used in budget forecasting; or needed to formulate legislative proposals. These projects may enhance work done outside the department and government by and for the Department of Defense and the Department of Education. This includes analyzing data and trends in beneficiary population, recruiting, discharges, participation, and usage of all education programs, and such other projects as the Assistant Director for Policy and Implementation may direct. Leads and participates as team member in the development, implementation, and/or evaluation of program or project responsibilities. The incumbent manages and coordinates projects to ensure the timely implementation of enacted legislation and other initiatives. This includes establishing and conducting meetings, developing tracking products, and communicating the status of project requirements to Education Service management and other stakeholders. Leads and participates in the work of a team where each member contributes a portion of the analyses, facts, information, proposed actions, or recommendations; and/or ensures consistency of interpretation, judgment, logic, and application of policies. Utilizes selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques, advises on work methods, practices, and procedures, and assists the other team members in identifying the components of a viable solution. Maintains program and administrative reference materials, project files, relevant background documents, policies, procedures, and written instructions from the Team Leader. Researches, learns, and applies a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods to identify, assess, analyze, and improve team effectiveness, efficiency, and work products. Promotion Potential: None Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Available Virtual: Not Applicable Position Description/PD#: Management & Program Analyst (Legislative); 38102-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement:11/18/2024. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: Applicants who are current Federal employees, former Federal employees applying for reinstatement, or a current federal employee applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment must meet time in grade requirements. 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. NOTE: This does not apply to Non-Federal Applicants, or applicants applying for consideration under Non-Competitive Authority (i.e.... "30% or more Disability", VRA, and/or Schedule A). To verify your eligibility, you must submit a copy of your most recent Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50 (SF-50). You must provide a copy of your most recent SF-50 that indicates proof of status, and shows Time in Grade (for example, you were a career or career-conditional employee) and identifies your position title, series, grade, step, salary, tenure, and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). 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 also submit your most recent promotion or within-grade increase in addition to your recent SF-50. If you previously held a higher grade, you must also submit any SF-50 showing that grade. DO NOT submit Award SF-50's and/or General Adjustment SF-50's as they cannot be used to prove time-in-grade. For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12 level. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-13 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: Mastery in planning and conducting a variety of research and development projects, gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues, and developing recommendations; high proficiency in oral and written communication to prepare reports and summaries of research and development projects; and a comprehensive knowledge of the range of administrative laws, regulations and precedents applicable to the administration of one or more public programs. 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/. Education Additional Information This positions is in the bargaining unit. VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Click here for more information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. 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. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf