Summary Serves as a Lead Management and Program Analyst and principal advisor within VBA Compensation Service, leading complex, nationwide program and procedural initiatives. Provides authoritative advice to senior leadership; leads cross-functional and interagency efforts; evaluates program effectiveness; coaches and mentors teammates; and develops and implements processes, procedures, and data-sharing initiatives affecting Compensation benefit delivery. Responsibilities Specific duties include: Monitors operating programs and activities supporting compensation and pension benefits and services provided to veterans, their dependents or beneficiaries. Works in close cooperation with other elements of VBA as it relates to Veterans benefits. Recommends objectives and operations for new and existing programs between Department of Defense and VBA within the scope of the process development activity. The incumbent serves as a historical research consultant when new information is released from agencies that may have an impact on the veteran population filing claims. Provides procedural background to other agencies regarding VBA work processes and how to integrate VBA and the other agencies' information systems to provide a seamless transition for Servicemembers from active duty to potential entitlement to VA benefits. Evaluates and recommends reduction of the duplication of effort that exists between VBA and other agencies. This includes but is not limited to the areas of disability evaluation, information gathering and exchange, service verification, and defense finance and accounting record information. Plans and develops activities and program initiatives designed to enhance VBA CS delivery. This includes developing and interpreting policies, devising alternatives and adopting procedures necessary to allow management to implement program decisions or changes. Serves as a liaison with field personnel and CO officials on matters dealing with the interaction of federal agencies and CS procedures. Researches customer service practices, evaluates performance in meeting customer service standards, and makes recommendations for improving service delivery and plans strategies, activities or other initiatives to increase customer satisfaction. Evaluates suggestions presented by field station personnel and recommends for approval/disapproval depending on the relationship of the suggestion to progran1 objectives, current guidelines, effective personnel utilization and cost analysis of implementation. Undertakes long- and short-range research and studies program activities within the CS Service to support the organization's business goals and objectives. am activities within the CS Service to support the organization's business goals and objectives. Gathers relevant data, analyzes it critically, and makes recommendations based on findings using available information resources such as Internet tools, manuals, and other reference material. Manages multiple projects or programs concurrently where effort involves coordination among multiple resources, other divisions, or agents outside of the organization, conducts investigations of evidence involved in resolving appealed cases and special interest cases. Conducts program evaluation and training visits to field stations to assist in improving operations and to identify areas where program directives require modification. Recommends appropriate corrective actions to improve noted deficiencies. Prepares for and gives oral presentations to various audiences within CS Service, VBA senior management, department level executives and outside agencies. Develops PowerPoint presentations covering highlights of new material and providing practical applications and examples. Prepares clear and concise documents. Assists in developing and updating procedural guidance for distribution to field offices. Drafts manual change requests, writes briefing papers, and answers Congressional and external stakeholder inquiries. Researches veteran-specific issues and prepares all necessary administrative materials, correspondence, and justifications detailing reasons for decisions. Represents the Assistant Director in meetings or conferences within VA, at other Government agencies, and with representatives of service, civic, and fraternal organizations and has the authority to speak for and commit the Assistance Director to courses of action involving established policy or resource expenditures. Serves as an advisor and consultant to the supervisor on precedent determinations involving decisions on individual cases and national issues regarding technical, regulatory, procedural, and operational aspects of the Compensation program. The incumbent may act for his/her immediate supervisor when called upon to do so. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible: Not 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 a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Lead Management and Program Analyst; PD37646A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Additional Conditions of Employment are as follows: 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 or trial 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:11/04/2026. TIME-IN-GRADE REQUIREMENT: As a current Federal, GS employee you must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13 level. If you are a current VBA employee requesting reassignment or change to lower grade via this vacancy announcement, you must currently hold the GS- 14 or higher and the promotion potential of your current position must be at least GS-14. 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT: You may qualify based on your experience as described below: GS-14 Grade Level: Specialized Experience: is experience that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the GS-0343-14 Lead Management and Program Analyst and is typically acquired through work directly related to veterans' benefits administration. Applicants must demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of complex laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and Federal legislation governing the full range of VA benefits programs, as well as the ability to interpret and apply these authorities to resolve complex issues, provide authoritative technical guidance, and ensure consistent implementation of program requirements. Applicants must also possess extensive knowledge of Federal, state, and local benefits programs and demonstrate the ability to communicate complex benefits information effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences. Qualifying experience must also include leading a staff responsible for implementing veterans' benefits programs by planning and assigning work, providing technical direction and oversight, evaluating employee performance, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and quality standards, resolving complex operational issues, and promoting the timely, accurate, and consistent administration of veterans' benefits 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: Work is primarily sedentary, but involves use of a personal computer. No special physical demands are 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 There is no education substitution for GS-14. Additional Information The Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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 your current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. 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. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. 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. 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/documents/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review: Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information) For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
